Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 16 June 2020
Special Committee on Covid-19 Response
Business of Special Committee
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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We have been notified that Deputies Farrell, Hourigan, Ó Cathasaigh, Paul Murphy, Boyd Barrett and Tóibín will substitute for their party colleagues today. Are the minutes of 9 and 11 June agreed? Agreed.
I will take the 20 items of correspondence received as noted. Members will have received written submissions for today's meeting.
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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Did we get anything from the Central Bank?
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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The Central Bank is not coming in today, it is coming later, on 7 July. Today is the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and the ESRI.
John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Is it possible that the questions which went unanswered on which we were to be sent written reply would be flagged, given the quantity of correspondence being received, if the clerk does not mind?
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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Okay.
John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Thanks. There was a written request from Seas Suas to come before the committee regarding childcare. I do not know whether the Chairman agreed to that but I would like to see that group come in.
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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We have not made a decision yet but we will consider it at the working group on Friday morning.
John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I ask that my interest be noted.
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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We will note it. If the Deputy wishes to participate in the meeting on Friday morning, he is welcome. If not, we will note his interest and support for having it in and take it from there.
John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you.
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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Following the meeting of the committee's working group last Friday, members have been circulated with the draft programme to the end of July. The following meetings have been agreed. We will have two sessions on Thursday this week where we will resume our examination of the Covid outbreaks in nursing homes and in the afternoon, we will examine the impact of the pandemic on the Gaeltacht areas. The meeting will be addressed by the Minister of State, Seán Kyne. Next Tuesday, we will deal with issues relating to childcare and on Thursday we will have a meeting specifically on testing and tracing capabilities. We are also seeking approval from the Business Committee to have up to six sessions per week which may mean sitting on Fridays and we will start the examination of the return to education, including school transport. Is that agreed? Agreed.
I have arranged for Deputy Mary Butler to chair the second session today, and I will chair the third.