Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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We have been notified that Deputies Durkan, Daly, Andrews, Munster and Ó Murchú will substitute for their party colleagues today.

Regarding upcoming meetings, we held a working group meeting and agreed to invite, for Wednesday's meeting if they can make it, the HSE, the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, and the Department of Health. We had a long discussion as to whether we would have a fourth session if possible. I have confirmed the availability, although their appearance will be subject to the approval of the committee, of Dr. Johan Giesecke, who is a former chief epidemiologist in Sweden, a former chief scientist at the European Centre for Disease Control and a current adviser to the World Health Organization, WHO, to talk about lockdowns in an international context; Professor Tomás Ryan of Trinity College, Dublin, who is also available to talk about testing, which is his specialty; and from University College Dublin, Professor Kirsten Schaffer, who is also a consultant at St. Vincent's Hospital. Professor Schaffer is a German national but is very well acquainted with our health system. It would be good to put what is happening in Ireland in perspective. I propose that fourth session for the approval of the committee.