6 Beal 2021, 16:30
Following their meeting yesterday, Wednesday 5th May, with Professor Mark Ferguson, Director General SFI and Chief Scientific Advisor to the Government, the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications Networks has recommended to Government that it urgently commence a pilot programme of rapid antigen testing for aviation.
This is on the basis that it is vital that the logistics and ICT systems for mass serial rapid antigen testing are in place and ready before the Digital Green Certificate comes into operation in June. The Committee is of the view that all available Covid-19 testing options must be fully explored, including rapid antigen testing.
The Committee has communicated this recommendation in writing to Transport Minister Eamon Ryan, along with An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar TD, Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, Minister for Tourism, Catherine Martin TD, Dr. Tony Holohan, CMO & Chair of NPHET and Mr. Paul Reid, CEO, HSE.
Yesterday, the Committee discussed the recommendations of the Report of the Covid-19 Rapid Testing Group, of which Professor Ferguson chaired, with specific reference to the positive role serial rapid antigen testing could contribute to safe air travel. Professor Ferguson detailed to the committee that mass scale serial rapid antigen testing can contribute to restoring consumer confidence in aviation and removing the requirement for mandatory quarantine.
Speaking after the meeting, Committee Chair, Kieran O’Donnell TD said: “Our Committee agree that it is vital that Ireland takes a leading role in the EU-wide roll-out of the Digital Green Certificate/EU Covid-19 Certificate as proposed by the European Commission and implements it without delay in June. The Digital Green Certificate is a key first step to open-up safe international air travel, and the recovery of Ireland’s aviation and tourism sectors.
“The Covid-19 Rapid Testing expert group has recommended that pilot programmes of serial rapid antigen testing commence at scale and at pace across various sectors, including the aviation sector (on page 47) of their report. Yet, while rapid antigen testing pilot programmes are being rolled-out in the higher education sector, there have not yet been any such programmes to date for the aviation sector.
“Our Committee has recommended in writing to the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan, other relevant Departments and Government that a pilot programme of rapid antigen testing for aviation is urgently commenced. It is vital that the logistics and ICT systems for mass serial rapid antigen testing are in place and ready before the Digital Green Certificate comes into operation in June. Our Committee is of the view that all available Covid-19 testing options must be fully explored, including rapid antigen testing.
“A similar pilot scheme for aviation has been commenced in the UK, and the Committee recommend that the Department of Transport and Government engage collaboratively with the authorities running this programme in order to gain knowledge from its findings. In this context, the Committee suggests that a pilot programme could be commenced on a single Ireland-UK air route, as the UK already has the required ICT systems in place.
“Furthermore, in planning the pilot programme, the Committee further recommend that the Department immediately consult with Professor Ferguson and his colleagues on the Covid-19 Rapid Testing expert group.
Chair O’Donnell concluded: “Aviation is vital to Ireland’s connectivity and competitiveness, supporting over 140,000 jobs, almost 40,000 of which are direct employment by the sector. The Aviation and Tourism sectors must be at the fore as the country re-opens. Rapid Antigen testing has a key role to play here, but, it is critical that a pilot rapid testing scheme commences without delay to ensure this can happen.
For more information regarding the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications Networks, see the Committee webpage