That is your approach.

First, the most effective way to get the world vaccinated is through licensing of technology and building up capacity and know-how in the production of vaccines. The European Union has pledged €1 billion to developing production facilities and know-how in Africa so that Africa can begin producing its own medicines. That, to me, is a very sensible and pragmatic way of trying to give capacity to countries that cannot, as we speak, develop medicines or, indeed, vaccines. Ireland is one of the countries in the world th…

-----is playing a very noble role in this and the European Union has been a way ahead of any other large bloc-----

-----in respect of vaccine production.

I agree with the Deputy that the guidance should issue. I know that the Minister is close to finalisation of the guidance. It has been going on for quite some time, even longer than 2019, in respect of new guidelines for wind turbines and for renewable energy more generally. I will engage with the Minister to accelerate the publication of those guidelines and interaction with the local authorities in respect of those guidelines.

This is one of the many consequences of Brexit. I saw during the week that the exports to the European Union of one third of UK companies had declined. The ramifications of Brexit on the UK economy are going to be sustained in the long term. Regarding the Deputy's point, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement has eliminated tariff duties on trade between the European Union and Great Britain where the relevant rules of origin are met. This means that, if an imported vehicle is of UK origin, there is no customs du…

The Deputy is having an each-way bet in that presentation. The vaccine programme has been very effective, I am sure the Deputy will agree. It has been excellently executed. The NIAC advice in respect of AstraZeneca and Janssen came in on Monday evening and was formally sent yesterday from the CMO to the HSE. The HSE has to work through that advice and its implications, but it will be doing so very quickly for AstraZeneca and the Janssen vaccines. We have Janssen in stock. The AstraZeneca vaccine is being used to ma…

It is a very fair point that the Deputy has raised, although the rates are increasing and progress is being made on the various screening programmes. The Government and the Minister for Health are, along with the HSE, working through and operating an awareness campaign and encouraging people to come back and avail of the screening programmes. That will continue. We will take the Deputy's views on board.

I have said repeatedly and consistently here that our objective is to protect people. Over the past number of months, we have successfully suppressed the virus in this country compared to many other countries.

Let us look at what is happening in Johannesburg, for example, because of the Delta variant. I am amazed at times. I recall being here in February and everyone was talking about maximum suppression of the virus and zero Covid, though not Deputy Danny Healy-Rae in fairness.

It amazes me that people quickly forget how devastating this virus can be on people's health. It amazes me that in a few months people quickly forget what happened in this country. We should never underestimate the potential of this virus, through various variants, to wreak havoc. We are in a better position because of vaccinations.

We will come out of this but we will do it in a steady way, as we have done over recent months. We have reopened the country and we will continue to do so.

We extended the PUP and the deadlines in terms of new applicants in light of advice received on Monday evening regarding the Delta variant. We have done that, we have extended it which shows our flexibility in keeping these schemes under review. It has been an unprecedented intervention by the Government across the board in protecting jobs and supporting hospitality through the Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, and through a variety of other schemes, in addition to the PUP in terms of students and young peop…

I agree with Deputy Collins in terms of the beauty of those walkways and the fantastic amenities they provide to people throughout the country who avail of the incredible landscape around west Cork by accessing those walkways he has described. I will talk with the Minister, in terms of engaging with Oireachtas Members, and with the county council.

It must be acknowledged that there has been a transformation in the nursing home sector as a result of the successful implementation of the vaccination programme. As we move through the variety of supports to different sectors, there will come a stage when we must move to investment mode in the future. We will work with the nursing home sector on the next phase of this. The provision of the outbreak assistance scheme gives an underpinning and security to the nursing home sector in the event of something untoward ha…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on Europe oversees implementation of programme for Government commitments regarding the European Union and related issues. It generally meets in advance of a meeting of the European Council. It last met on 22 March 2021, in advance of the meeting by video conference of the members of the European Council on 25 March. Previous meetings of the Cabinet committee on Europe took place on 16 July 2020, 8 October 2020 and 8 December 2020. …

Regarding the points raised by Deputy Kelly, I welcome the agreement and there was a broad welcome at the European Council meeting at the end of last week for the EU digital Covid-19 certificate framework. From a European Union perspective, that is a significant achievement, given that it was only mooted in December last year. It was initially an idea proposed by the Greek Prime Minister and the Commission then took it on board. Ireland will operate the new digital certificate from 19 July for travel originating wi…

-----and the European Medicines Authority, EMA, should be given greater authority regarding the authorisation of vaccines.

I am sorry, I did not realise that I was going over time. I would gladly answer, but I thought I had more time.

I propose to take questions Nos. 8 to 14, inclusive, together. I participated in the 35th British-Irish Council summit hosted by the Northern Ireland Executive in Fermanagh on 11 June. The Tánaiste and the Minister for Foreign Affairs also attended. I very much welcomed the opportunity to meet in person with other council members for the first time since November 2019. The council had a good discussion on the impact of Covid-19 across member administrations and we discussed sustainable approaches to recovery from C…