I propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 319 together.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation (EU) 2021/953 creates a framework for the issuing, authentication, and validity of certificates. Under the scope and parameters laid out in the EU DCC Regulation, DCCs for recovery are not currently issued on the basis of antigen tests.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate is not a travel document or a requirement for travel, but a record of a medical event to help ease freedom of movement with the European Union. Any persons who wishes to travel to another EU country or access services aboard should familiarise themselves with the travel requirements of that country. Details are available at the Re-Open EU webpage: reopen.europa.eu/en
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.
There was very significant demand for PCR testing during December and into January due to unprecedented levels of infection in the community, largely driven by the Omicron variant and reflecting both the high prevalence of the disease and also other respiratory illnesses at the time. The HSE made every effort necessary to address this very significant demand arising for PCR testing. This included making arrangements with private providers to add new capacity, extending the opening hours of swabbing centres and ongoing recruitment and redeployment to swabbing teams, and increasing the number of National Ambulance Service mobile teams. Due to demands on PCR capacity reaching the levels they did, changes were necessary to public health guidance, making antigen tests more widely available and allowing the HSE to prioritise access to PCR testing for those most vulnerable to the disease.