I have established an Expert Advisory Group on Rapid Testing, chaired by Professor Mary Horgan, Consultant in Infectious Diseases at Cork University Hospital and President of the Royal College of Physicians.
The group will support and advise government departments, who are responsible for progressing pilots and the rollout of rapid tests in their respective sectors. It will also be responsible for communicating to the general public.
The membership of the group and it's terms of reference are available at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/e2767-minister-donnelly-establishes-expert-advisory-group-on-rapid-testing/
Minutes of the Groups meetings and other relevant documents are published at www.gov.ie/en/collection/8b585-minutes-and-agendas-from-meetings-of-the-rapid-testing-expert-advisory-group/
The RTEAG has provided advice to the Minister on using RADT as an additional layer of public health measures which was also provided to NPHET to form part of their deliberations. This advice was reflected in the CMO’s letter to the Minister on 11 November.