However, I might get a more positive response from An Taoiseach if I were attired in that manner. In any event, happy Christmas in advance to all.

I wish to raise with the Taoiseach his Government's management of the Covid booster roll-out. This morning, on his way to Cabinet, the Taoiseach said it is now a case of all hands on deck because of the Omicron variant, but his urgency comes late in the day. The truth is we needed an all-hands-on-deck approach over two months ago, long before the emergence of the Omicron variant, because at that stage we knew we were facing into a difficult winter. We have known for quite some time that an efficient booster roll-out would be needed to protect people and to safeguard our progress. The fact is the Government's lack of forward planning has led to real issues with the roll-out of the booster. We have seen problems with the alignment of the booking system between the HSE, GPs and pharmacies. This means people have received multiple appointments which stay on the system even when people try to cancel. One person has reported receiving nine appointments and has been declared a no-show for each one, despite no longer living in the State. There have been many instances of people receiving up to five appointments, so I am glad to hear that is being updated, but it is late in the day. The lack of Government planning has also hit the number of vaccinators we have. We are down 500 vaccinators since the summer, which means the booster campaign is now operating at two thirds the capacity of the original roll-out.

How has this happened? Clearly, the Government made no contingencies for maintaining capacity in the vaccination network, which is madness. We should not now be facing the need to scramble for vaccinators again. That capacity should have been hardwired into the system. Two years on there is still a lack of preparation and leadership from the Government. That is why we see winding queues and big delays outside vaccination centres. It is why some people have been turned away from the centres and why we are now in a rush to get out doses that are close to expiring. We should not be in this position. All the evidence reflects that the vast majority of people want their boosters. The problem we have is a Government that moves far too slowly and is always playing catch-up. We saw it when it came to use of antigen tests, we saw it when it came to the ventilation of our schools and we see it now again with this booster campaign.

Tá an Rialtas ag bogadh go rómhall ar an bhfeachtas teanndáileoige. Tá an t-am le haghaidh fógraí móra thart. Tá sé thar am anois dul i ngleic leis seo. Tá sé thar am na hacmhainní atá ag teastáil a chur ar fáil chun go n-éireodh leis an rolladh amach. The Taoiseach says it is all hands on deck, but the time for big announcements and big targets is over. It is now time for delivery. He says the Government will ramp up the number of vaccinators. Will he tell us by how many? Will he tell us when they will be in place? Will he tell us what additional supports will be given to GPs and pharmacies? Will he guarantee the problems experienced with the appointment system will not be repeated as the campaign is accelerated?

I wish the Deputies opposite a very happy Christmas. I am off to the European Union Council meeting tomorrow, so I may not get the opportunity to do so then. I wish the Ceann Comhairle a happy Christmas and thank him for all his facilitation during the year and his tolerance and patience. I hope it can last another session. I thank the ushers, the Captain of the Guard and the team here for their co-operation and guidance during a very difficult situation in relation to Covid-19.

In response to Deputy McDonald's questions, I want to start by thanking everybody involved in the vaccination programme. I pay tribute to those who have led it from the beginning. It is one of the most successful programmes in the world in terms of the first and second primary doses, which have given significant protection to the population against severe disease and illness. I thank the general practitioners in respect of the booster campaign. GPs have moved very quickly from the outset in respect of the older age cohorts, those with underlying conditions and with healthcare workers. I thank the pharmacists and vaccinators across all the different centres. I wish to make the general point that the vaccine booster programme commenced on 4 October 2021, following advice from the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, to go ahead in advance of that. We are currently fourth in Europe on the administration of the booster thanks to the efforts of all involved.

The arrival of the Omicron variant does lend considerable urgency to this, given the rapidity at which it spreads. It has been designated a variant of concern for about three weeks. We have been in touch with public officials at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, CMO, who are concerned. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, ECDC, is concerned at the rapid spread of Omicron, and that it has a significant advantage over Delta in terms of its infectiousness. That is a concern.

However, the Deputy should be in no doubt that we have been working with the HSE public officials in terms of expanding and extending further the vaccination programme. There are three essential channels: the vaccination centres, the GP surgeries, and the pharmacies. Discussions have been under way with the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, for example, in terms of GPs throughout the country being able to do more, if possible. To be fair to them, they have done a fair degree of vaccinations in the booster campaign so far. Those engagements have been taking place. There is a generally good response. Those in the primary care system want to respond and to be of assistance to the country at this particular juncture, with the arrival of the new variant. We know the booster gives significant additional protection against Omicron. That is the general view of public health officials and the expertise that it will give cellular immunity against Omicron. That is the general view and belief right now in terms of preventing severe disease and admissions to hospitals, which is the key agenda and objective of the booster vaccination programme.

There were some operational systems issues. However, in my view, we have to look at this in balance and perspective. They were not the key issue. The key issue now is to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as we possibly can. That means extending the opening hours of the vaccination centres and expanding the roll-out in the other two channels, utilising our primary care system through GPs and pharmacies. We are going to utilise all capacity at our disposal. We have administered 1.25 million doses between third doses and the booster, which gives the vital older age cohorts significant protection in the time ahead.

The Taoiseach does not have to convince anybody in this House or beyond in respect of the booster. All of the evidence is that people wish to receive their boosters. We have a highly vaccinated population. Therefore, the issues that arise are operational. There is a question mark over the management and leadership of the Taoiseach's Government in rolling out this booster campaign.

We have had huge confusion, as I have said, about appointments, we have had long queues, and we have had people being sent away. Now we have a considerable volume of vaccine that will expire that has to be administered to people who wish to get their boosters.

I have asked the Taoiseach a series of questions. We clearly need additional vaccinators. How many will we get and when will they be in place? What additional supports does the Taoiseach propose for GPs and pharmacists? It is clear the Government is attaching great importance to and putting great stock in the booster campaign. The issues of capacity are essential. It is not enough to thank those on the front line. We have to enable them to do their job and to deliver this. When the Taoiseach takes to his feet, will he tell us precisely and concretely how many additional vaccinators there will be and when they will be in place? What supports will there be for our GPs and pharmacists?

I was taken somewhat by what was said yesterday in Stormont by Deputy McDonald's colleague, the deputy First Minister, Michelle O'Neill. She said, "If ever there was a time for a united front on the public health message, it's today, because we are facing into a very, very difficult period in the weeks ahead". I make this general point across the House. It is a fair comment.

That said, with regard to a number of points Deputy McDonald has raised, there is no issue with the Moderna vaccine. It is not being rushed out. I took Moderna myself on Friday. I waited in a line. The mood was good. People spoke to each other. Many people are waiting in line and are happy to get the booster vaccine. There needs to be balance and perspective in the commentary on this. Thousands of vaccinations were done last week. Two days were lost because of Storm Barra. The highest number was last Thursday with 43,000 doses administered. It is more complex than the first campaign. The interval date was one issue and it is also because of doing multiple age cohorts together. GPs, pharmacists and vaccination centres are vaccinating the same patient cohorts at the same time. It is being done differently from the first phase. This has brought an additional layer of complexity. Genuinely, across the country-----

So we are not getting more vaccinators I am assuming.

Yes, we will.

How many and when?

As I said earlier, we are working through the three channels with regard to additional output, if we can, on the GP side, the pharmacies and extending the hours of the vaccination centres.

How many vaccinators? The Taoiseach does not know.

The acute hospital system has been told as well and has been engaged with in terms of reducing some activities with a view to engaging with the vaccination programme.

If the Taoiseach does not know how many he should just say so. I would appreciate an answer. It is a very straightforward question.

It is not that simple.