A couple of weeks ago, the Taoiseach met with his fellow European leaders to discuss the role of antigen testing, pursuant to the Commission's proposal. Antigen testing is not a medical diagnosis and it is not an alternative to polymerase chain reaction, PCR, testing, but it does offer benefits, particularly in screening. Everybody is concerned, particularly the Chief Medical Officer, CMO, about the potential effects of people mixing this Christmas. Will the Taoiseach consider State provision of rapid antigen tests that people can carry out themselves in advance of Christmas? This would allow people to screen to see whether they pose a particular risk and, if they do, to take the required measures. It offers a huge possibility of reducing the spread of Covid-19 over the Christmas period. I appreciate that antigen testing is not a magic bullet or an alternative to PCR testing. However, this kind of mass screening could have a huge advantage in curtailing hugely the spread of Covid-19 at Christmas.

The HSE and the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, have been in discussions regarding the application of antigen testing in the context of healthcare settings initially. The plan is to test it in those settings, not just in the case of mass outbreaks but more generally. There have been various reports on the issue by HIQA and others and the European Commission has provided very helpful guidance in this regard to member states. I appointed the CMO, Dr. Tony Holohan, to the platform of advisers to the European Commission President. Dr. Holohan is well aware of what is happening across Europe and with the Commission proposals. Work is ongoing with a view to the application of the proposals and guidance from the Commission in an Irish setting.