Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Ceisteanna (1584, 1592, 1604, 1643, 1662, 1669, 1775, 1887, 1919)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

1584. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the way in which a person who has a positive antigen test and fails to get a PCR test within a reasonable timeframe can apply for and receive a recovery certificate; if proof of a positive antigen test will be accepted to issue a recovery certificate similar to the manner in which positive antigen tests are being accepted for social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1029/22]

Emer Higgins

Ceist:

1592. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if his Department is considering issuing Digital COVID Certificates on the basis of a negative antigen test or recovery following a positive antigen test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1056/22]

Niall Collins

Ceist:

1604. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding Covid-19 recovery certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1088/22]

Joe Flaherty

Ceist:

1643. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Health the provision that will be made for the thousands of persons who contracted Covid-19 over the past three weeks and before they had managed to get their booster, were unable to access a PCR test to confirm this (details supplied). [1175/22]

John Brady

Ceist:

1662. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health his plans to make changes to the requirements to obtain a Covid recovery certificate to include positive antigen tests given the lack of appointments for PCR testing at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1264/22]

Richard O'Donoghue

Ceist:

1669. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the issuing of Covid recovery certificates to persons if they are unable to obtain a PCR test and have recovered from Covid-19 due to the delay in PCR testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1294/22]

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

1775. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the way that persons who have caught Covid-19, who have taken an antigen test, who were not able to get a PCR test and who self-isolated for ten days, will be able to get a certificate to confirm that they have had the illness. [1783/22]

Michael Ring

Ceist:

1887. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the process for persons to obtain Covid-19 recovery certificates in cases in which they tested positive with antigen tests and then tested negative with PCR testing nine to ten days later when PCR test slots became available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2292/22]

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

1919. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the issue of persons under 40 years of age who have not yet been boosted and test positive for Covid-19 on an antigen test being unable to obtain an updated EU Digital COVID Certificate to reflect their recovery from Covid-19, due to changes in the PCR testing regime; the steps his Department is taking to address this matter ahead of the European Union introducing new travel rules on 1 February 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2462/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1584, 1604, 1643, 1662, 1669, 1775, 1887 and 1919 together.

The EU Digital COVID Certificate is a document which is issued to help facilitate the safe and free international movement of people across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The scope and details to be included in each Digital COVID Certificate has been agreed at EU level and is standardized across the EU to allow for complete interoperability.

The EU Regulation specifies that a certificate of recovery confirms that, following a positive result of a NAAT test carried out by health professionals or by skilled testing personnel, the holder has recovered from a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antigen tests are not currently regulated for in relation to the issuing certificates of recovery. 

Certificates of Recovery can be issued upon request through the online portal following a positive COVID-19 test (RT-PCR or ‘NAAT’) taken more than 11 days ago in Ireland. The certificate will remain valid for 180 days after the day of the positive test result.

Negative RT-PCR tests and antigen tests featured in the common list established on the basis of Council Recommendation 2021/C 24/01 carried out by health professionals or by skilled testing personnel are eligible for the issuing of a Test Certificate under the EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation. For more information on how to access a test certificate individuals can visit www.gov.ie/en/publication/3a698-eu-digital-covid-certificate/