Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The mood at the European Council and the General Affairs Council regarding Covid-19 was extremely grim. The pattern is the same all over Europe in terms of how health systems are coping, how countries are dealing with Covid-19 and what the worries are. Deputies Boyd Barrett and Ó Murchú and others questioned Deputy Richmond on Covid-19 engagement. The European Union does not have the health competence. I know that if tomorrow we held a referendum for a new treaty to give Europe a health competence, there would be massive opposition to this from some of the left-wing parties because they have opposed every European Union treaty.

The truth is this and the Taoiseach would say it as well. He said to me that he was Minister for Health during the SARS-CoV-2 crisis and he believes the difference is fundamental in terms of co-operation at European level. The point, however, is that it still does not have a health competence. As I understand it, there will be video conference meetings between the leaders regarding Covid-19 co-ordination. These will be organised by the Presidency and the proposal that they be held was certainly suggested at the Council. That is useful. The travel restrictions will be reviewed regularly. By the end of October, the Commission will outline the further Covid-19 responses it believes are necessary and it will co-ordinate in respect of emergency health assessment testing strategies, quarantine and contact tracing.

Our app has been linked with those of two other countries as the start of an integration process. The Commission is working on improving the overall EU framework for response to health crises and is examining the revision of the mandates of the European Centre for Disease Control, ECDC. The Commission is launching a pharmaceutical strategy and is taking a lead on the issue of vaccines as well and common vaccine purchase. There is significant activity at EU level despite the fact it does not have a health competence. Earlier on in the year there was a great deal of criticism of the Union's response but there has been a major change. The Taoiseach feels it very useful to talk to his health colleagues about what is going on. One of the points raised by Members related to antigen testing. The Taoiseach was certainly talking to colleagues from France and many other countries that have brought it in. He is determined to do that. Testing has been approved by HIQA and a clinical examination is under way in this country. The Taoiseach is determined to do this as quickly as possible because it will be a game changer, particularly for education settings but also for travel, as Deputy Cathal Crowe pointed out in his strong appeal for a strong commitment on Shannon Airport.

The traffic light system is in place. Nearly everywhere is now a red zone. Parts of Finland and Greece are green zones. The restrictions will be removed from green zones tonight or tomorrow. The Deputy is correct that it is part of the recommendation and they will be gone. There was a Government decision today that I am not privy to because I was not at Cabinet, but it will set out the remainder of that in detail. Antigen testing is a key part of making sure that can be done quickly. Unfortunately, it is not relevant when almost everywhere is red and we are at level 5 but it at least provides a framework to allow airports such as Shannon to have some certainty as to what will happen when circumstances change.

Deputy Richmond was concerned that countries are ready to move on from Brexit. In a way they are because whatever has to happen must happen by the end of the year. He was concerned that only two and a half hours were spent talking about Brexit but that is a long time in the context of a meeting that started at 4 p.m. Brexit was the first item, there was dinner later on for the leaders and then there was a meeting the following morning on a number of issues. In the context of the time allowed, two and a half hours was a strong time commitment at that meeting. It was a confidential session; there was none of what is called Antici reporting whereby meetings are reported outside. It was highly confidential. Leaders were extremely frank with each other, with Mr. Charles Michel and with Mr. Michel Barnier and it was very productive as well.

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