David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their service in recent months and for the work they have done. I will put distinct questions and ask that they provide distinct responses because each Deputy only has five minutes.

We have a plan to reopen the economy. It involved five phases but this has been reduced to four. I have seen the fruits of that. I drove up from County Waterford today and it took a bit longer to get to Dublin city centre than it did last week. It is obvious that people are moving around and are out and about more.

I wish to come back to something Professor Nolan stated a couple of times.

He used the phrase "the possibility of a significant resurgence" as opposed to a second wave. I accept that and think it is the correct terminology. He also said in response to Deputy Carthy earlier that there may be the possibility of what he described as manageable outbreaks or a manageable resurgence. What we need to know and what I am sure the Government needs to know in regard to a manageable outbreak is what the reproduction number is. I am sorry but I am pressed for time. At what point does it switch from being a manageable resurgence to an unmanageable resurgence? What is the reproduction number that would tip the balance from manageable to unmanageable?