Dáil debates

Thursday, 10 September 2020

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions

 

12:00 pm

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to go to the core of the issue. Workers in meat plants were supposed to be tested yesterday. A decision was taken at a national level to postpone those tests and they will not be carried out until next week. We know that at least 1,500 Covid cases have been associated with meat plants. We know that the meat plants and the outbreaks within them were the primary cause of the entire lockdown of three counties. Can the Tánaiste confirm that we currently have the capacity to test 100,000 people per week? Of course, people with symptoms should be tested and prioritised but, as the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, outlined in the Dáil yesterday, almost 70,000 tests were completed last week as serial testing continues in nursing homes, direct provision centres and meat processing plants. That means there should be a capacity for nearly 30,000 tests to be carried out in any given week. Why was the decision taken to cancel tests that were supposed to happen in meat factories yesterday and today, given that we know the serious impact that an outbreak in those factories can have on the economy, people and citizens of different counties? Why is a different approach taken to meat plants? There is no transparency. I wonder would the tests in the meat plants be commencing next week if Deputies Martin Browne and Carthy had not broken this story yesterday.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.