Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a few Covid-related questions. The first concerns the situation in meat plants. We have seen a number of reports on newly emerged clusters in recent days and weeks. We know, from previous experience, the challenges that can present when clusters emerge in meat plants as we try to exit from restrictions . My first question is whether rolling testing arrangements in meat plants are continuing and if so, to what extent. How is the Minister's Department engaging with the Department of Health to try to minimise the instances of outbreaks within meat plants?

Second, what the hell is going on with mink farms? We know that in November, the CMO issued very clear advice to the Department that all minks should be culled because of the great public health risk that they present. The Department accepted that recommendation. Yet, here we are in February and it appears that nothing has happened. There is a veil of secrecy. I know that freedom of information, FOI, requests as to what is going on behind the scenes have been refused. The citation has been "commercial sensitivity". In what was clear public health guidance provided to the Department, I ask the Minister to give a clear reason that has yet to be acted upon.