I wish to raise the need for the re-establishment of the NPHET vulnerable people's subgroup. The work of this subgroup under NPHET was invaluable in the planning for the most vulnerable groups and individuals in society and enabled representation and clear communication with Government from those working on the ground, particularly in disability and voluntary groups. As the Tánaiste will be aware, the group was dissolved after it was deemed that it had met its terms of reference on 28 August and its last meeting was held on 24 June last year. During that meeting, those within the disability and voluntary sectors were concerned about the dissolution and highlighted the need to retain a channel for communications and engagement with Government should a second wave emerge. This has not happened.

I argue that for as long as the virus is with us we need to have this group active and reinstated and perhaps give it a further function afterwards to assist in dealing with the trauma caused by the virus to vulnerable people and individuals. Why does the Government not reinstate this group?

I thank the Deputy. I will have to check that out for the Deputy. It may well need to be re-established, particularly for groups that may be at very high risk and I am thinking of the Roma community, in particular, which experienced Covid-19 very badly during the first wave, and there are other such groups. I will take this up with the chief medical officer, CMO, to see if it can be established and what the merits and the demerits of this are.