Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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98. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to extend the validity of the digital Covid-19 certificate to nine months for persons who have recovered from Covid-19 infection, particularly in view of HIQA's recommendation that the period of presumptive protective immunity following infection with Covid-19 should remain at nine months post infection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59481/21]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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My question is very specific. I ask the Minister about plans to extend the validity of the digital Covid-19 certificate to nine months for persons who have recovered from Covid-19 infection, particularly in view of HIQA's recommendation that the period of presumptive protective immunity following infection with Covid-19 should remain at nine months post infection.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for the question. Many people look at this and wonder if it is consistent. With the EU Covid-19 certificate we have a recognised recovery period of six months and as the Deputy has said, we have recent advice from HIQA that has been endorsed by National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, that the presumptive period is nine months. It is a reasonable question as to why we do not adjust the Covid-19 certificate accordingly.

The EU digital Covid-19 certificate regulation creates a framework for the issuing, authentication and validity of certificates to facilitate the safe and free movement across the EU during the pandemic. Certificates are proof a person has been vaccinated against Covid-19, received a negative test result or recovered from Covid-19. This initiative has been adopted by countries around the world, confirming its status as a robust international standard for Covid-19 certification. To date, 24 third countries have joined the initiative and a further 32 are in the process of joining. This really demonstrates how Europe can set global standards through decisive and co-ordinated action.

The Irish Government has successfully delivered the EU digital Covid-19 certificate to the Irish public, and to date more than 4.5 million certificates have issued nationally, with more than 25,000 also issuing to the Irish diaspora, which is very welcome. Across the EU, in excess 600 million certificates have been issued.

The wide implementation of this tool for accessing indoor hospitality and services has supported the reopening of our economy and society nationally. The scope and parameters for issuing the certificates has been agreed at EU level and is standardised to allow for complete interoperability. That gets to the core of the Deputy's question. Currently, the agreed maximum validity date for recovery certificates is 180 days after the date of a positive PCR test result, as set out in the EU regulation.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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We put down questions to be answered and this question is very specific. It is whether the Minister plans to extend the period. I had to ask this way because I failed to get an answer up to now. I know the Minister is extremely busy but this is a very specific matter. We have seen HIQA's report and a letter to the Minister from Dr. Tony Holohan in November, and I believe there was one before that. He sets out in a paragraph that based on the advice provided from HIQA, which I have already read, the NPHET further accepted HIQA's advice and so on. The letter set out that NPHET endorsed the recommendation that the period of presumptive protective immunity following infection with Covid-19 should remain at nine months post infection at this time. Will the Minister just deal with that? I have been obliged to bring this question. I know somebody who had Covid-19, as we all may have, and the period in question is six months. NPHET has endorsed the HIQA recommendation of a nine-month period. What is the Minister telling me?

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am telling the Deputy the standard is set at an EU level. HIQA has made its recommendations and they have been endorsed by NPHET but the EU regulation sets the six-month period. I am advised the EU is not actively considering reviewing that six-month period at this time.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Will the Minister direct me to the regulation because I have not seen it? That is my own fault, I suppose, if the regulation is there. If he has it to hand, he might just quote the regulation and indicate when it was introduced and effected? Who has the Minister been advised by that the regulation will stand and not be changed? Who is making that advice? All the time we have endorsed NPHET and HIQA and, by and large, we go by their reports. Why are we ignoring the advice on this occasion? What evidence is there that has led the EU to indicate a six-month period? Could the Minister point me to the scientific evidence on this?

I have tabled a question so I expected an answer, if not from the Minister, then at least through him from the Department, which has all the expertise at its fingertips. Now we will ignore NPHET and HIQA when it suits us. We will talk about a regulation I do not know about. There is no scientific evidence whatever in the reply. This goes to the basis and the heart of trust so that when I go into the community I can advocate such trust in the system.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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To be clear, the Deputy's question is "to ask the Minister for Health his plans to extend the validity of the digital Covid-19 certificate to nine months" and I am answering that directly. I am saying the digital Covid-19 certificate is based on an EU-set regulation.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I heard that. The Minister's plan is not to extend that period.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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That is right. It is not being considered at an EU level at this point. Of course I will ask the Department to provide the Deputy with a detailed briefing on the EU regulation concerned.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I would also like to see the advice the Minister referred to. He said he has been advised the period will not be changed. I am sorry because I am breaking the rules.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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It is no problem at all. The advice I have is from the Department, which engages with the EU.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Minister might get back to me with that.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Sure.