Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for answering all the questions.

Have the witnesses a timeline for the research HIQA is doing on antigen testing? Will the public hear any of the results from that? It is a topic in which people are interested. I know it is not the be-all and end-all but it has captured some of the public imagination. Have the witnesses a timeline on it and will antigen testing end up being used?

There have been reports this morning about contact tracing staff being asked to bring in their own laptops. While it has been reported they are not using it for any data, is this shortage of equipment having an impact on the work of the contact tracers? Are they sharing equipment? Are they able to do the work to the best of their ability? If there is a shortage of equipment, what needs to be done to remedy it?

We have talked a lot about the phone calls. I am interested in performance management. We have heard that calls were taking up to an hour. Is there a focus on the quality of calls and on output rather than quantity? Are contact tracers trying to fly through as many calls as they can or is the emphasis on quality and trying to ensure that people have the information. What are the targets and how is that managed?

Is there any support for contact tracing staff who are on those difficult calls and experience abusive situations? It is very difficult for staff. I hope this is not too common. Is there someone they can talk to to decompress? How is that managed?