Final COVID-19 Committee meeting
On Newstalk this evening speaking about the final session of the COVID-19 Committee.
COVID-19 and mental health
As Ireland continues to combat COVID-19, we must not lose sight of the impact it is having on mental health.
PCR Testing
I asked the HSE about the risk of false positives and false negatives in PCR testing. Dr. Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer with the HSE, said “One of the problems with this test is that it can pick up a residual RNA weeks after active infection and after a person is no longer infectious.”
Hospital Capacity in Mid West Region
Four months on from former Health Minister, Simon Harris, T.D., admitting that the Mid West has been failed for decades in terms of bed numbers, I sought an update from the HSE on hospital capacity in the region.
Recording COVID cases and deaths in Ireland
At today’s COVID-19 Committee meeting, I questioned Dr. John Cuddihy of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre about the current system of recording COVID cases and deaths in Ireland.
COVID Committee – community transmission
Concluding comments from today’s meeting of the Dáil COVID-19 Committee, featuring Prof. Sam McConkey, Dr. Johan Giesecke, Dr. Tomás Ryan and Prof. Kirsten Schaffer discussing strategic options for using the Government Plan to eliminate community transmission of COVID-19 in Ireland.
GAA, IRFU and FAI on the impact of COVID
At today’s COVID Committee, I asked the GAA, IRFU and FAI about the economic and social impact of COVID-19 on their organisations and the wider community.
How many Health Ministers does it take to change a health service?
80 people on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick on a day when we learn that only 23 additional critical care beds have been delivered nationally since March and publication of the HSE Winter Plan is delayed for a further week. The State must step up, not just individual citizens.
Beef Sector and BEAM scheme
I was happy to receive confirmation from the Minister for Agriculture that farmers would now receive monthly updates on their stocking density so as to be able to calculate their reductions required for BEAM (Beef Exceptional Aid Measure).
Forestry and the environment
I raised Coillte’s treatment of the environment with the new Minister responsible for Forestry and I invited her to Sliabh Aughty to see for herself.
Hospital Capacity
I fear that, while people are doing what is asked of them in responding to COVID-19, the State is not meeting its own targets.
Tonight Show – Shannon Airport and the Irish aviation sector
I spoke on The Tonight Show last night about Shannon Airport and the Irish aviation sector.
Testing at meat processing plants
I spoke on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne about the news that Covid testing at meat processing plants has been suspended temporarily by the HSE so it can meet a “significant rise in demand” for testing in the community.
Pubs reopen & increasing hospital capacity
We must increase healthcare capacity instead of shutting down aviation, sporting and cultural events, pubs etc, to deal with the threat posed by COVID-19.
Short window to let communities breathe before a long winter
There is a short window to let communities breathe before a long winter.
Criminal Legislation and COVID-19
I questioned the Justice Minister on the use of criminal legislation in combating COVID-19.
NEWSTALK – Michael McNamara on COVID-19
We need to protect the vulnerable from COVID-19 but also allow society to function.
Beef and Forestry sector reform
I urged the new Minister for Agriculture to reform the beef and forestry sectors so that farmers in those sectors and can plan for the future with more certainty.
Regression and Learning Loss During School Closure
I asked teachers’ and SNAs’ representatives whether the time away from schools has had a detrimental effect on pupils. This afternoon, I am chairing two further sessions of the COVID Committee and will be putting questions to Education Minister Norma Foley, Inclusion Ireland, National Parents Council Primary and National Parents Council Post Primary.
Clare FM – Irish economy & Shannon Airport
I spoke on Clare FM this morning about the impact of ongoing restrictions on society and the wider economy, and I also proposed that Government should consider seeking an equity share in Aer Lingus (as Germany has done in Lufthansa) in return for a guarantee of regional connectivity.