I have a genuine question relating to boosters for the over 60s, specifically, those aged 60 to 69. When they got the AstraZeneca vaccine, there was a delay whereby younger cohorts were fully vaccinated long in advance of the majority of those aged 60 to 69. I understand that the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, provides the advice on this issue and I am not disputing that. I am not disputing the advice on the five-month gap but the last time around, the gap of three months between doses was reduced to five weeks by the end of the programme. Will the Taoiseach ask NIAC to look at this issue on a regular basis, because evidence comes in and things change? It is a fact that those aged 60 to 69 are being treated differently. People younger than them are going to be jumping ahead of them for booster vaccines. We need to have fairness in this.

The Deputy mentioned those younger than 60-----

It is because of the waiting times. The younger-----

The target and expectation of the HSE is that those aged 60 to 69 will receive boosters by the end of December-----

Some of them only got vaccinated in September. That is the point.

I know, but we have engaged regularly with NIAC on the need-----

All I am doing is asking the question.

-----to review this. NIAC provides the advice. There is a balance here, and I must be honest with everyone in the House. People ask if the Government will do this or that. The Government acts on the advice of NIAC. I do not want to put the committee under the spotlight unduly either, which really is the implication of what the question is about.

No, I am asking the Taoiseach to ask NIAC a question.

I am answering it. My point is that the committee ultimately has to answer for any advice that it gives about the administration of a vaccine to people. Roughly 93% of people took up the first vaccines, which in many ways is a vote of confidence in the system that we have.

Agreed.

I respectfully suggest that we could jeopardise all of that. It is easy for me and it would be very populist of me to say-----

I am only asking the Taoiseach to ask NIAC a question.

I am giving the Deputy the answer.

I have no issue with NIAC. That is not the issue.

The Deputy knows that is the answer.

I am asking the Taoiseach to ask NIAC to look at the issue regularly. That is all.

We do. NIAC is constantly reviewing all of these things. I have to say what I said there.