Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the work of the Minister, his Department, the HSE, NPHET and all the front-line workers who have brought us to this happy day. It is wonderful to be able to talk about things such as hairdressing and dancing. That is very encouraging compared to where we were some months ago.

At the outset, I acknowledge the work of Women's Aid, the National Women's Council of Ireland, NWCI, the rape crisis centres and women refuges. While vastly under-resourced, they are working to deal with the fallout from Covid-19 due to gender-based violence. I attended a seminar this morning and listened to harrowing stories of violence towards women and children. It is important that we acknowledge the vital work of these organisations from a health and mental health perspective and to ensure, whatever parties are in Government in some weeks' time, that these organisations are adequately resourced to do their work.

With regard to testing technologies, we currently seem mostly to be using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR. What other testing technologies should or could be used? Are more efficient testing technologies being used in other countries?

I have heard of a number of incidents where dentists are in some cases no longer able to take on medical card cases due to the cost of PPE. This cost is not recoupable to dentists under the medical card scheme and if this is the case, it is contributing to poor health outcomes for medical card holders, many of whom are in need of urgent dental treatment following the easing of restrictions. One dentist, in responding to a medical card patient, said that the cost involved in buying correct PPE to protect staff and patients and the extra time, investment and labour involved in providing a safe environment for all has overwhelmed the dental profession. Is this the case? If so, it needs to be corrected as a matter of urgency. Is funding an issue? The world's largest plane landed in Shannon Airport yesterday, delivering PPE. Perhaps some of that could be used to help the dental profession.

What are the Minister's views on the letter signed by 1,000 academic and scientists in regard to crushing the curve? It seems to make a compelling case given how painstakingly close we are to eliminating the virus in Ireland. The notion of opening everything up and being in a position to open our schools and colleges fully is surely where we want to be instead of 20% opening, partial opening of cafes, and no live music, arts or cultural gatherings. Should more consideration be given to this and should we look towards New Zealand given the hard work we have put in to get to this point?

The Minister has addressed the issue of face coverings, and it has been discussed on a number of occasions. I ask that he, in any public awareness campaigns, place a specific focus on homemade face coverings, because they are useful. I am aware that Dr. De Gascun was not terribly supportive of it at the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response on Tuesday, but there are many templates available to make them. I have them hanging beside our keys in the hall. They should become a part of daily life, putting them into the wash in the evening and including them as part of our routine.

One of the side effects of the crisis is that many couples have had to postpone their wedding celebrations, with many having rescheduled to the end of July and August. The guidance provided by the Government is that small weddings could take place in phase 4 from 20 July and larger weddings in phase 5 from 10 August. Presumably, when coming up with this guidance, the Government had some approximate numbers on what "small" or "larger" meant. The Minister will appreciate that planning a wedding takes some time, and telling a couple at the start of phase 4 on 20 July they can have a wedding of 25 people will be of little use. If he cannot give an indication today on what constitutes a small or larger gathering, can he at least give a date by which the Government will provide this detail? The Government has seen fit, since 8 June, to allow more than 25 mourners at funerals. It would be fitting to give couples this certainty.

My own town of Kilkenny is twinned with a municipality in Italy called Formigine, and I was talking with its mayor, Ms Maria Costi, last week. They were at the epicentre of Covid-19 in Italy but were able to host weddings in the town hall last week. Weddings are a fantastic and happy occasion, so guidance on that would be useful.

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