Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I thank Ms Hegarty and Mr. Jones for their presentations on the topic. I agree that we expect water to be treated and the principle of treating our air makes common sense.

I have travelled by train to Dublin all of the time during this pandemic and part of the requirement of Irish Rail is that the windows are left open. That is done for a clear reason. The principle of how air is treated is very important. I understand that in the building we are in now, unfortunately because of the pandemic we cannot use the committee rooms where our engagement with the witnesses would normally happen. My understanding is that at least one company approached Leinster House last August seeking to carry out a ventilation exercise in the committee rooms and the Chambers. As an institution, we want to see people getting back to work but we should be leading by example. It is regrettable that the Houses of the Oireachtas did not engage more with this principle and use the Oireachtas as an example of how people can return to work safely.

I am interested in hearing our witnesses' views on the industry standards and the quality and perhaps Ms Hegarty might respond . There is obviously a difference between ventilation and filtration. High efficiency particulate air filter, HEPA, filtration is seen as the Rolls-Royce model of equipment that would do what we all want to see in terms of clean air. Where are we as a country in embracing this? Are we very much behind the curve? Is there a European model? I believe that Germany is particularly ahead when it comes to this, that there are air ventilation systems in the Bundestag and that most schools and public buildings in Germany have very clean and properly ventilated air. Is there a better example than the German one in Europe? Ms Hegarty might talk to us about that. Can she also reflect on how far behind we are as a country in this area of protecting public health?