Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Professor Ferguson for being here today. The scientific dogs in the street have been screaming about antigen testing for some time. Noted broadcasters have been screaming about it.

We have raised it in this committee and I have raised it in the Seanad. There has been antigen testing throughout Europe for several months. There has to be a gate blocker; there must be somebody here who is preventing this moving forward. We appear to be constantly behind the curve on matters such as antigen testing. Has Professor Ferguson encountered resistance to the committee as it tried to progress this study?

I fully support the option put forward by Deputy Cathal Crowe. However, given the Schengen travel area throughout Europe, there will clearly be an integrated travel scheme in Europe. The Minister for Defence spoke yesterday about a mobile phone app whereby I would be able to bring it to the airport, show it to a card reader and it would declare I had taken my test and am free to travel. Is Professor Ferguson aware of how far advanced we are in the development of that app?

That is all I have to say. I thank Professor Ferguson for his time. My colleagues have had many questions for him.