-----and schools in Duleek. In respect of Galway and the west, we want to economically redress the regional imbalance in economic development. The whole national development plan is about regional cities growing, as well as about getting higher population growth on that western seaboard and so forth. I apologise that I cannot get to every topic.

And just transition. Take care and thank you very much.

It has always been a source of regret for me that since this Government was elected and officially nominated that the Deputy and her party have taken a divisive approach to Covid-19. She has always sought to exploit the pandemic for political and electoral ends. I regret having to say that, but it is absolutely clear.

The hallmark of her position from the outset has been one of running with the hare and hunting with the hound. She has undermined NPHET advice at different stages of the pandemic, with calls for pubs to be opened in advance of any advice, then rushing to get the airports closed and then rushing to get them opened again. It has been the classic presentation from the Deputy from the get-go. I want to keep this in perspective, however. If we look at where we are now, connectivity has reopened and travel into and out o…

Deputy Carthy is not the leader of the Sinn Féin Party yet.

I would appreciate it if the Deputy would allow me to answer the questions without being interrupted, which is again a further tactical parliamentary device that he is prone to use.

That is where our booster campaign stands and we will drive it forward, just as we drove the primary vaccination programme forward. What is crucial now is that we have to reduce socialisation. I did not do anything with a switch. Deputy McDonald talked about planning, but two weeks ago her party’s spokesperson on health was saying that the time had come when the powers under the health legislation were no longer necessary. He was so far ahead of planning that he wanted to get rid of them, and he was not supporting …

Equally, Sinn Féin did not support vaccination certificates. The party opposed them as well. It has been so behind the curve on Covid-19, and the only reason it has been behind the curve is that it has suited it to be so politically, because it has only sought to exploit it at each and every turn.

They do not. We are ahead of many other countries on the booster programme, and quite significantly.

They are and have been supported, and the Deputy knows that well.

Last night, I thought you supported the decisions we took. Which way is it? Do you support what we decided? You might confirm that in the fullness of time.

I will tell you now. As you know well, we have supported industry and businesses throughout the pandemic to an unprecedented scale. We will continue to engage with the night-time economy, in this case, in respect of the supports such as the Covid-19 restrictions support scheme, CRSS, that we have made available. People in any sector will acknowledge that although, of course, the Deputy will not. Those people will acknowledge that extraordinary supports have been provided to businesses across the length and breadth …

Antigen testing has been extended to meat plants, nursing homes and close contacts. Antigen tests are now being sent out free to close contacts of Covid cases. The Deputy knows that. The same situation applies in third level education. They will be deployed more widely. That must be done in the proper way in accordance with the public health advice we have received.

I said to the Deputy that we will continue to work with the sectors and support them. In respect of the PUP, the most consistent message we are hearing is that businesses cannot get people to work in different sectors and are short of staff. We will engage with the sector through the various schemes we have had so far to keep enterprises together. Where Government decisions affect those enterprises, we will support them to get through this period.

I have been in the House longer than the Deputy.

You learn something every day. I learned something about the Deputy yesterday-----

-----that I will not forget.

What I learned will govern our relationship from here onwards in terms of the nature of the engagements we will have.

I have never before seen the likes of what transpired. As I was engaged here, the Deputy came along over here. I will refer him to what he asked me on the record of the House immediately before our exchange. The Deputy asked, "Given the complication RSV causes, will the Government consider prioritising front-line workers such as gardaí, retail workers, transport workers and, most of all, teachers, SNAs, and early years workers for boosters, primarily so that the schools system does not fall over?". He asked me noth…

I just want to put that on the record. The Deputy came over to me for a 30-second or 40-second engagement. He scampered off and told his education spokesperson who tweeted something that was then reported as fact. It is extraordinary.