Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My thanks to Deputy Murphy - I will certainly do my best. In answer to Deputy Murphy's first question, I cannot confirm it. A period of 24 hours is extremely difficult to achieve. It is almost impossible for tests that are sent to Germany, because they have to be flown to Germany. However, turnaround times are improving and they will improve further.

I think people accept that there were unacceptable and inordinate delays some weeks ago. It is far from perfect now but it is improving. Certainly, for healthcare workers and staff we have a quick turnaround but it is longer for others. The objective is to have results within 48 hours. Can I promise that 100% of the time it will be possible to do that? I cannot. I am not sure anyone is able to achieve that 100% of the time but certainly we anticipate having the vast majority of tests back within 48 hours.

I do not have the exact date that the Deputy requests. It may not be available but if it is, I will ask the Department of Health to provide it to her by correspondence.

The roadmap that we produced on Friday was about re-opening society, the economy and Ireland.

It was not a roadmap on testing. A lot of work is being done to build on the work already done on that by the Department of Health, the HSE and NPHET. If we are to proceed with easing the restrictions, it is really important we have a robust testing and contact tracing system in place and operating. However, lots of countries around Europe are now easing their restrictions - for example, Germany, Denmark and, quite soon, Spain and Belgium. None of those countries has tested as many people per head as we have yet they are proceeding with easing their restrictions, so it is not that one element is absolutely and totally contingent on the other.

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