Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
2082. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the manner in which variants of concern are detected as an issue in the context of differing levels of sequencing across the EU; if all EU states have equal or comparable capacity for sequencing and detecting variants of concern; if not, the way the strategy for identifying designated states accounts for variation in this capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19772/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt present, the National Virus Reference Laboratory and partners undertake Whole Genome Sequencing on a proportion of all confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ireland, currently approximately 20% all COVID-19 cases nationally each week (approximately 1,000 samples per week).
Sequencing of all positive samples from travellers arriving in Ireland from a designated country is now undertaken. The aim is to use whole genome sequencing to inform and enhance the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Countries are designated under the Health Act 1947 by the Minister for Health following consultation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and across Government as necessary. An Expert Advisory Group on Travel to the CMO (EAGT) was established on 1 March 2021 to develop a method of risk assessing countries and to consider broader issues of travel and COVID-19. In making recommendations the EAGT considers data published by HPSC, WHO and ECDC among a range of other sources. The Chief Medical Officer considers EAGT recommendations and in turn makes recommendations to the Minister for Health who decides designation of individual states.
