I too wish John the very best on his retirement. I hope there will be a day when I will meet him once more at the Kilmacud sevens, when Portroe wins it once more.

I wish to raise the issue of rapid testing.

I raised the issue of masks versus visors before and, in fairness, the Taoiseach last night outlined how there is now going to be a communication strategy as to why visors are, effectively, a waste of time compared face masks.

What is the Government's strategy as regards rapid testing? I hold in my hand a rapid test I have taken. It took ten minutes. These are cheap, by all accounts, costing approximately €5. Why has it taken so long for the expert advisory group to sign off on these? They are not a panacea but they are part of a mix as regards population testing to help organisations and to help with travel. They can form a process by which people can have a passport for a number of days or weeks. What is holding it up? The Taoiseach told us during the week that a massive document was done. Where is the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HPSC? Where is HIQA? Where is the advisory group chaired by Dr. Cillian De Gascun? Why is it taking so long unlike every other country?

The Deputy talked about the HSE. I have had calls from non-essential HSE staff who have been told they are not allowed to work from home, despite the current situation with the rise in the number of cases.

That is not the same matter.

My understanding is there is a ban in respect of HSE staff, regardless of whether they are essential or not.

It is not the same matter.

I said the HPSC.

It is not the same matter.

It is similar. I need to get an answer as it serious, especially with the rise in the number of cases. I will repeat my question. I have had calls from non-essential HSE staff who have been told they are not allowed to work from home, despite the current situation with the rise in the number of cases.

Deputy, please, many other people are trying to get in.

The Tánaiste might come back to me on that as it is serious. If NPHET is going by these rules and we must abide by them, then it is important.

Regarding face coverings, the advice we are offering the public is that face masks and face coverings are vastly superior to visors, which are not particularly effective. There are certain circumstances when people genuinely cannot wear a face mask or face covering. They are few, however, and in all other instances we advise people to use a face mask and not a visor which is not particularly effective.

Those with underlying conditions may wear visors.

The Deputy is correct. There are particular exceptions and circumstances.

With regard to rapid testing, I share the Deputy Kelly's view. Rapid testing, antigen testing, has a role to play in getting on top of this virus. Unlike polymerase chain reaction, PCR, which costs nearly €150 to €200 per go, rapid testing is approximately €5 to €10 and one gets a result quickly. It could be helpful in screening visitors to nursing homes, people in hospitals, hospital staff, and potentially, for travel. The Deputy and I probably see the potential for and agree on this and know other countries are using this, including countries such as Germany, for example, that are good at managing the pandemic.

As things stand, HIQA has done a health technology assessment on this. I have not had sight of it yet. I understand NPHET and the advisory committee are giving it consideration and have yet to come to a decision as to whether they believe antigen testing has a role to play in Ireland. I will, however, encourage them to make that decision as quickly as possible. Decisions were made slowly on face coverings. They should not be made slowly on this.