Results 4,821-4,840 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Arts and Entertainment Sector (30 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: It is not clear whether there is any legal restriction on gatherings in churches. I do not think there is such a restriction. It was not stipulated in the previous regulations. I do not know whether there are regulations in being at the moment. Insurance may be an issue. Obviously, every premises is free to determine whether to open, but that is a different issue. Has Deputy Collins...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Arts and Entertainment Sector (30 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: As some Deputies have gone to the Convention Centre for votes that may be called, we are not under the same time pressure that we were under in previous meetings. I thank Deputy Clarke for her patience. She has ten minutes.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Arts and Entertainment Sector (30 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: I apologise for interrupting, given that we are in a committee meeting and are not having a conversation, but NPHET and the Health and Safety Authority do not make laws. The outgoing Minister made the law and there is now a new Minister for Health, who has the power to change the law, annul the law or whatever.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Arts and Entertainment Sector (30 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: I often wonder whether we value our artists or our dead artists. The dead ones are cheaper to value. I thank all the witnesses for attending and sharing their stories and testimonies. The meeting has certainly been enlightening and powerful.

Taoiseach a Ainmniú (Atógáil) - Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (27 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: I concur with the previous speaker. The constituency I represent needs a Government to deal with the issues we face. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Minister for Health told the House that greater and better use has to be made of Ennis hospital and other tier-two hospitals throughout the mid-west to avoid a catastrophe next winter at University Hospital Limerick. Shannon Airport and...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: We have a quorum and we are now in public session. We have been notified that Deputy Gannon is substituting for Deputy Shortall. There may be other such notifications later. I welcome our witnesses to our hearing on testing and tracing. We are joined in the Dáil Chamber by Professor Paddy Mallon, professor of microbial diseases in the school of medicine at University College Dublin,...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: I thank Dr. Henry. We will be having an upcoming session on cancer screening, among other non-Covid-related activities. We will also have another session on infection rates of healthcare workers. On the issue of travel, does Professor Mallon have a view on the adequacy of the current measures? Is there confusion over legally requiring people to fill in a form and then requesting that they...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Professor Mallon did not answer my question about the adequacy of existing measures.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: I thank Professor Mallon. I call Deputy Stephen Donnelly.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Professor Mallon mentioned the shortcoming of the PCR-type testing and stated that there is another type of testing which is not available because of logistics. Does that suffer from the same disadvantages, namely, if one is tested in the first day or two after contact, one may subsequently develop symptoms but one will not test positive?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Even the first type of testing that the professor mentioned.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: I thank Professor Mallon. Deputy O'Reilly has ten minutes.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Professor Mallon has repeatedly referred to the need for a written coherent plan for this island. Are we any closer to that in this jurisdiction than they are in Northern Ireland, or are we each at a similar distance?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: We continually talk about people coming in through the airports when there is a very sizeable number coming in across a land border, which is inevitable.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Thank you Deputy Smyth. I call Deputy Gannon.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: If we get a chance for a second round, everyone will have an equal opportunity to come in. There are not many members here now but people are coming and going, as Deputy Boyd Barrett has come in to ask his questions-----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: The Deputy, and others, are following the discussion from their offices.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Will the Deputy take the first round of questions?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Yes, if there is time left over.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael McNamara: Does Deputy Boyd Barrett want to put that to Dr. De Gascun or just to put it on the record?