Joint Committee on Transport and Communications to meet Chief Medical Officer and NPHET Chair Dr Tony Holohan to discuss Rapid Antigen Testing for aviation and travel

The meeting at 12.30pm will be broadcast from Committee Room 2 of Leinster House and will also be attended by representatives of NPHET, Dr Ronan Glynn, Professor Philip Nolan, Dr Cillian de Gascun, Professor Martin Cormican and Dr Mary Keogan.

Ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Kieran O’Donnell said: “We very much welcome that Dr Holohan and his colleagues have accepted the invite to appear before our Committee to discuss the science on Rapid Antigen Testing in relation to aviation and travel.

“The Committee believes that Rapid Antigen Testing should now form part of the public health toolkit for Covid-19 alongside PCR testing. They are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they can be complimentary.

“Many other countries have adopted Rapid Antigen Testing and indeed it is allowed under the EU Digital Covid Certificate, which Ireland is introducing. We must ensure that our airline industry is not put at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to the use of Rapid Antigen Testing.

“Our Committee has already recommended that a pilot Rapid Antigen Testing scheme is set up on a specific air route out of Ireland and that this will be concluded prior to the introduction of the EU Digital Covid Certificate here. We will be discussing this practical proposal with Dr Holohan at our meeting.

“Along with PCR testing, Rapid Antigen Testing has a positive role in the fight against Covid-19, by detecting, and thus reducing the risk of contracting and spreading of the virus. Importantly, anything that helps to reduce the risks from the coronavirus should be utilised.

“The Committee has already held a number of public hearings into the role Rapid Antigen Testing can play in the aviation, travel and other sectors. We have heard from world renowned experts, Professor Mark Ferguson, the Government’s chief scientific advisor, and Harvard Professor Michael Mina, who both gave clear scientific proof why Rapid Antigen Testing should form part of the public health toolkit for Covid-19 alongside PCR testing.

“We look forward to discussing this science and related matters, including developments around the Delta variant in respect of the UK, with Dr Holohan and his NPHET colleagues.”

The Joint Committee on Transport and Communications has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 2 can be viewed live on Oireachtas.ie.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.