Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I accept that, but this would have been a more appropriate session. Notwithstanding that, I have a number of questions. In light of the limited time, I ask that witnesses be brief.

There was considerable discussion about how Covid-19 was not a notifiable illness and the apparent lack of urgency or even desire on the part of the HSA for it to become so. Earlier, the Government parties lamented the fact that it was not notifiable and Deputy O'Reilly stated that she had legislation to make it so. Will Ms King explain as briefly as possible why she believes there would be reluctance on the part of the HSA or any of the other statutory bodies involved for Covid-19 to be a notifiable illness under the legislation?