Results 10,341-10,360 of 27,087 for speaker:David Cullinane

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...

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

David Cullinane: I have to stop Professor Staines as we are tight on time and I wish to put a question to Mr. O'Brien. What elements of the plan that has been presented to us would Mr. O'Brien find objectionable? That might be too strong a word, but perhaps he finds them impractical or problematic. Some of the measures seem to amount to better enforcement of what is already in place or getting a bit...

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

David Cullinane: I am referring to the zero-Covid Ireland plan.

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

David Cullinane: Is Mr. O'Brien saying that while, in the short term, it might deliver benefits he does not see it as a long-term solution?