Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have a similar case, the details of which I will pass on to the Tánaiste.

NPHET modelling is based on the assumption that vaccination will reduce but not prevent transmission of Covid-19. That is borne out by data from Public Health England. The bottom line is that even if - and it is a big if - the vaccination targets are met, Covid-19 variants, and perhaps new variants of it, will still be in circulation and still being transmitted next winter. Last February and March, an expert group on the role of ventilation in reducing transmission of Covid-19 reported to the Department of Health. Nothing much has happened since then. It is a year since I met with people from a small company in Shannon, CW Applied Technology, which is looking at air sterilisation measures. It is one of many companies doing this, but the Government does not seem to be advancing the issue. Whatever about an outdoor summer, we are not going to have an outdoor winter.

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