I thank the Senator for marking that important anniversary and outlining the steps still required to be taken to fulfil the pledge in the Dáil declaration four years ago.

I had the pleasure of tuning in to Katie Hannon's programme on RTÉ Radio 1 on Saturday afternoon in which she had Professor Brian MacCraith, chair of the high-level task force on Covid vaccinations, as a guest. He is a highly intelligent and unassuming individual. He has a gift that when he talks one tends to listen to what he has to say. He outlined the timetable for the vaccination roll-out in the country. I found it to be a very positive listening experience. He outlined how the HSE built the infrastructure to deliver the vaccine once it gets the supply. The prediction that 82% of the population will be vaccinated by the end of June is very encouraging. We need only see the images on our television screens and listen to testimonies on our local radio stations to be aware of the positivity of those who have been fortunate enough to get the vaccine, particularly the over 85s group. The smiles and hope that have been put back on their faces is very uplifting.

The EU has a number of questions to answer. The first one is in regard to the slow roll-out of the vaccine. I listened with interest to developments. In Europe we have the European Medicines Agency, EMA, and in the US, there is an equivalent body, the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, which looks at all the data and clinical trials and assesses vaccines so that they can be rolled out to the broader community.

I was disappointed to learn that the European Medicines Agency, EMA, will only consider the data for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the middle of March and we will not have it until the middle or end of April. It is a one shot vaccine which is a game changer. The Food and Drug Administration, FDA, in America signed off on it last weekend. We have been looking in envy at the UK's vaccination programme. It had a head start because the authorities there signed off on the vaccines, for example, the Oxford vaccine, much more quickly. I would like us to use the World Health Organization, WHO, as a body that would act on behalf of all the world's citizens, so we could have one group sign off on these vaccines rather than have everyone doing their own thing.

Bhí mé ag éisteacht ar maidin le Príomhfheidhmeannach Bhanc na hÉireann faoin gcinneadh atá déanta acu craobhacha bainc a dhúnadh trasna na tíre agus i nGaillimh ina measc - in Uachtar Ard, i mBaile Átha Ghártha agus i nDún Mór. This morning I listened to the CEO of Bank of Ireland, Francesca McDonagh, talking about bank closures and the decision by Bank of Ireland to close a number of branches across the country, including in Oughterard, Ballygar and Dunmore in Galway. I regret that this is happening but welcome there will be no compulsory redundancies as part of the rationalisation. I also welcome the commitment to enhance services or provide additional services through An Post.

This follows the recent decision by Ulster Bank to exit the Irish market. We need to equip, encourage and enable An Post and credit unions to enhance their financial services. Both An Post and credit unions should be going beyond basic financial services. The retreat of traditional banks is an opportunity for trusted organisations like An Post and credit unions to provide day-to-day financial products and services. They are in so many of our communities and they have been reaching out and helping households that banks have not. I refer, for example, to the micro loan scheme which is why, thankfully, we do not see a massive growth in payday lenders.

An Post is already showing innovation and flexibility via its green hub initiative. It is not only helping people access finance for home retrofit and energy upgrades but supporting householders with various grant schemes. This morning there was a queue outside the door of a credit union branch in Galway, with four cashiers working in it. People like credit unions. They support local groups and charities and any profits are shared with the community. A major rationalisation in credit unions has led to stronger institutions now providing mortgages and credit cards.

Unlike bank branches, the need for financial services will not disappear. Credit unions and An Post can fill the gap banks are creating using their local network and knowledge of communities. I am aware that a debate with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, has been requested. Perhaps we could include the issue of An Post and credit unions and what they can do for our local regions in the absence of bank branches.