David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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903. To ask the Minister for Health the engagement he, his Department or the HSE have had with the developer of an application (details supplied); if there are plans to endorse same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38596/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In terms of engagement with the developer of the Health Passport Ireland app, my office received correspondence from ROQU in July and October of this year, with introductions to, and updates on progress in relation to the app and its initial pilot. ROQU advised in this correspondence that they are engaged with industry stakeholders on a national level to review the potential of the technology and within the HSE through Prof. Martin Curley, Director of Digital Transformation and Innovation.

There are two aspects to the solution offered by ROQU. The core offering relates to rapid testing using antigen test kits. This is accompanied by the app which is used to advise users of the results of their tests. It is not clear to my officials whether the ROQU are the developer of the app or whether they subcontracted this to a technical partner. The efficacy of antigen testing is still under review by the Department so this aspect of the app has not been assessed from a Departmental perspective.