Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the NPHET team to our meeting today and thank it for its presentation. I have raised the subject of antigen testing on numerous occasions. I have raised it with the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and various Ministers and we have political consensus, in that antigen testing should be used. We then have professors disagreeing among themselves. We have heard evidence from Dr. Mina and Professor Ferguson and many other professionals and today we hear a counter-argument by the professors around the table at NPHET.

I want to use my couple of minutes to make a few statements of fact, on behalf of the people who are most impacted by this dithering on antigen and whether it should be used. It is a fact that following the advice of NPHET, the Government imposed serious, severe and prolonged restrictions on international travel. As a result of that, the aviation sector has been crippled. The consequences for many thousands of people who depend on the sector for a livelihood have been devastating.

The hopes, dreams and aspirations of workers in that sector have been shattered. Their lives are in turmoil. They despair about their future and ability to survive. Those workers, throughout the aviation sector, are stricken with deep fear and anxiety. They feel the ability to control their own future has been snatched from them by NPHET and Government policy. They feel their financial security and well-being has been sacrificed to NPHET decisions.

The last year and a half has been a traumatic and upsetting time for everybody in this country. However, no one has paid a higher price than the aviation workers. They are outraged. We have been listening to them and it is important to convey that message today. They are outraged NPHET has stubbornly objected to the use of antigen testing. They look on in dismay, while Dr. Holohan and NPHET dismiss the use of antigen testing. They cannot understand their logic and rationale.

They ask us to ask Dr. Holohan and NPHET why they steadfastly contradict international experts and defy the European Commission, which said we should be using antigen testing? Why are we so different in Ireland? Why is Dr. Holohan and NPHET's advice so different from other countries throughout Europe using antigen testing? Are Dr. Holohan and NPHET saying these countries are not making this decision based on evidence or validation? Are Dr. Holohan and NPHET saying these other countries are irresponsible in using antigen testing? Why are we so different? That is what the public is asking.

Why are experts in so many other jurisdictions encouraging governments to embrace and utilise antigen testing to control the spread of the virus? Why is our advice so at odds with that advice? That is the contradiction I need to understand today. Are we saying all of these other countries are wrong and we are correct? If we are saying that, I need to hear the justification for it, because I see no logic or justification in Dr. Holohan and NPHET's decision not to endorse the roll-out of antigen testing.

Other sectors were mentioned earlier. The fact is the construction and meat industries, which were riddled with outbreaks at the outset of the pandemic, became impatient.

They were frustrated with no direct advice from NPHET on how to control the virus and they brought in antigen testing, which has been very successful. They moved ahead of NPHET, decided to use antigen testing and have done so very effectively. Therefore, antigen testing is an important aspect.

Finally, we have discussed antigen testing for nearly 12 months, such testing has been raised on numerous occasions at Oireachtas level and now a consensus has been reached. Have the members of NPHET made any attempt to engage with the various professionals who promote the use of antigen testing? The message that we have gotten back is that the door is closed and there is no engagement. If we are going to talk about introducing a pilot project at this late stage then will NPHET make an effort to reach out to the people who have expertise in this area?