27 Oct 2020, 14:40
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health will question representatives of the HSE on the Covid-19 test and trace system at a meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, 28 October in Leinster House.
The meeting of TDs and Senators is taking place in Committee Room 2 with witnesses appearing remotely from 11.30am.
Appearing for the HSE are: Ms Niamh O’Beirne Lead Testing and Tracing, Dr Kevin Kelleher, Assistant National Director Public Health/Child Health and Damien McCallion, National Director Emergency Management and Director General CAWT.
Speaking before the meeting, Committee Chairman Seán Crowe TD said: “People are continuing to make huge personal sacrifices to curb the spread of this virus and those sacrifices have intensified with the Level 5 restrictions now in place. They deserve a test and trace system they can have confidence in. They want to know there is a system in place that is prepared for surges.
“Members requested a meeting with the HSE when they heard that the test and trace system got so overwhelmed recently, that about 2,500 people who received a positive Covid-19 test result were asked to alert their own close contacts, instead of getting help from a contact tracer. Members welcome this opportunity to get an update on how the test and trace system is now working, how a similar situation can be avoided and why it got to a point where people with Covid-19 positive results, were asked by text to alert their own close contacts urging them to restrict their movements and seek a test immediately.
“A robust testing and tracing system is vital to ensuring that outbreaks are identified and contained. Anything less restricts our ability to eliminate COVID-19 from society and could jeopardise the public’s faith in the Level 5 restrictions.”
CAWT is a partnership between the Health and Social Care Services in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, which facilitates cross border collaborative working in health and social care.
Watch the meeting live.
Committee membership
Deputies