Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the excellent work of the many organisations and Departments represented here today, and I do so unequivocally. Equally, there is much that could and should have been done better, which, when not done as it should be in terms of best practice, can have a catastrophic impact. I wish to raise this afternoon the catastrophic impact on the lives and quality of life of the residents of the Skellig Star centre and the wider community of Cahersiveen due largely to what I would regard as very poor practice. It is my intention to proceed by posing three short questions. I would appreciate it if those questions could be answered, following which I will continue my line of questioning.

I seek clarification on the following questions. First, did the HSE, as suggested by the Minister for Justice and Equality, fail to inform the Department of Justice and Equality of a positive diagnosis of Covid-19 at the Dublin hotel accommodation base of a large group of asylum seekers? A yes or no answer will suffice. Second, knowing of the positive Covid-19 case, why did the HSE not authorise testing of the group before they were sent to Kerry? Third, will the representatives present explain who made the decision to overrule the legitimate concerns and misgivings of HSE Cork-Kerry about moving a large group of people during a pandemic to a place which Cork-Kerry HSE deemed to be utterly inappropriate given its poor services of primary care available in the area?