Mr. Kenneth Spratt:

In addition to the 14 day incidence as referred to by Mr. Towey, we also take into account other factors, including the trend of new cases compared to the previous 14 days and whether or not that trend is increasing or decreasing. We also look at the overall response, including testing, surveillance, contact tracing, containment, reliability of data and so on. Assessments of the overall response will comprise the international health regulations score, which is across 196 countries, and where possible it will be complemented by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reporting from the capital of the country in question. There are four elements: the 14 day incidence; the trend of new cases; the overall response with regard to trust in and how happy we are with the regime in the country; and the reporting from that country's capital by the Irish Embassy there. That is all fed into the system and, based on the analysis of this by colleagues in the Department of Health, the advice comes up to Government. Based on that the green list is issued, which contains countries that are at or better than Ireland based on all of these criteria. It is quite detailed. I have looked at the appendix that went to Government for its decision this week and the reporting is quite substantial. Even though a report from the countries' capital cities is part of the work, there are also the three other science-based components.