In response to Deputy Howlin's point, I note that the regulations make what is penal and what is not absolutely explicit. All the regulations are available online. The wording in the regulations states that "this is a penal provision". For example, I recently signed new regulations regarding gatherings in people's houses, weddings, sporting events and gatherings in theatres, cinemas, etc. None of those regulations includes the stipulation that it is a penal provision. In a very limited number of cases, including th…

My warmest congratulations to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on her election. I have no doubt she will serve the office proudly. I am more than happy to do the question-and-answer session in whatever way works for Deputies, be that in taking questions and answers together or responding to all questions at the end of a contribution. I welcome the opportunity to update the House on Covid-19 and the nation's ongoing response to it. Before I begin, I wish to extend my sympathies to the friends and families of those who have…

With the transition of any Government, there is going to be a period of time-----

-----where there has to be transition. I will finish right on this, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

This will be my final sentence, if I may.

I promise the House that the briefings that were provided and the access to the HSE and public health officials are going to be recommenced. They stopped over the past number of weeks and I want to get them going again as quickly possible.

I thank the Deputy for those questions. On capacity, I agree 100% with the Deputy. We are in the middle of a very comprehensive planning exercise to bring in a winter plan unlike any that has been seen before. I agree fully with the Deputy that before Covid-19 arrived here, we had the longest waiting list anywhere in Europe, the lowest number of consultants, the second lowest number of hospital beds and all sorts of other capacity issues, which I am on the record as being critical of over many years. My position on…

No problem. That is fine. I will revert in writing on the rest.

The expert report is coming next week. I have not seen it but understand it has a long list of recommendations. The first focus has to be on making sure that the nursing homes are protected. The public health officials are saying, based on how they see this disease work around the world, that we will have a second surge. We hope that it will be low and that it will be localised geographically but we have to be prepared within particular communities, counties and cities for the prevalence rate to go up. The first fo…

I thank Deputy Nash for his questions and, while I acknowledge that he is stepping in for his party leader today, for his ongoing work on a lot of these issues. On the flu vaccine, I will ask for a detailed response to be sent to the Deputy. I have a detailed note here but if I give it now it would take up all the time. Essentially, the advice from the national immunisation advisory committee is being followed. It did not advise the whole country, it advised at-risk groups. I am delighted to say that the HSE has al…

Early next week. I will get the remaining information to the Deputy in writing.

I thank the Deputy for her questions. I am looking to see what led to this 7% level. I do not believe it is acceptable. Deputy Shortall also believes it is unacceptable. There are several things happening. The number of people who are going to be tasked with following up on this is going to be significantly increased. It is not going to be the Department of Health but the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. That was what was agreed by the Government earlier this week. What will help with that is the electro…

With regard to the second question, the Deputy asked me the same question again. I have answered the question. My answer is exactly what it was five minutes ago. With regard-----

I have answered the question.

I did. The Deputy may not like the answer but I have answered it.

I agree and I have comprehensively answered the question. I told the Deputy exactly what I will be doing. The answer to the same question is as it was when she asked it the first time. With regard to the Department of Justice and Equality, the Deputy keeps on stating my Department is taking over the follow-up. It is not. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is taking over the follow-up.

It is true.

I thank the Deputy for raising those points. I read the HIQA report carefully. I understand the Deputy's alarm, but my reading of the document in terms of the level of compliance is different. I am more than happy to discuss that with him after this debate. The report gave a green grade, which denotes full compliance, to 90% plus of nursing homes in respect of the various governance issues. It identified approximately 5% or 6% of homes that needed extra work. We must ensure that we engage with those nursing homes t…

I thank the Deputy for his question. To be clear, I do not mean to underplay the HIQA report. We are taking it very seriously and have examined it in detail. The matters that HIQA has flagged are being taken seriously. I accept the Deputy's points on the various details in the report. Regarding a public inquiry, we have the HIQA report. I have sought an additional HIQA report, which will essentially be the same piece of work but in respect of the other half of nursing homes, which are those that had Covid cases in …

I will revert to the Deputy in more detail. The very short answer is that there can be no double standards. There cannot be one level of health and safety for us and another for the nation's children and school workers.