Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 26 August 2020

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response

State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases

Mr. Paul Reid:

The first serial testing that was completed was targeted in nursing homes in particular on healthcare workers. In some cases we also tested some of the residents.

With regard to the question on meat plants, the national standing oversight committee has been established and I referenced it briefly in my opening comments. There is multi-agency representation on it, looking at the various aspects that have arisen from our assessments of meat plants. A number of State agencies are involved and I will not go through them here. They have examined and assessed a wide range of issues that emerged with regard to the organisation of plants, and how social distancing spacing can be operated. The industry has engaged quite well and very responsibly with us. There are also issues with regard to shared transport to work and shared accommodation. In some cases, there is shared accommodation and shared transport involving multiple plants. The national standing oversight committee is looking at a range of issues. One of its specific terms of reference is to look at the basis of legislation for the various agencies with regard to enforcement. This is progressing quite well.

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