I again press the case for family carers and the necessity of affording them a level of priority in the vaccination programme.

Currently, they are identified just as part of the general population.

Yesterday, the HSE published its plan for the safe return of services. It reflects the huge pressure the system is under and will be under. Therefore, the work of family carers and the value of it should be all the more apparent. They repeatedly ask who, if they fall sick or are left vulnerable, picks up their caring work. The answer is the system would not be in a position to pick up that huge amount of work. There was confusion within government or at least within Fianna Fáil, with one Fianna Fáil Deputy writing to some family home carers to say a decision had been taken by the Minister to afford this priority. The Minister denied that stance. I would like clarity and I would like the Taoiseach to confirm that family carers will be given the recognition and position they deserve.

The Government has given a very strong recognition to family carers and will continue to improve the supports that are available more generally and particularly in terms of providing services across the board for those who need care or help and assistance. It has been clear that the Government vaccination programme, as advised by the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, was to vaccinate in the first instance those who are most vulnerable to the disease, namely, senior citizens over the age of 70, particularly those in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, which we have done, and then front-line healthcare workers, who are particularly exposed to getting the virus in the line of duty on a daily basis. That was generally agreed, I understood, in the House. I do not think it is a good way to go about business to try to pit one group against another and to say the Government is against one group or not recognising a group.

I thank the Taoiseach.

We want to vaccinate the entire adult population and we will take advice from NIAC. We are very conscious of carers and of others who have made representations in respect of the necessity for vaccination.