David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1148. To ask the Minister for Health the guidelines that have been put in place for general practitioners and other community medical professionals regarding proof of inability to wear masks on public transport or other spaces that may require masks in view of the stipulation in regulations that proof must be produced upon request by a relevant person; his plans to ensure that the public know their rights and obligations in this regard and to facilitate the production of proof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19908/20]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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1162. To ask the Minister for Health if he or his Department have instructed hospital consultants and or general practitioners and or hospital management instructions not to issue certificates permitting certain persons not to wear face masks for medical reasons on foot of reports received that clinical staff at University Hospital Limerick have been told not to issue certificates permitting certain persons not to wear face masks for medical reasons. [19936/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1148 and 1162 together.

I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department appreciates the concerns around face coverings with regard to those who may not be in a position to wear them for medical reasons.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) continues to examine all emerging evidence as it arises and has provided advice relating to face coverings on an ongoing basis. NPHET advises the wearing of a non-medical face covering in a number of circumstances including in retail outlets, by people visiting the homes of those who are cocooning, by people who are being visited in their homes by those who are cocooning, by visitors to residential care facilities and in indoor work environments where it is difficult to maintain a two-metre distance. I would again emphasise that the wearing of face coverings is an additional hygiene measure and should not take the place of good hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and other personal protective public health measures. Face coverings should be used properly, in line with the guidance and with individuals washing their hands before putting them on and taking them off.

On Friday 10 July 2020, having consulted with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Minister for Justice and Equality, I signed the Health Act (Covid-19)(Face Coverings on Public Transport) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 244/2020). The regulations provide that, from 13 July 2020, members of the public (excluding children under the age of 13) shall not, without reasonable excuse, travel by public transport without wearing a face covering.

Reasonable excuse includes where a person:

- cannot put one on, wear or remove a face covering because of any physical or mental illness, impairment or disability or without severe distress

- needs to communicate with another person who has difficulties communicating

- removes the face covering to provide emergency assistance or to provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person

- removes the face covering to avoid harm or injury, or the risk of harm or injury

- removes the face covering to take medication  

It is not my intention to develop guidelines in relation to the operation of the Regulations. The Regulations provide that a “relevant person”, defined as an officer, employee or agent of a public transport operator or of the National Transport Authority, who is responsible for the implementation of the Regulations and it is, therefore, a matter for the public transport operators and the National Transport Authority to make arrangements for what they consider necessary to ensure that such “relevant persons” are satisfied with the information provided by any individual who is using a public transport service.

As I am sure will be appreciated, the evidence relating to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the discussion around face coverings is constantly evolving. I can assure you that the public health advice relating to Covid-19 is kept under continuing review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).  The Government has now also agreed to the mandatory wearing of face coverings in retail outlets, shops and shopping centres. Retail staff will also be obliged to wear a face covering unless there is a partition between them and members of the public or where there is a distance of 2 metres between them and members of the public. The development of Regulations is this regard is underway and it is likely that similar “reasonable excuse” provisions will be included.

The Deputy may wish to note that the latest public health advice on face coverings is available at the following links and is updated on a regular basis:

www.gov.ie/facecoverings.

www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/face-masks-disposable-gloves.html.