Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses for coming to the committee today. Why did they CEO feel he had to write to the Department on 19 April on the Chief Medical Officer's commitments on testing capacity?

In a reply I received from the CMO this morning, I was told that the figure of 100,000 testing capacity, which we have reached this week after a month, will now be a fluid figure and under constant review. Is there a real impact on the delivery of services if the figure for testing capacity shifts? Is there a knock-on impact on what can be delivered if the capacity has to go up to 120,000 or is reduced to 80,000? Will that free up capacity or the delivery of other services?

We had four tragic Covid deaths yesterday. What is the proportion of non-Covid preventable deaths? Is this being tracked? Which is higher at the moment and is this something that is being measured?

Is any consideration being given to the provision of financial, medical and rehabilitative supports for health workers in the aftermath of the Covid-19 emergency, particularly with counselling? Is this being discussed as we seek to move out of this crisis, it is hoped later on this year?

Are Mr. Reid and his colleagues in the HSE concerned about the potential for under-reporting of symptoms or safe public health practices from residents in direct provision? It is well known that many asylum seekers fear speaking out because they are in such a vulnerable position and due to the potential ramifications of whistleblowing.