This morning we learned that the Department of Health will pay the €187,000 salary of the former Chief Medical Officer, CMO, Dr. Tony Holohan, while he dips his toe into academia at Trinity College Dublin. The Department will also have to pay his replacement. Is this not evidence of a cosy cartel or a two- or three-tier society? People are hard-pressed to try to survive and yet the Government can do this for Dr. Holohan, its friend. This goes all the way back to Aughinish Alumina. They covered up for each other and this is his reward. He can go into Trinity College and the Department of Health will pay his money while people wait for all kinds of treatments for cancer, orthodontics, spina bifida, you name it. As stated, the Department is also going to pay his replacement. The Government is taking the public for right patsies. That is one thing they are not. We have decent people. Show them some respect and stop this double-jobbing and scandalous waste of money.

I am not familiar with the arrangements between the Department of Health and Trinity College. I was not involved, one way or another, in the decision taken by the Department of Health to create this post on public health and pandemic preparedness and second the CMO to it. That is my understanding of the matter from the perspective of the Department of Health. The Deputy's personalisation of it between myself and Dr. Holohan should be withdrawn. I had no hand, act or part in it.

Personalisation. Shocking. Is the Taoiseach in charge of the country or not?

Please.

Is the Cabinet in charge?

Please. I call Deputy Connolly.

Where has collective responsibility gone?