Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for being with us today. My first question is open to answer by anybody on the panel. Earlier, Deputy Mick Barry touched on an interesting scenario. I live in the constituency of Cork South-West, which has a geographical spread of 150 km, which is massive. As Cork is far bigger than any other county in Ireland, surely it has to be looked at differently.

I heard the Taoiseach say in the last week that rising numbers of Covid cases in four named counties were on a citywide rather than a countywide basis. The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, on Sunday reverted and spoke of counties Cork, Galway, Waterford and Kildare, such that he is looking at cases on a county-wide basis. As I said the Taoiseach appears to be looking at it from a city-wide basis. We had one, which is one too many, Covid case in Cork University Hospital last weekend. In a situation where, say, Bantry, Kinsale or Castletownbere is Covid-free and there are, unfortunately, a high number of cases in the city, is it proposed to lock down the county? I had business owners of restaurants, cafes and so on contacting me last night asking if they should order stock for the weekend or not. I cannot answer that question. Business are concerned they will have to close. They know there are few or no Covid cases in their town and that they have been meticulous in managing their businesses but they are seriously concerned. It must be borne in mind that a geographical spread of 150 km is massive. County Cork is slightly different to any other county in the country. I ask the witnesses to explain how they can justify the lockdown of, say, Clonakilty because there is a high number of cases in Cork city. As I said, the county area has to be looked at differently.

I would also like to ask about rapid testing. I called on the then Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, to set up rapid testing in our airports but that was not done because he said there was of a cost factor. I accept that but the situation is costing the country far more now. How far ahead are we with rapid testing in our airports in order that they can fully reopen? I know that rapid testing is not 100% foolproof but it at least offers some proof. I would like to also comment on the community hospitals in west Cork. I have been told that, unfortunately, they are taking in fewer patients and consequently, nursing homes are being forced to take in more people. I do not see the sense or the logic in that. I would welcome answers to those questions.

Is it a fact that some counties are getting people for Covid tests who are from other counties? If one of those people tests positive for Covid is that case attributed to the area that the person came from or is it being added to the area where the test was done? Could it be happening in Cork that where other counties may not have the facilities to test, when there is a positive case it is added to the Cork list? That is a very serious worry. It may not be the case but certainly the 150 km spread in our county has to come into call here somewhere. Businesses are shutting down all over west Cork and there is worry that there might be a further shutdown. I can quite understand if there is an increase in cases but it cannot be a situation where some areas have an increase and more areas do not yet they are all pushed under the one category.