Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I would like to direct most of my questions to the CMO. I wish to go back and forth on the questions as the answers should not take too long. I would like to thank the CMO and the Secretary General for all their work, and for the leadership that they have shown over the last number of months.

What was the CMO's thought process in terms of announcing the capacity for 100,000 tests per week on 17 April, given that it is a month later and, according to the Secretary General's statement, we are on the cusp of meeting that target? The statement from the CEO of the HSE, who is coming to the next session, states that we are at that target today. I am still uncertain as to whether we have that capacity now. Either way we are close, but what was the CMO's thought process in stating that without first consulting with the HSE?