Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I cannot give the Chairman a commitment that it will be done within two weeks. I do not know if a second type of test will be validated in that time. There is more than just the antigen test. Work on validating the LAMP test is happening, and other types of test that are under consideration could come on board.

All of these issues, including rolling out the infrastructure, are being dealt with and we are moving as quickly and safely as possible. Over the next few weeks, our restrictions mean that we cannot travel more than 5 km. There is no attraction in coming to a level 5 country when our restaurants, cafés and hotels are primarily closed. Work on validating tests and determining what can run alongside the PCR is happening. All of those tests are under consideration and nothing has been ruled out yet. The DAA is doing a great deal of good work in terms of the infrastructure that will be required to roll out this system.