Results 3,901-3,920 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara

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

Michael McNamara: I will allow Mr. Reid to answer but very briefly.

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

Michael McNamara: Thank you Mr. Reid.

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

Michael McNamara: I do not propose to get into that now as we are under pressure with time. The next speaker from Fine Gael is Deputy Durkan who has five minutes.

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

Michael McNamara: I am sorry to have to cut Dr. Henry short but we are running out of time. The witnesses might provide written replies to the additional questions that Deputy Durkan raised. I have to move on to the next speaker.

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

Michael McNamara: Mr. Reid might liaise with Deputy Lawless following the meeting. The next speaker is Deputy Louise O'Reilly.

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

Michael McNamara: I have some brief questions before we conclude. There has been much talk about the travel locator form. The Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, has been contracted to follow up with people who come into the country. Was that agreed by the HSE or another Department or Government agency?

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

Michael McNamara: Was it the HSE which contracted the DAA to do that?

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

Michael McNamara: I will raise that with the Department later. I congratulate the HSE on sourcing so much PPE. There was a major challenge in sourcing sufficient PPE on the world market at the start of the pandemic. I have seen some of the PPE the HSE sourced and has stockpiled in the event that is necessary. I will not get into the issue of nursing homes as we will have a separate session on that later,...

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

Michael McNamara: It is strategically important that we have PPE in the event of a further outbreak of Covid-19 or of a future pandemic and there is an issue around Brexit. Is there a strategic plan for this going forward? The HSE has done what it had to do, and it has done well in obtaining the amount of PPE required. Is there a plan in place to have a stockpile of PPE or to manufacture PPE to provide...

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

Michael McNamara: Hospital overcrowding is a recipe for disaster if it is accompanied by an increase in transmission of Covid-19 in the community. University Hospital Limerick is consistently the most overcrowded hospital in Ireland. I was informed by the previous Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, and by Mr. Liam Woods, a senior member of Mr. Reid's team, that there were plans to scale up the services...

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

Michael McNamara: When will we see an increase in the number of procedures being carried out in the tier 2 hospitals? We were told that would happen.

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

Michael McNamara: Can Ms O'Connor provide that information to me in writing?

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

Michael McNamara: I appreciate that. Mr. Reid might also revert to me in writing about how the plan to scale up indigenous production is coming along. I have been looking through the HSE website and I do not see advice for incoming travellers, although I see a link to other advice. I might raise that matter with the witnesses after the session because there is no point in all of us looking at mobile phones...

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

Michael McNamara: I apologise to our witnesses for starting slightly later than anticipated. I can see they are taking their seats. I welcome Dr. Ronan Glynn, acting Chief Medical Officer, CMO, and head of the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, and Professor Philip Nolan, chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group. Before we commence the formal proceedings, I advise the...

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

Michael McNamara: I invite Professor Nolan to deliver his introductory remarks and ask that he limit them to five minutes.

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

Michael McNamara: Sorry, I have to cut Dr. Glynn short. He may want to provide a further reply in writing to Deputy Murnane O'Connor. The next speaker is Deputy Ó Laoghaire. He is taking six minutes, which is unusual.

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

Michael McNamara: Fine Gael is next. Deputy O'Dowd is going first. Is he taking five or ten minutes?

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

Michael McNamara: I am afraid that if he does, it will have to be a reply in writing as I must move onto the next speaker to keep with the time.

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

Michael McNamara: I ask Deputy Ryan to speak more into the microphone. I am told it is a general problem, including with me, and not just with her. We all need to speak into the microphones so we can be heard in the committee room.

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

Michael McNamara: I am afraid the Deputy is out of time. Perhaps another Sinn Féin speaker will come in at the end. I need to keep this moving.