Results 3,361-3,380 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: The outbreak in Tipperary was also in a meat plant.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: I thank Dr. Glynn. We all accept that Covid-19 is going to be with us for some time, as is NPHET, by extension. Given that, and the necessity for transparency that we have just discussed, would Dr. Glynn consider webcasting NPHET meetings? I have never tuned in but I understand that the equivalent body in New Zealand webcasts its meetings in the interests of transparency and so everybody...
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: One can never have enough transparency.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: Is the answer "No"?
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: Dr. Glynn and I agree that we need public buy-in for all of the measures that are being recommended by NPHET and taken by the Government.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: The Minister can do so briefly. I am looking at the time.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: I want to leave time for Deputy Shortall.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: NPHET will be with us for some time. Does the Minister think it useful that members of NPHET fill out the declaration of interest form that, for example, members of State boards routinely complete given the importance of the recommendations that the team makes?
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: I do not suggest that there is any conflict of interest whatsoever by anybody in NPHET. As NPHET becomes more of a permanent or semi-permanent body then surely it must be treated like similar bodies that make fundamental recommendations to Government?
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: Let us be absolutely clear, I am not making that suggestion. As NPHET becomes a more permanent body rather than the ad hocbody that was established, do we need to move towards a more recognisable permanent structure that exists within the State?
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: Declarations of interest are important for people who sit on State boards, make recommendations and perform a function that has such fundamental economic consequences, albeit secondary consequences. There are important issues for NPHET around that. We have both made it clear that there is no conflict of interest and my question was about putting something on a more permanent footing.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: I thank Dr. Glynn for his clarification. That is an important point to get out there. Modelling is Professor Nolan's forte. Was there a peer review of the model used in Ireland? If not, is he open to that and making the coding available for peer review?
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: Professor Nolan has answered my question by saying that the coding is available.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: I have a couple of questions before I hand over to Deputy Shortall.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: Okay. I want to ask a couple of questions but to give Deputy Shortall time I may ask that the replies be in writing.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: I do not mean the Minister's possibility to reply but the questions I am going to ask. Yesterday, I asked a question and it is important that we get more information on this. In respect of PCR testing, we were told that there is a number, albeit a small number, of false positives. There are also false negatives, which, I have heard from various doctors, are a bigger problem. Then there is...
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: I am not suggesting significance. I am asking for the number.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: Okay.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: I appreciate that it is a multifaceted disease. I did say that there would be time to bring Deputy Shortall in.
- Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)
Michael McNamara: We only have five minutes remaining, Deputy.