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

We have written to the Minister as our line Minister. We have written to the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, and had it before us. We have done a considerable amount of work on antigen testing. We had Aer Lingus CEO, Ms Lynne Embleton, before us last week. The airline would very much be on board with any form of pilot testing or whatever testing is required with antigen. Does the Minister accept we are an outlier on antigen testing at this moment in time, particularly with respect to air travel? I have no doubt the Minister has read the Ferguson report, which was a Government-commissioned report. Why are we getting such intransigence from NPHET on antigen testing? In his opinion, as Minister with responsibility for transport, why are we getting such kick-back from NPHET on antigen testing, which clearly has a role to play in addition to PCR? Why is this so?