The Taoiseach knows with the rolling out of the vaccine programme that informed consent will be vital. Where older people in nursing homes may have dementia, for example, or where some older people may be unsure if they will avail of the vaccine, will the Taoiseach assure the House that older people will not be told that access to visitors is dependent on them availing of the vaccination programme and that there will be proper informed consent in the administration of the vaccine in nursing homes throughout the country?

I do not know who has suggested that.

Is the Taoiseach going to answer the question?

I am answering it rhetorically. I am slightly concerned that such ideas are being put out there without any source or origin. Nobody is suggesting-----

How are we going to deal with informed consent?

The strategy has a very clear ethical framework governing informed consent and that deals very much with the matters raised by the Deputy. Informed consent is essential and it is an ethical requirement in administering the vaccine. Nobody has suggested that somebody might be denied a visitor because he or she does not want the vaccine. It is outrageous to suggest or imply that. I do not know who said it.

We do not have any other mechanism to raise such matters.

The Deputy knows he does. He is an experienced Deputy.

I have been at this for 18 years.