We are in a very severe level 5. It is not only Members but the people behind the scenes who lead to a Dáil sitting happening. There are far more people involved than just the elected representatives. The public health advice has guided the behaviour of the Parliament in this issue. That should be acknowledged. Numbers are still high out there. Society is in a very severe level of restrictions. There are still in excess of 800 people in hospital and significant numbers in intensive care. Case numbers are still too …

That is why that Bill is tabled for deliberation and consideration. I met with the leader of the Sinn Féin Party last evening and I said we were open to consideration for debates in regard to Northern Ireland, for example, next week, if that is what it desires. We are open to constructive engagement with the Opposition in terms of how debates are developed, but the Business Committee, ultimately, is the correct forum to deliberate on those issues.

The Minister for Health will be in tomorrow morning.

Sorry, the Department of Health is in tomorrow morning.

I am answering the question. Every week, we have had nearly a day, in effect, devoted to Covid. It is not just all about vaccinations either, because the other issues need to be dealt with and debated also. That is fair to say.

I have to reject that. Deputy Shortall has a habit of consistently and continually asserting something which is not true in terms of consultation. It is just not true.

I am in here every week answering questions and Deputy Boyd Barrett knows that. I have no issue with coming in here to answer questions on a whole range of issues. Deputy Boyd Barrett should not be accusing the Government side or myself of trying to avoid answering questions or dealing with issues. I am in here every single week and that is the way it should be. I will always hold myself accountable in respect of that.

I have long suspected that the agenda from the Deputy's perspective is to deprive other Deputies in the House from an opportunity to get their chance to speak.

That has always been his position.

I have missed no deadlines. I said this week that we want to bring clarity for the leaving certificate cohort of 2021 and that is the priority. I recall the Deputy and her spokesman on education calling for consultation with all the partners in education on related issues as far back as January. The Deputy cannot have it both ways. She talked of the Government dithering and so on. The Government is engaged in substantiative discussions with all the partners in education: students, parents, teachers and the manageme…

I have no difficulty with facilitating a centre in Drogheda, none at all. The Health Service Executive has facilitated this. Different HSE regions have presumably sent in their submissions from different locations. The bulk of people, by the way, will be vaccinated in their GPs' surgeries when we get to the mass vaccination stage. Obviously the vaccination centres will augment and supplement that. There is no necessity for this to be turned into a political football either, to be fair to all concerned. Representati…

There has not been and there does not need to be. Again, what is the objective here? The objective is for Government, through the national task force and the Health Service Executive-----

-----to ensure we get out as many vaccines as quickly as we possibly can to as many people as possible. There is no mystery here.

It is about doing the right thing for the people.

Let us get people vaccinated. Let us do it with a unity of purpose and that is the spirit in which I will pursue this. Deputy Nash has raised an issue in respect of Drogheda and I will put it to the HSE that there is a concern about Drogheda.

The legal representative has made that assertion. The Deputy is correct in saying that everything we can do must be done to bring closure, if at all possible, to the families of those who died horrifically in what was the worst and most horrific event in my living memory as far as the number of people who died is concerned. I remember well it happening, as a young person, and the sense of horror that spread throughout the country and the search for justice, the truth and answers. Funding has been made available. My…

The Government is committed to giving choice to students. Some students would like the option of sitting the traditional leaving certificate or as close to it as possible. The Deputy has his views on the best model of assessment in educational terms but an emergency like this should not be used just to throw out a particular model. We believe choice should be given and that is the basis upon which the Minister has engaged with the unions. The unions are very committed to the traditional format of the leaving certif…

I believe the policing dispensation or outcome of the Good Friday Agreement was one of the most radical transformations that occurred, given what had been the situation prior to that. What happened on the Ormeau Road was wrong, but there are mechanisms in place to deal with that and to hold those responsible accountable. There is the ombudsman for policing and the Policing Authority and we should use those mechanisms rather than immediately reaching for the line of undermining confidence in the new policing structu…

We all need to be very careful in terms of the language we use and the approach we take to this. Issues need to firmly dealt with, people need to be accountable-----

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, has been engaged in terms of a wide range of issues, including this issue, with both the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and, indeed, all of the parties.