Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Smith for her comments. As I said, meat plants are a high-risk environment because of the nature of the work and, in particular, in the boning halls with the recirculation of air and the fact the air has to stay chilled, which is something we have seen both nationally and internationally over the past period of time throughout the pandemic. That is why we have taken a very particular approach in the meat sector unlike any other sector. The meat sector, for example, is the only sector where the PCR serial testing is being undertaken and that is because of the fact that we recognise the particular risks that are there and we very much value the health and safety of the staff who work in these factories. That is why, at significant cost, it has been provided by the HSE. The most recent overall positivity rate in the PCR testing was 0.77%.

The other initiative I have led with my Department - I recognise the work of our chief inspector in laboratories, Dr. Donal Sammin, with the sector and the HSE - is antigen testing in meat factories, which has also been an important additional tool.

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