David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the many witnesses who are taking part. I may not be able to get to everybody. They are very welcome and I thank them for their contributions.

I address my first comments to Professor Kearney. The first question people will ask is what the difference is between a zero-Covid strategy and the strategy currently in place in the State, especially on the back of the new colour-coded system announced yesterday. What would be the red line issues or key differences between what is in place in the State and what is being advocated? That is a general question but I have a number of specific questions on the opening statements and some of the material provided to us in preparation for the meeting and I want to tease some of it out.

On non-essential foreign travel, I agree with testing, isolating and tracing the movements of incoming people at ports and airports. I know there was some discussion and movement by the Government on this in recent times. We have been told that NPHET and other advisers have argued against testing at airports because they believe it to be ineffective.

Why would Professor Kearney think that is the advice and what is her view on what type of testing and tracing needs to be done in respect of travel?