Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are continuing our discussions on rapid antigen testing as it relates to aviation and travel. On behalf of the committee, I welcome: Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, CMO, at the Department of Health; Dr. Ronan Glynn, deputy CMO at the Department of Health; Professor Philip Nolan, chair of the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, modelling group, Dr. Cillian de Gascun, consultant virologist and director at the National Virus Reference Laboratory; Professor Mary Keogan, consultant immunologist and national clinical lead for pathology; and Professor Martin Cormican, consultant microbiologist and national clinical lead for antimicrobial resistance and infection control. I thank them all for appearing before the committee.

Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable, or to otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name to the person or entity. If the witnesses' statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identified person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction. For witnesses attending the meeting remotely outside of the Leinster House campus, there are some limitations to parliamentary privilege and as such they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as witnesses physically present do. Witnesses participating in this committee session from a jurisdiction outside the State are advised that they should also be mindful of how their domestic law might apply to the evidence they give.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House, or an official, by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members of their constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of the place which Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House or the Convention Centre Dublin, in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where he or she is not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask that prior to making his or her contribution to the meeting, any member who is participating by Teams would confirm that he or she is on the grounds of Leinster House campus.

For anybody watching this meeting online, Oireachtas Members and witnesses are accessing this meeting remotely. Only I as the Chair and the necessary staff essential to running the meeting are physically present in the room. Due to these unprecedented circumstances and the large number of people attending the meeting remotely, I ask for everyone's forbearance should any technical issues arise.

This is a very important meeting for the public. I thank Dr. Holohan and his colleagues for attending. We look forward to a very good engagement on the role of rapid antigen testing alongside PCR testing. They are not mutually exclusive. We feel they have a significant role to play in aviation and travel. I ask Dr. Holohan to make his opening statement, which should last approximately five minutes.