Results 221-240 of 2,283 for speaker:Matt Shanahan

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid 19: Implications of a Zero-Covid Island Policy (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I thank Professor Staines. He probably saw this morning that China has imposed an embargo on certain Brazilian products coming because Covid was found on frozen Brazilian chicken. Is the importation of frozen products something that we should be looking as well? Is there any chance of contamination of people in the sector who are handling it or the logistics people who are distributing it?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid 19: Implications of a Zero-Covid Island Policy (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I thank Professor Staines. I will ask Mr. O'Brien a question. He highlighted a pretty grim economic picture. Assuming that we continue on the path we are on - and that most European countries will probably do likewise - whereby we are trying to mitigate the disease, trace and put temporary lockdowns in place, what does he think is the path to the ECB unwinding support to European countries...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (26 Aug 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I thank the witnesses. My first questions are for Mr. Reid. I have previously raised with the committee the issue of serial testing in healthcare. Are there plans to consider random testing or temperature testing of hospital care workers? As I have said previously, these protocols are in place in factories. I am not sure why they cannot be implemented randomly in the HSE. My next...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (26 Aug 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I ask Mr. Reid to come back to me as my first question was on community hospitals and not residential care settings. I know it was covered previously but perhaps the thinking has changed. Can the random testing of healthcare workers in community hospitals be considered? With regard to diagnostic tests, a number of weeks ago, representatives of the DAA and the Department with...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (26 Aug 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I have three questions I would like answered in writing.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (26 Aug 2020)

Matt Shanahan: Is the use of plasma and ultraviolet systems for infection control being encouraged in hospitals? On the proposed service agreements that might be reached with private hospitals, I am aware of patients who have been waiting for diagnostic tests in public hospitals. They have been sent to private hospitals without having been tested for Covid and have been sent back to await a Covid test....

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I thank the Chairman. I thank Dr. Glynn and Professor Nolan for their attendance here today. My first question is for Professor Nolan and relates to the testing that was done in the meat factories, which was akin to screening and which turned up a high level of asymptomatic cases. Were these, in fact, false positives that were recorded as asymptomatic cases?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Matt Shanahan: We spoke previously at this committee about the idea of regionalisation and the potential for certain areas to be considered differently in the context of a possible opening up. I am specifically referencing the rural wet pubs, some of which are in areas where there is absolutely no evidence of Covid around and yet they are locked down. Is there anything on the horizon or can Dr. Glynn offer...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Matt Shanahan: Dr. Glynn has made his thoughts known in terms of the aviation sector and where travel might happen in the future. On the travel cases he referenced a few minutes ago, are any of them related to the 30,000 movements across the Border that are happening per day?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Matt Shanahan: The media is reporting that up to nine potential vaccines are currently at the front of a race to be approved. Has NPHET engaged in any way with the pharmaceutical companies involved or some of the promoters to see that if these vaccines get past phase 3 trials and achieve early approval, we will be able to get some of them for the Irish population?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I do not think I have had an opportunity to congratulate the Minister on his elevation. The grass may be greener but I imagine it is just as difficult to cut on the other side. I want to bring up a matter that is within the remit of the Covid committee as it relates to hospital inpatient stays, elective days and hospital capacity. I refer to the issue of having a second catheterisation...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Matt Shanahan: To the patients as well, most importantly. I thank the Minister for that. He and I discussed the type A contracts that were to be offered at the time of the private hospitals deal and I heard the Minister refer earlier to funding being put aside for additional capacity. If contracts have been written with the private hospitals, will the Minister again seek for private fee-charging...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Matt Shanahan: Correct.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Matt Shanahan: That would represent the best value for money. I wish to raise a further point about the lack of consultants. The Minister will be aware that a large number of mainly foreign doctors have been residing in Ireland for many years at registrar level. Is there an opportunity to consider providing additional training or fast-tracking some of these doctors? They have the experience, but it...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I thank our guests for attending. I reiterate the point other members made, namely, that the country is very appreciative of the efforts of schools boards, teachers, managers and the unions in trying to get the schools reopened. Now that they are reopening, it is absolutely vital that we do everything possible to try to keep them open and functioning. I wish to bring up a point that came...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I thank Mr. Boyle. I wish to speak to two points. One is the digital divide that was highlighted earlier. The TUI in particular mentioned access to broadband. At the moment schools are providing laptops many students. Why does there have to an interactive element? If there is a difficulty with accessing the Internet for learning why not put programmes onto those laptops so students can...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Matt Shanahan: It is possible to purchase new small tablets for as little as €40 to €50 and surely schools, school management and the unions need to be looking at solutions here. It is impossible to believe that we are not going to have school closures over the course of the year and we need to be facilitating students. I have just one more thing-----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I thank the Acting Chairman. May I just add one final point on testing? I agree with the unions' postilions but there needs to be some random, mandatory testing at point of care implemented in schools and we should be looking at that.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I thank those who are here representing the National Parents Council, Inclusion Ireland and others. We have had some of them here before, and some of the issues we discussed previously are obviously still very pertinent. Communications appears to be a significant issue. I note from both surveys that were done there was dissatisfaction in most cases with communications, which were...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Matt Shanahan: I appreciate Ms Lynch's remarks. I also acknowledge that the schools, particularly the school management boards, have done excellent work trying to rise to all the challenges they have. Some of these challenges have come up before. I note that Inclusion Ireland's submission refers to the issue of children with disabilities who are in groupings or bubbles. It says that in the event of a...