Dublin testing delays and travel advice
Deputy McDonald pressed the Taoiseach on reports from GPs about testing delays, 24-hour turnaround times and confusion over Dublin travel advice. The Chair repeatedly warned that Sinn Féin had exceeded time, while the Taoiseach insisted the advice was clear and that criticism was undermining public health efforts.
The Taoiseach may have heard Dublin-based GPs this morning on the media setting out their concerns around the delays in accessing tests and the further delays in results being returned. He may choose to adopt a defensive posture and to attack me but I am working on the supposition that he will take the word of medical professionals who are not inventing these scenarios. These are doctors who deal with patients who present when they are sick, as I did. I had this experience.
They are not in the habit of making up things. The only people engaging in wishful thinking, it seems, is the Taoiseach and his Government.
I want to know when we will get to 100,000 tests per week. I have my app here and it reflects the testing done over the past seven days. We are way short of that number. It was the same last week, the week before and the week before that. The Government made the commitment of 100,000 tests per week so when we will it reach that number?
Comment on this
There is also the matter of the 24-hour turnaround in testing. As for Dublin, the Taoiseach's words today add to the confusion and anxiety across the county.
Comment on this
NPHET gave information and advice to the Government and it was put into the public domain. All the Taoiseach has achieved is confusion and he has not been on his own, as other Ministers have also caused confusion. The Taoiseach should clarify matters now by precisely and succinctly setting out the travel advice for people in Dublin.
Comment on this
Deputy Martin is the Taoiseach and should set it out. His Ministers do not know it.
Comment on this
The community does not know it. The Taoiseach is the head of the Government so instead of snapping at me he should do his job and set out the information.