Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The 50:50 approach is always good. I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I appreciate that there were many technical questions and we might need that additional information if she could furnish us with it.

I have two brief points, and Senator Currie referred to them. People had intended this from a genuine and sincere motivation. We are sure they were trying to assist online yesterday. However, what is clear to me, and we must get clarity on this if the Minister of State cannot give it, is that if people applied through the Covid tracker app yesterday they received an EU compliant certificate but they do not have the EU digital certificate. Some people are under the misapprehension that they have it, sin é, and they may not. I want to try to get that message out through this opportunity today.

There was talk about a dedicated helpline. It might be worth ensuring that it is up and running. With the greatest will in the world Senator Currie, myself and others will do our best to furnish people with information, but we are not the Department of Health so it would be good if that could get up and running as soon as possible for those who have questions. The Minister of State might also consider encouraging the Department to undertake a publicity drive in the North through some of the local newspapers whereby it could advertise the details of this so people will know and have a direct and local interface with this portal and will be able to get that information as close to home as possible.