I ask about the ongoing booster programme. I support what it delivers for over-60s, under-60s who are compromised and, when we have European Medicines Agency, EMA, approval, hopefully children as well. Does the Taoiseach believe we will have a booster programme for the remaining population early next year? Would he support that? Will he ask the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, to bring forward a decision on that before Christmas so the infrastructure in place for the programme can be maintained afterwards? It would be crazy to let that infrastructure go away. Does the Taoiseach believe that we will be in a position to do this? NIAC and the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, will advise on whether it is medically and scientifically good but it is a Government decision whether to proceed with such a booster campaign. Will the Taoiseach have NIAC make a decision before Christmas? That committee took so long in relation to healthcare workers.

The booster campaign is important in this phase of the pandemic in reducing severe illness. The evidence is strong now. Evidence is emerging that administration of the booster vaccine to the over-80s is having an impact on reducing severe illness in that age cohort. I am aware of the interaction and the proper level of engagement with the Chief Medical Officer, CMO, NPHET and NIAC. We have to avoid the sense that politicians are declaring on clinical issues. Doctors want the protection as they administer vaccines of a hierarchy of clinical advisers. As I said before in the House, the expectation across Europe is that we will arrive at a situation where there is an annual booster vaccine. I see the programme expanding but NIAC keeps it under constant review following requests from the Minister and the CMO.