Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I too wish John the very best on his retirement. I hope there will be a day when I will meet him once more at the Kilmacud sevens, when Portroe wins it once more.

I wish to raise the issue of rapid testing.

I raised the issue of masks versus visors before and, in fairness, the Taoiseach last night outlined how there is now going to be a communication strategy as to why visors are, effectively, a waste of time compared face masks.

What is the Government's strategy as regards rapid testing? I hold in my hand a rapid test I have taken. It took ten minutes. These are cheap, by all accounts, costing approximately €5. Why has it taken so long for the expert advisory group to sign off on these? They are not a panacea but they are part of a mix as regards population testing to help organisations and to help with travel. They can form a process by which people can have a passport for a number of days or weeks. What is holding it up? The Taoiseach told us during the week that a massive document was done. Where is the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HPSC? Where is HIQA? Where is the advisory group chaired by Dr. Cillian De Gascun? Why is it taking so long unlike every other country?

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