Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I begin by commending the work of NPHET and all its members in recent months, it is much appreciated. First, on meat factories and plants, there is a village in my constituency, Watergrasshill, with a meat factory where there were 120 cases some weeks back. I seek clarity on the HSA inspections. They seem to be mostly pre-announced rather than random inspections. Why is that? Will that continue?

Second, on buses, Deputy Mattie McGrath mentioned the return to school during the week.

NPHET's advice has changed in the past seven or eight days to recommend that face masks should be worn on buses by certain students. Could that decision have been made much earlier? It has caused confusion in bus and coach circles whereby people are scrambling to organise buses. I am looking for clarity on how that decision was made and on whether it could have been made earlier.

The guidelines for social gatherings in private homes are clear, as are the gatherings for gyms. However, there seems to be confusion about gatherings that might take place in community settings. Are those gatherings still subject to the rule on having six people at an indoor gathering? I am referencing the likes of Lamaze classes, antenatal classes and meetings of that nature that occur in a community setting. Deputy Murnane O'Connor made specific reference earlier to dance classes. Could groups such as that be split up? Do dance schools come under the remit of education guidelines or are they considered to be community events? I would like clarity on that.