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TÁNAISTE LEO VARADKAR has said that he expects more than 80% of people to be offered their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine by the end of June.
Speaking at the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting tonight, he told TDs and senators that he believes the September vaccination target can be met, but hopes we can do better than that.
At the meeting it was heard, if the European Medicines Agency approves it on March 11, Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine will be deployed in the country in April.
The government is expected to be able to reliably inform people by the end of the month when they can expect to receive their jab, the meeting was told.
The Tánaiste also addressed concerns that arose regarding the failure to meet recent vaccine targets.
The HSE failed to meet the government’s goal of administering 100,000 doses of vaccine last week due to delivery problems with the AstraZeneca dose.
The Taoiseach told the Dáil today: “The company believes that the deficit will be made up in the next week and will be overcome.”
Varadkar said the missed target was beyond the government’s control, as it was due to an order from AstraZeneca not being carried out. He said this will happen from time to time, but that targets will be exceeded in other weeks.
The Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting also heard from Brendan Smith and Dara Calleary on concerns about the missed target, however Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is understood not to be at the meeting tonight.
Due to Donnelly’s absence, it is understood that Calleary requested that the issue be postponed as a specific agenda item next week. He also expressed concern with the Taoiseach that GPs are only now contacted about homebound patients two months after the vaccine was implemented, stating that there is confusion among GPs.
The Taoiseach said it would speak to HSE chief Paul Reid about finding urgent solutions.
He said that he had been in direct contact with the HSE on a dedicated hotline to respond to inquiries related to the vaccine launch and to assist with GPs’ inquiries.
Micheál Martin also said that a support package will be developed for young people, many of whom have been affected by the pandemic.
Regarding the Bank of Ireland branch closures across the country, on which several TDs have raised concerns in the Dáil today and its impact on rural Ireland, Varadkar said it could create opportunities for some iconic buildings in cities and towns across the country can be used for other purposes for their local communities.
The Taoiseach also told members that the UK government’s unilateral move on the Northern Ireland Protocol is “useless and cause for concern”.
“We need to solve the problems in a calm way,” he said.
It is also understood that Varadkar “has not been repressed” when discussing the matter of a TD of the Green Party that launches a challenge before the Superior Court against the government’s plans to sign the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (Ceta).
Patrick Costello, TD of Dublin South Central, told his group Monday night that he had filed proceedings.
The Tánaiste said they see it as serious, if not more so, than a government TD voting against the coalition in the Dáil.
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He said he has discussed the matter with Green Party leader Eamon Ryan and told Fine Gael members tonight that he cannot think of another time when such an issue has arisen.
The Taoiseach also spoke on the topic of illegal adoption, which is featured on an RTÉ Prime Time Investigates show tonight. He said the cases are “shocking.”
“We will make sure that those affected receive help and support. It is critical that they have access to your identity and we are pushing information-tracking legislation as a priority, ”he said, stating that bill heads are expected later this month.
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