David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I just want to raise one item which I raised yesterday in private session. I raised several issues where I sought reports from the HSE, one of which was on testing and tracing.

Several members made the point yesterday that the anecdotal evidence coming back from people working in that area is that it is a system which is under real pressure. There is a lack of training and staff with a real problem with morale. There is also a problem with the ability of that system to work. What we sought yesterday was a detailed report from the HSE. That has been overtaken by events today where we had serious information put into the public domain of up to 2,500 sick people who are being asked to become contact tracers themselves and will receive text messages instead of phone calls. That is completely and absolutely unacceptable. This is a complete mess for which the Government must bear responsibility.

I am asking that the committee meets next week on this issue. I know we will be in recess next week but it is fundamentally important. It is rare that I ask for any committee to meet outside of when it is scheduled to meet, but such is the seriousness of this issue, however, and the impact it is having on people. It must be borne in mind that this is coming at a time when we are going into more restrictions where much is being asked of individuals in terms of level 5. The least that people expect is that the State and the Government will get its house in order to ensure testing and tracing are what they should be. There is a real problem and we have to get a grip on it as a committee. I am asking the Chairman that the committee will meet next week to bring in the HSE, the Minister, if necessary, and whoever is responsible for testing and tracing in order that we can put questions to them as to what the problems are and why it got to this point. It is a reasonable request and I ask that it will be supported by other members of the committee.