Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming in. It has been extremely informative. I want to put a couple of questions to the experts about how we could leverage different types of testing to establish the green zones we are talking about which is more about finding out where the virus is not as opposed to where the virus is. The first of those questions will go to Professors Kearney and Staines. Has there been any consideration of the use of pool testing whereby we test large numbers of samples, perhaps 100 plus at any one time? That would exponentially increase the capacity for testing but it would also be relevant for something like international air travel where one might be able to test a full planeload at a time.

If one got an all-clear for that planeload, one would know that everyone on board was in the clear. It would also be useful for the meat industry to be able to test on a factory by factory basis. Has that been given any consideration as part of the zero-Covid plan?

A related matter, on which Professor Michie might be able to respond, is sewage epidemiology or wastewater testing on which a good deal of research has been done in universities, including in Newcastle, Bangor and Edinburgh. I am given to understand that it is possible to test for Covid-19 in wastewater systems and this may be able to give us an indication of prevalence. For example, in my home town of Tramore one could test and find there is no Covid with the sewage and wastewater system, which would allow the establishment of a green zone. One of the objectives Professor Staines is driving towards is establishing green zones and merging them as one finds and eradicates the virus from different settings. Would any of the experts like to give an opinion or view on those testing techniques and whether they have been used or might be relevant in an Irish context?