Special Committee on Covid-19 Response to hear from witnesses over three sessions

Contact tracing, infection control in congregated settings and the safe reopening of the economy are among the topics up for discussion over the course of the day.

The sessions are scheduled to begin at 11.30am, 2pm and 4.30pm respectively.

Department of Health Secretary General, Jim Breslin, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, and HSE Chief Executive Officer, Paul Reid, are scheduled to appear at the first and second sessions.

Health and Safety Authority Chief Executive, Dr Sharon McGuinness, Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) General Secretary, Patricia King, and Construction Industry Federation Director General, Tom Parlon, will appear at the third session which focuses on the reopening of the economy.

Speaking before the meeting, Committee Chairman, Michael McNamara TD said: “The Members of the Committee look forward to meeting with officials from the Department of Health and the HSE and asking questions on behalf of the Irish people regarding this pandemic and our State's response. The Committee is very keen to hear from the Department and the HSE as to exactly where we are at in regard to testing capacity, contact tracing and in particular the timelines to ensure that the best possible practice is followed in relation to infection control measures, to protect people in congregated settings are in place.

“As the construction sector gets back to work, we also have the opportunity to hear from the CIF, the HSA and ICTU in relation to this industry specifically but more broadly also opening of the economy.”

This special 19-member Oireachtas Committee was established on 6 May 2020, to consider and take evidence on the State’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Further information on the Committee, including its terms of reference, can be found here.

View the meeting live.