Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

873. To ask the Minister for Health if there was a breach of the Covid visiting policy at the HSEs Clonakilty Community Hospital on 30 December 2020, in which a group of eight persons allegedly visited a resident in the hospital, as indicated in a report in the media (details supplied) on 16 January 2021; if four of the group of eight visitors subsequently tested positive for Covid-19; if the resident who was visited by the group was moved into isolation on foot of the visitors’ Covid-19 test results; if that resident subsequently tested positive for Covid-19; his views on the implementation of Covid-19 visiting regulations for public and private hospitals and residential care facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5899/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

874. To ask the Minister for Health if Irish citizens are permitted to travel to the UK for family reunification purposes; if partners are considered family; if family reunification is considered essential travel; if An Garda Síochána accept that this is essential travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5902/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The current Regulations in effect providing for public health restrictions are the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 701 of 2020) as amended by both S.I. No. 4 of 2021 and S.I. No. 29 of 2021.

The regulations provide that a person shall not leave their place of residence, including to go to an airport or port for the purpose of leaving the State, without reasonable excuse. The list of reasonable excuses is non-exhaustive. It includes travel to give effect to arrangements for access to a child for parents or guardians of a child or a person who has a right of access to a child. It also includes travel to return to one’s place of residence and travel to attend to a vital family matter. Enforcement is a matter for An Garda Síochána. 

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

876. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE plans to engage the services of general practitioner practice nurses who are skilled in the inoculation of patients to play a part in the programme in view of the engagement of general practitioners to assist in the community roll-out of the national Covid-19 vaccination programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5908/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.