Mr. Damien McCallion:

On the antigen testing, I would not set a time on it. I might not have explained it clearly. HIQA provided a report on alternative testing, of which antigen was just one. That report is in the public domain. It made several observations but the bottom line was a request that the HSE undertake validation in different settings. It is clear that antigen testing is not particularly strong and there is no evidence base relating to asymptomatic settings, which is the area where most people have caught it, in the public imagination. It is important that we do that validation. Prior to the HIQA report, we had already commenced the process on antigen testing. HIQA engaged with us through that process, as with NPHET. A lot of the early tests are very poor, there is no point in saying otherwise. We have identified a number that we believe have stronger performance characteristics that are worth validating. That is one reason until now there has been very limited progress in that area, not only in Ireland but elsewhere. That is why countries are starting to look at how it can be deployed alongside the PCR testing. As we move through validation in those areas we will start to see if those results give the basis for deployment.

I am optimistic about some sectors, and it would be invaluable for outbreaks such as in a home or setting when something is needed that can get people out quickly to prevent the spread of disease, where the PCR could take days. It is early days and the group still has to do the work and run formal validations across the various settings where we might deploy it. It is one on which we are actively working rather than monitoring when the tests were poorer earlier in the year. We are much more confident now that it is worth looking at in more depth, which is what we are doing based on HIQA's advice. The WHO has given strong advice on where it should and should not be used and where the validation in a country needs to be done to assess the role it should have.