Results 6,041-6,060 of 12,401 for speaker:Louise O'Reilly

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

Louise O'Reilly: I am not being funny but on what is that based if it has never been done?

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

Louise O'Reilly: We are all grateful that we have not had to use it. Professor Mallon's submission refers to a "detailed end-to-end testing and contact tracing plan, embedded with rapid turnaround times and clear key performance indicators". That is not there. Is it on its way? When will we have that?

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

Louise O'Reilly: Experts tell us that testing capacity alone can be meaningless unless it is fast. South Korea views the speed of testing and tracing as important to prevent and suppress outbreaks. Its health officials have stated that testing needs to work not only for identification but also for isolation. To do this, it must be fast. According to Dr. Tomás Ryan, the science shows that if this is...

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

Louise O'Reilly: Does Professor Mallon think we are ready?

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

Louise O'Reilly: If we do not have the necessary plan in place, should we be opening up at the rate we are? Should we not wait for the plan before doing so? I have my own view on this but I am asking for Professor Mallon's view as an expert in the area.

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

Louise O'Reilly: If we open up our airports and open the country up to travel, that obviously will increase the risks. Do we need to be scaling up on testing on a much quicker basis if we are going to be accepting people coming in as tourism and everything else restarts?

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

Louise O'Reilly: At the moment, we have very low numbers of people arriving through the airports. I know this because Dublin Airport is in my constituency. Those numbers are likely to increase soon but even at the current low level of incoming people, we are not getting things right. I heard Cáit O'Riordan on the radio the weekend before last talking about how when she came home from America and...

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

Louise O'Reilly: I thank Professor Mallon.

Emergency Bed Capacity: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I am sharing my time with Deputies Gould and Quinlivan, both of whom are to have four minutes. I will cede three of my seven minutes to the Minister because I want to use some of my time to hear a response. I believe the Ceann Comhairle said we are entitled to a response, but maybe not an answer. I feel like I have just stumbled in to some kind of job interview process. I do not know...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I ask that we conduct an additional risk assessment regarding the conduct of this committee. The advice has moved on, the country is reopening, there are many more people at work and there is a lot of flexibility in this area. I acknowledge that we are operating on the basis of a risk assessment. If the committee agrees to conduct another risk assessment and it is in order and feasible to...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: That is bang on.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I had indicated.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I fully appreciate the constraints on us and all the rest of that. I am looking for an additional risk assessment. In the event that we have another session, we should also hear from representatives and childcare workers. That would be important. Everyone is cognisant of the fact that we are limited in terms of time and space. It would be helpful.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: Yes. I assume the Chairman is taking a note of those who went over to ensure that time is given to the rest of us.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I welcome our witnesses. We thank their members for all of the work they have done and the work they continue to do in this extremely trying time. I received an email from a nurse on 18 June in which she stated: I have just been notified that the crèche will not take my child back. I am a full-time nurse who has gone over and above in the last few months. I now face the decision of...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: I am sorry to cut across. Is it correct that they are not testing and trace healthcare workers to the extent that they should be? Should that be an important element as we roll out non-Covid related healthcare?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: It is not happening, however.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: That is exactly what it is. It is a hazard of the job. On 26 March in this Chamber, we stood and applauded front-line healthcare workers. I have been contacted by healthcare workers who believed that it was something of an empty gesture because what followed were no firm commitments on childcare. I note from Ms Ní Sheaghdha's submission that one of her members stated childcare was...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: The Government announced a plan on 18 May. In the run-up to that and all through April, the Taoiseach said the Government was ready to "push the button", which is the phrase he used, on childcare. Is it correct to say there were no feasible childcare arrangements in place at that time?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Louise O'Reilly: They are, and the waiting lists have not gone away. When work resumes to tackle the waiting lists, which I believe are hovering close to 1 million people, every single healthcare worker will be absolutely needed. Am I right in saying there is a link and that low staffing levels inhibit infection control measures?