Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Last week, the Minister stated that he would answer questions on the development of the app. Will he share with me the briefing note he has on the app? Is the app open source?

The importance of NPHET was raised. The Minister stated that he is the decision-maker but that he has always taken its advice and does not intend to ever not take its advice. As such, who is the decision maker?

Who advises the Minister on mental health issues? The pandemic is taking a significant toll on people's mental health. I understand there is no psychiatric representative on NPHET although there is a psychiatrist on it. However, although I am a barrister, I am not here to represent lawyers. The psychiatrist is on the team as the chair of integrated care. In light of the toll the pandemic is taking on people's mental health, it seems very strange to me that the Minister is not receiving advice on mental health and that NPHET does not contain such a representative.

Deputy Harkin raised the issue of the capacity of private hospitals with the Taoiseach earlier today. Those hospitals are working at 13% capacity. The Minister referred to the importance of people being able to undergo elective procedures. Where can the private consultants who used to work in the private hospitals carry out such procedures? As Deputy Harkin stated, the contract they are being forced to sign does not enable them to so do in the rooms they used heretofore or in the private hospitals out of which they previously worked.

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