Professor Cecily Kelleher:

The Deputy raised a number of points, all of which we believe are important. The sector has been used to dealing annually with infection prevention and control, including in respect of periodic influenza outbreaks. Covid-19 represented an unprecedented challenge across the healthcare system. It certainly would have been an unprecedented challenge in this healthcare environment, which is not set up for the level of hospital-based prevention and control that the contagious organism required. That is the first point.

Second, we all acknowledge that there was a major issue concerning preparedness, particularly regarding the rapidity of spread during March, the issue of having adequate personal protective equipment supplies and all the things we discussed earlier. I hope many of these issues will have been addressed comprehensively and more fully for the next stage. It is crucial that this be the case.

The Deputy raised recommendation No. 7.2. We are very much of the view that, because this can be managed in an acute scenario, the staffing needs to be thought through in regard to having the necessary supports and somebody available 24-7 for advice and guidance in this area. It is a specific recommendation we have made. I will pass over to my colleagues.