We hear at the moment about the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines. I am getting calls to my office from people who are saying that there are still front-line workers and carers waiting for their vaccines and yet there are people who are not involved in the health system getting a vaccine. What traceability is there for people who are not in health service and other front-line services and yet are getting vaccines? What will be there to ensure that this does not happen anymore? I got five phone calls yesterday about people who are not in front-line services getting vaccines.

Does Deputy Michael Collins wish to speak on the same issue?

Like Deputy O'Donoghue, I am getting calls from doctors, nurses and home helps in west Cork that have not been able to get the vaccine yet. At the same time, I am getting calls indicating that in places councillors are getting the vaccine. Is this turning into a nod and wink situation where the vaccine will be given to some but not to others? At the very least, doctors, nurses, home helps and carers deserve to be offered the vaccine first. I ask the Tánaiste to explain why that is not happening on the ground.

The Government policy and rules around this are very clear. There are only three groups of people who can receive the vaccine at present, namely, care home residents over 65 years and care home staff and healthcare workers who interact with patients. It is important to bear in mind that some administrative and reception staff engage with patients. The third group is people who are over 85 years. Nobody else should be receiving the vaccine. If Deputies have examples of people receiving the vaccine who should not, they should let us know and we will follow it up.