Antigen tests have been available to be procured through the EU joint procurement agreement of last November. Since then I have been calling for that to be availed of. I have raised the issue several times with both the Tánaiste, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health. There was a Professor Ferguson report at the end of March, beginning of April recommending their use. The Taoiseach and various members of his Government pay lip service to antigen testing. Can the Taoiseach explain why there are 1.5 million antigen tests in storage with the HSE at the moment instead of being out there being used in the community to curtail transmission of Covid-19?

As the Deputy is aware, we have expanded use of antigen testing. Close contacts are issued freely.

There are 1.5 million tests in storage.

Please Deputy.

They are issued free antigen tests. There will be another 300,000 or 400,000 people, potentially, over the next while who will develop Covid-19 and there will be a whole range of close contacts. The issue is that we have expanded its use in many different sectors including through close contacts, as advised by public health. The Deputy is well aware that public health has over time had a very-----

Snake oil is, I believe, the word it has used.

The medics are of the view that antigen testing has a role but it is not the silver bullet role that some people will advocate. We have made progress on this and we need to make more.