Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

When news emerged that the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, was to be tested, the Secretary General of the Department contacted the acting Chief Medical Officer and he, to use his own language, in an "over-abundance of caution", said that Ministers should restrict their movements. The Secretary General was anxious that the Chief Whip would get the message and communicate it to the Clerk of Dáil Éireann. It transpired there were ramifications for the Dáil in that senior Ministers were told it would be unwise to attend, given the substantial number of meetings attended by the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, with other Ministers the day before. If he had tested positive, there could have been a risk involved. The call was made and the people involved did not want to expose any other people to risk. It is as simple as that.

Everybody acted in good faith. When I became aware of the situation, the point was made that Ministers of State could cover for senior Ministers. That said, it could not happen in all cases. I communicated, I think it was with the Clerk of the Dáil, with the Chief Whip present, and said I was of the view that the Dáil should resume, with Ministers of State available to take business. I signed the summons to enable that to happen. That is it.

We are in a Covid-19 pandemic. I had to change an interview with RTÉ, for example, which was due to take place in my office. I contacted the acting Chief Medical Officer and asked if it was advisable to go ahead with the interview. He felt it was not, in that context, so I we went outdoors by the fountain and had an interview with RTÉ at a distance.

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