Results 9,681-9,700 of 26,430 for speaker:David Cullinane

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

David Cullinane: The ministerial brief also states that even if we were to take all the capacity in the private system, it would still not be enough to make up the shortfall. There is an urgent need to bring this plan forward. I have two final questions for the Minister. I refer to the Be on Call for Ireland initiative. According to the latest figures I received at the end of July, 1,639 front-line...

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

David Cullinane: How many of them have been given a contract?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

David Cullinane: I will put my questions to Dr. McGuinness. These are distinct questions so I would appreciate distinct responses. We have the context in Dr. McGuinness's briefing document so I am really just seeking specific replies. In her opening statement, she mentioned 3,820 inspections or investigations having taken place since March. How many of those were in meat plants?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

David Cullinane: I am looking for the number.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

David Cullinane: Okay. The witness said that in the main, authority inspections are unannounced, but there is some pre-advised. Of those 39, how many were unannounced?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

David Cullinane: I am just looking for the number again. Of the 39, how many were announced and unannounced?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

David Cullinane: Of the 39 inspections, 30 were announced and only nine were unannounced.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

David Cullinane: I would not take any comfort from that response. Following the 39 visits or inspections, a number of actions can be taken. A report can be submitted on the back of an investigation and "improvement notices" and "prohibition notices" can also be made. Is that correct?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

David Cullinane: Improvement notices and prohibition notices are two of those actions.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

David Cullinane: Yes, that is what I said. How many improvement notices have come on foot of inspections of meat plants? How many prohibition notices have come on foot of inspections in meat plants?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

David Cullinane: I am only looking for the number.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

David Cullinane: None. Not one improvement notice or prohibition notice has been served. I do not know if the witnesses heard the contributions from SIPTU and other unions this morning. They spoke about close proximity working, bottlenecks in canteens and toilets, noise pollution causing workers to shout and low wages leading to car pooling and shared accommodation. In one town in Offaly, 40 migrant...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

David Cullinane: Dr. McGuinness cannot paint the picture that the majority are or will be unannounced. So far, the vast majority have been announced. I will not go back over the issues raised by ICTU regarding poor working conditions, workers going into work because there was no sick pay, close proximity when in work and sharing accommodation. None of that was picked up by any of the HSA inspectors. Not...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

David Cullinane: Cramped conditions in workplaces, etc., are occupational health issues.

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

David Cullinane: I thank the many witnesses who are taking part. I may not be able to get to everybody. They are very welcome and I thank them for their contributions. I address my first comments to Professor Kearney. The first question people will ask is what the difference is between a zero-Covid strategy and the strategy currently in place in the State, especially on the back of the new colour-coded...

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

David Cullinane: What about in the context of travel?

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

David Cullinane: Maybe I was not clear, and perhaps another witness can also take that question on whether part of the strategy should be testing as part of travel. I believe that the advice given so far has been that testing at airports is not really that effective. I am of the view that testing should be in place, but we are being told that that was partly the advice that was given up to now. What is the...

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

David Cullinane: I want to follow through on the briefing document we received on a zero-Covid island policy, and some of the material setting out how we get there. One of the things was making sure that essential travel is important, and that if people are coming here it is only for essential travel. The document says that the responsibility for deciding what is essential travel lies with the individual....

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

David Cullinane: I agree with Professor Staines that it would be almost impossible, never mind practical, to have definitions that would have to be enforced by police or port authorities. My question was more about having an advisory mechanism, because with clearer definitions, people might better understand what was deemed to be essential and non-essential, as opposed to making judgments that in the end may...

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

David Cullinane: I just have one more question for Professor Staines, and one for Mr. O'Brien, in the few minutes I have left. In the section of his statement discussing the goal of the policy, Professor Staines stated that "no large events will be allowed". How does that differ from the restrictions on numbers for outdoor events that are currently in place? What is the difference? He also referred to...