Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair for facilitating me. A meeting of the health committee this morning coincided with this meeting. We were looking at the new legislation to reopen bars and restaurants for vaccinated people. While that was a significant debate and took precedence over this, I have been following this meeting. I have a number of quick questions. I apologise if some of these have been answered as I was not in attendance for the full meeting. If witnesses could briefly reply to them again for my own benefit, I would hugely appreciate it.

First, I have had a number of emails overnight about the helpline number. I am able to respond to the body of information but I do not have a helpline number just yet. I would appreciate it. Second, what happens if the email or letter comes through while the person is abroad? A person could be at home, trying to book a foreign trip in the anticipation that they will travel few weeks from now. All of this information is coming in but some people will take a leap of faith and travel. The letter could then arrive in the post when the neighbours are over feeding the cats and dogs. The neighbours will notice the digital green certificate has arrived. How does that correlate, when that vital information comes in, if the person is already out of the country?

The third question is on what happens if the scientific information changes. I caught some of this earlier in the debate. Right now, the digital Covid certificate will last for an indefinite duration because the individual is vaccinated. It is believed that this will continue going forward. However, scientific information may change and there is some suspicion that it might, on foot of some information from Israel. If the efficacy of the vaccine reduces in the months ahead, and booster shots are needed, how will that be reflected in certification? I am bundling my questions and I might come in again briefly later.

Fourth, what happens if a person travels a day or two before their digital Covid certificate is issued? I am aware that the guidance is to wait until 19 July 2021. However, this is like trying to keep lambs in a field. Once people heard that the date of 19 July 2021 was the possible date of travel, some people immediately started looking at what flights were available. A few have booked to fly on 17 or 18 July 2021. What can people in that category expect when they go to an airport? It is 24 or 48 hours out from this regime being in place. They are anxious to know what they will face. I understand that 19 July 2021 is the official date but as we approach those dates, it is important to give some guidance.

My fifth question is on where the check will happen. I heard a previous contributor say that the carrier will check the digital Covid certificate. As someone prepares to fly from an airport, will this happen at check-in? Will it be at the passport screening point? Will it be at the departure gate? Where will it happen? I apologise for bundling my questions. Finally, will there be any indication of live waiting times? Britain is a little ahead of us on all of this and British national news agencies, including Sky News and the BBC, have on a daily basis provided live trackers of waiting times at airports. I direct this question in particular to Ms Canavan. The Department of the Taoiseach, the heart of the Government, should have some official communication, like it has had all along for Covid-19 figures each evening. It would be important in the initial weeks, as people get into this new regime, to have some indication of live waiting times. Those are my six questions and I hope the witnesses can come back on some of them.