Results 1,281-1,300 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: I will reference some of the points that I have not had a chance to reply to yet. I am conscious that I am straying into the jurisdiction of the Department of Health, but it is my information that, as the Minister, Deputy Harris, put on the record today, the local HSE teams that dealt with outbreaks initially and the local and national outbreak control teams that were subsequently...

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: -----is that management in plants are co-operating. Communication with plants has been a movable feast because there were different communications on 18 March, 27 March, 9 May, which was the protocol to which the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, alluded, 15 May, which was the first specific guidance to meat plants, and 19 May, entailing Covid-19 checklists, etc. There have been different...

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: Deputy Stanley has categorised all of this as a mess but it is easy to be a hurler on the ditch commenting on everybody else's best endeavours. With every individual who contracts the virus and every industry grappling with the consequences, there is a challenge. Everybody is doing their best, including those workers deemed to be essential by this House when it approved the regulations. It...

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: The Deputy is more interested in grandstanding than getting information.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: In reference to the point Deputy McConalogue made about the Minister for Health, I remind the House that the Minister was present earlier, made a detailed statement on the meat plants and was available for questioning in that context. As my colleague, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation has confirmed, he identified 828 cases and 16 clusters in the meat industry. It is...

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: Since the start of this pandemic, the protection of public health has been the Government's overriding priority. The Government categorised farming and food production as essential services under the Covid-19 regulations. Irish food supply chains have continued to operate effectively to ensure the security of supply of safe healthy Irish food for consumers at home and abroad. In respect...

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: We are at somewhat of a disadvantage as these are health-related matters. They are more appropriate for the Minister for Health. My understanding is the individual is notified. I do not intend to add anything further to what has been said about who is notified, but it is usually the individual who is notified and who must take responsibility thereafter. The employer is not routinely notified.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: If an employer has 22 cases, he or she would still not be routinely notified.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: I will try to deal with the Deputy's questions quickly. I am delighted to hear Deputy Fitzmaurice's support for the forestry sector. We have difficulties in respect of licensing. There have been a series of legal cases both domestically and in the European courts. In effect, these have forced us to reconstruct our licensing process - to rebuild the process legally. I am satisfied that we...

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: On the latter question, they cannot. People should be reassured that there is no evidence whatsoever to support the claim that they can. I am really disappointed that the Deputy would raise again in this forum the issue of Spanish fishermen, especially when the Irish fishing fleet, particularly the whitefish fleet he alluded to that fishes in Castletownbere in what are very difficult...

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: The Deputy will be aware but he chooses to blissfully ignore that there are protocols in place for any ship berthing in ports to deal with these matters.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: They are abundantly clear. The harbourmaster in Castletownbere is fully aware of them and complies with them. Locals are aware that happens.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: There are protocols in place for our harbourmasters and there are protocols in place for boats that are docking in our facilities.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: I have answered the question.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: I am aware of the greyhound racing issue and we have spoken about it previously. Every sector that is subject to the strictures of the road map that has been published is anxious to have the white flag raised for them at an earlier date. I am aware of the interests of the greyhound sector in that regard. I do not want to mislead anybody and it is not an easy ask but we are engaged with the...

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: Ideological?

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: I do not direct the HSA but I am aware, as the Minister, Deputy Humphrey, has confirmed, that the HSA has already conducted inspections in meat plants. I find it quite extraordinary that Deputy Smith would choose, of all places, the United States of America as a guiding light into how we should respond on meat plants.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: Its testing regime-----

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: Its testing regime is quite simply-----

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Creed: Its testing regime is in no way comparable with the testing regime we have. It is important to put it into context. Every one of those 828 confirmed cases is one too many. We must work to ensure that everything is done to protect those workers. It is 828 cases out of a total of 16,000 workers in that sector.