Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raise a related issue that has come to my attention. I am sure it has come to the attention of other committee members as well. Driving instructors are identified as essential workers but they have been experiencing difficulties with accessing testing centres even just to wash their hands. They have many sanitisation protocols now because there is usually a pre-runaround lesson with the person doing the test. They wipe the car down before and after the tester gets in. There is a lot of sanitisation. I have been contacted by a number of instructors dealing with a number of testing centres and I just want to raise it as an issue. Maybe the Minister of State could follow up on that with the RSA because it will be increasingly important as we try to get through level 5. I thank the Minister of State.

I want to follow up on a point Deputy Crowe raised regarding the Expressway. I support that and make a particular case for Belfast.

It is the second largest city on the island and I hope that it will be included in the NTA's assessment of essential routes. I hope there will be consideration of reinstatement or extension of the Expressway service or some equivalent.

I have a question about airport Covid-19 testing. This morning, the committee received an update from HIQA about its assessment of testing platforms, specifically with regard to rapid antigen testing and other forms, with questions over all of them, including PCR. As the Minister of State said, PCR is the standard. That work has been done by HIQA. It will present that work and may already have submitted it to the Government. It seems clear that at present, PCR is the main viable option. HIQA suggests that we should move to clinical validation in the appropriate settings, so ports and airports in our case. Has the Minister of State received that report from HIQA? Is it under consideration? Are we in a position to move towards clinical validation for PCR departure testing at our ports and airports?