Results 9,761-9,780 of 26,032 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report of the Covid-19 Rapid Testing Group: Discussion with Science Foundation Ireland (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Professor Ferguson is referring to antigen testing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report of the Covid-19 Rapid Testing Group: Discussion with Science Foundation Ireland (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I ask Deputy Ó Murchú for his concluding remarks.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report of the Covid-19 Rapid Testing Group: Discussion with Science Foundation Ireland (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: We now move to the Fine Gael slot. Deputy Crowe has three to four minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report of the Covid-19 Rapid Testing Group: Discussion with Science Foundation Ireland (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: What did I say?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report of the Covid-19 Rapid Testing Group: Discussion with Science Foundation Ireland (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am obviously moving ahead of the trend. I apologise; it was a Freudian slip.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report of the Covid-19 Rapid Testing Group: Discussion with Science Foundation Ireland (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: We already agreed to write to the Department of Transport to ask that it engages with Professor Ferguson to set up a pilot scheme. The Deputy has put forward the construct of what that pilot scheme should look like. We will include that in the recommendation. Other matters may come up in the course of the meeting. We have already taken a decision today. We will write to the Department...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report of the Covid-19 Rapid Testing Group: Discussion with Science Foundation Ireland (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: When we write to the Department, we will implicitly ask it to link up with the UK. It should be an integrated approach between ourselves and the UK. There are benefits in terms of the North-South angle. It is a collaborative process. We will include that in our request to the Department of Transport.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report of the Covid-19 Rapid Testing Group: Discussion with Science Foundation Ireland (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: It runs in parallel with establishing a system to operate it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report of the Covid-19 Rapid Testing Group: Discussion with Science Foundation Ireland (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Senator Buttimer has four minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report of the Covid-19 Rapid Testing Group: Discussion with Science Foundation Ireland (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Professor Ferguson, if the Government were to ask you to head such a pilot programme, particularly in the context of aviation, for example, is it a position you would be willing to take? You recommended in your report that an expert group be established. If the Government approached you to lead such a group in a pilot programme, would you be willing to undertake that task?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report of the Covid-19 Rapid Testing Group: Discussion with Science Foundation Ireland (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Professor Ferguson's report on the aviation sector is great work. It has been idle for too long, for the last month. I note that on page 47 he makes a specific recommendation about a test to release, to reduce harms from unnecessary quarantine, for example of asymptomatic contacts, critical workers and international travellers. It is a recommendation. We will write to the Department of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report of the Covid-19 Rapid Testing Group: Discussion with Science Foundation Ireland (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: In summary, any pilot programme, with the Department of Transport as the principal Department, will involve NPHET, the Department of Health and the HSE. We thank Professor Ferguson for coming in at short notice. This has been a most informative session and he has given of his valuable time. We will write to the Department of Transport and the Minister. We will also write to the various...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Report of the Covid-19 Rapid Testing Group: Discussion with Science Foundation Ireland (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Professor Ferguson works with our committee in any way necessary. We see him as a valuable asset in dealing with Covid and reopening the aviation sector and the economy. I thank him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing Travel Agents and the Aviation Sector: Discussion (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: The purpose of the second part to our meeting is to discuss the challenges facing travel agents and the aviation sector. On behalf of the committee, I welcome to the meeting Mr. Pat Dawson, CEO, and Mr. Paul Hackett, board member, of the Irish Travel Agents Association. I thank the witnesses for attending the meeting at such short notice. All witnesses are reminded of the long-standing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing Travel Agents and the Aviation Sector: Discussion (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Mr. Hackett. We will now move to questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing Travel Agents and the Aviation Sector: Discussion (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: In that regard, Mr. Hackett might give us the specific details of whom we should follow up with. We very much take onboard Senator Buttimer's proposal. We want to support the industry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing Travel Agents and the Aviation Sector: Discussion (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Sinn Féin has agreed to facilitate Deputy Cathal Crowe who needs to go to another meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing Travel Agents and the Aviation Sector: Discussion (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: We now move to the facilitators. Deputy O'Rourke has three to four minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing Travel Agents and the Aviation Sector: Discussion (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Yes. I will follow up with Mr. Hackett. First, in terms of travel agents in Ireland, is it just outgoing traffic his organisation deals with or does it deal with people coming in as well?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing Travel Agents and the Aviation Sector: Discussion (5 May 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: ITIC is Irish-based as well?