Dáil Éireann
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Vol. 1003 Thursday, No. 6 28 January 2021 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) 28/01/2021A00100Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 565 28/01/2021N00100Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 593 28/01/2021Q00500Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 602 28/01/2021T01100Covid-19 (Social Protection): Statements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 611 28/01/2021JJ00200Response of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to Covid-19: Statements � � � � � � 645 28/01/2021XX02400Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 683 28/01/2021XX02600Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 685 28/01/2021XX02700School Facilities � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 685 28/01/2021YY00400Post Office Network � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 687 28/01/2021AAA00150Architectural Heritage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 690 28/01/2021BBB00150Employment Rights � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 693 DÁIL ÉIREANN Déardaoin, 28 Eanáir 2021 Thursday, 28 January 2021 Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 10 a�m� Paidir. Prayer. 28/01/2021A00100Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements 28/01/2021A00200An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: We will begin with statements and questions and answers on the Covid-19 vaccination programme, which must conclude within 100 minutes. In that context, I ask Members to be conscious of time. The Minister has 15 minutes. 28/01/2021A00300Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly): I will be sharing time. I will take ap- proximately the first ten minutes. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to update the House on the Covid-19 vaccine programme. Like so much of our nation’s response to the pandemic, the vaccine pro- gramme is testament to the way that Ireland, as a nation, has come together to show the best of what it can achieve. One of the most powerful demonstrations of how the pandemic has brought out the best is in the development of vaccines against Covid-19� Private sector innova- tion has merged with public sector investment and support to ensure the speedy development of safe and effective vaccines. This is particularly evident in the procurement process devised by the European Commission which allows member states to access a portfolio of candidate vaccines against Covid-19� Through the leveraging of the EU’s emergency support instrument, funding has been provided to vaccine manufacturers to meet, in some instances, the cost of production for a vaccine� 28/01/2021A00400Deputy Alan Kelly: Are copies of the Minister’s speech available? 28/01/2021A00500Deputy Stephen Donnelly: As of last Sunday, 24 January, 143,000 doses of vaccine have been administered to our front-line healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities. 28/01/2021A00600Deputy Alan Kelly: Can we get copies of the speech? 28/01/2021A00700Deputy Stephen Donnelly: This equates to almost 3% of our population. A full 66,000 doses were administered to residents and staff----- 28/01/2021A00800Deputy Alan Kelly: Can we get a copy of the speech? 565 Dáil Éireann 28/01/2021A00900Deputy Stephen Donnelly: -----of long-term residential care facilities� 28/01/2021A01000An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: I am sorry to interrupt, but are copies of the speech avail- able? 28/01/2021A01100Deputy Stephen Donnelly: Yes� 28/01/2021A01200An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Are they being circulated? 28/01/2021A01300Deputy Stephen Donnelly: The copies are here, somewhere. 28/01/2021A01400An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: I ask that staff would find them. I am sorry for interrupting. 28/01/2021A01500Deputy Stephen Donnelly: As stated, 66,000 doses were administered to the residents and staff of long-term residential care facilities and 77,000 doses to front-line healthcare workers. The HSE also commenced administration of the second dose of the vaccine last week in 27 nursing homes and in hospital groups. That work of administering second doses is being sig- nificantly stepped up this week. The presence of Covid-19 in a number of care facilities continues to be a challenge and has meant that some residents and staff could not be vaccinated. Due to outbreaks of Covid-19, four nursing homes out of a total of 589 were not included in the first series of vaccinations on the basis of public health assessments and in some others it was not possible to vaccinate all residents and staff due to their Covid status. Those who were unable to receive a first dose will be vaccinated once it is deemed safe to do so� It is important that all stakeholders are aware of how dynamic the situation is with regard to supply chains� This means that Ireland has to employ an agile plan to react to changes� For example, some adjustments may be necessary to the original target of doses being administered in March to take account of AstraZeneca’s recent announcement regarding reduced or lower than expected deliveries of its vaccine� Acting on behalf of member states, the European Commission has negotiated six advance purchase agreements with a range of vaccine suppliers to date. In total, between initial volumes procured and additional opt-ins, Ireland has advance purchased over 14 million doses of vac- cine. I wish to acknowledge the major efforts of the European Commission in developing the initiative and bringing it to fruition. Currently there are two vaccines in receipt of conditional market authorisation from the Commission and the European Medicines Agency, EMA. These vaccines, which are produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, have been reviewed by the EMA which has provided significant assurance that they are both safe and effective. These vaccines are currently being administered as part of Ireland’s vaccination programme� The reduction in the quantity of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine supplies across the EU for one week was a challenge. The reduction in supply was required to allow the company to make necessary changes to expand its production. The increased level of production capacity will be beneficial for member states, including Ireland� A third vaccine supplier, AstraZeneca, submitted its application for conditional market au- thorisation to the EMA and may receive approval from the European Commission as early as tomorrow. Obviously, we are watching that situation very carefully. Ireland has secured 3.3 million doses of this vaccine and it is envisaged that its availability will be crucial in the con- text of vaccinations to be administered by pharmacists and GPs in our communities� Recently, 566 28 January 2021 AstraZeneca advised that it will be unable to meet its initial delivery commitments if or when it receives conditional market authorisation. I am advised that this is due to difficulties arising at one of its manufacturing plants in Belgium. Negotiations with the company are continuing. At a meeting last night, the company was still not in a position to provide clarity on full deliveries after the middle of March� While it is anticipated that this should not impact on the start date for the roll out of the vaccination programme to the over-70s living in the community, its impact upon the pace of vaccinations is still difficult to gauge at present. It is important to note that funding was provided by the Commission, which leveraged its emergency support instrument, to facilitate production of vaccines on behalf of member states. This instrument is ultimately funded by the member states themselves. AstraZeneca’s vaccine has been delivered to other countries outside of the EU� The Commission, understand- ably, wishes to find out how the funds that it has provided to AstraZeneca were used, given the absence of agreed doses of the vaccine� Greater control measures to monitor the export of vaccines and associated transparency measures may be the best mechanisms to facilitate this process and is something on which the Commission is actively engaged with the company. A feature of the vaccination programme is that the administration of vaccines will only be limited by supply. While vaccines are currently being administered to the first and second cohorts, namely, those in long-term residential care and front-line healthcare workers, the in- tention is to provide access to free vaccination for all adults� The vaccination programme con- ducted by the HSE exceeds expectations and is a testament to the commitment of all involved� I would like to finish by acknowledging the work of everyone involved in the vaccination programme� This includes: our school vaccination teams, community teams and peer-to-peer hospital teams; our GPs, practice nurses and pharmacists; the trainers who have trained thou- sands to vaccinate and who will train many thousands more; the