Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
2286. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the reason the coronavirus antibody laboratory tests that check for the presence of coronavirus IgG antibodies due to a past infection is not covered in the new EU Digital COVID Certificate for travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37256/21]
View answer2382. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the reason the coronavirus antibody laboratory test developed by a company (details supplied) is not covered in the new EU Digital COVID Certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37655/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2286 and 2382 together.
The Digital COVID Certificate Regulation is intended to facilitate people’s fundamental right to move and reside freely and help to support the lifting of restrictions currently in place in a coordinated manner within the EU. The EU Digital COVID Certificate is not a travel document
As the Minister for Health, I am supporting the work of my Department in collaborating with relevant Departments under the leadership of the Department of Taoiseach to assist in the on-going implementation of the EU Digital COVID Certificates.
Under the EU Regulation a certificate of recovery is a certificate confirming that, following a positive result of a NAAT test, meaning a molecular nucleic acid amplification test, such as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) techniques, used to detect the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA), carried out by health professionals or by skilled testing personnel the holder has recovered from a SARS-CoV-2 infection.
On the basis of guidance received from the EU Health Security Committee, the ECDC, or the EMA, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts to allow for the issuance of the certificate of recovery on the basis of a positive rapid antigen test, antibody test, including a serological test for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, or any other scientifically validated method.
