State ‘can’t just dive into’ antigen testing, says Taoiseach

The Government has to get best value for the public purse and “can’t just dive into” an antigen test scheme, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.

Mr Martin’s remarks came in the Dáil as he was condemned for “lack of urgency” in rolling out a subsidised system.

Defending the Coalition’s approach, he said antigen testing is a supplementary tool that has been deployed across various sectors. Moreover, he praised the public for their efforts in reducing socialising which he indicated was having a positive impact on the situation.

But Social Democrats joint leader Róisín Shortall said that Covid-19 is the biggest threat the State faces but “it didn’t even get a mention” at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.

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She said State chief medical officer Tony Holohan two weeks ago advised that anyone engaged in “high-risk” activities, “most of which simply involves just going out or meeting people”, should take an antigen test twice a week.

Ms Shortall added that the Minister for Health was due to bring it to Cabinet this week. But it was now not expected until next week. Antigen tests are very expensive and the Minister initially said they would be free, but then said they would be subsidised.

“So when are we going to get a decision,” she asked? “The lack of urgency and failure to respond at speed to [a] rapidly escalating emergency is truly shocking,” added the Dublin North-West TD.

Quoting the chief executive of the Irish Pharmacy Union, Ms Shortall noted he said on Virgin Media TV that “it’s very difficult for us and the HSE to put a plan in place to roll out antigen testing because the Government hasn’t made a decisions about what they want to do”.

‘No idea’

She further quoted that “the Government hasn’t the foggiest idea of what kind of subsidy scheme it wants”.

Ms Shortall said “this is a mess. We know antigen testing isn’t a silver bullet” but she said they are useful and many people “simply cannot afford to use them” which was a case to make them free of charge.

The Taoiseach replied that “there is no one silver bullet”. He said there had been a significant expansion of antigen testing given out free by the Government. These include 61,000 close contacts who were registered for the delivery of free tests and 101,000 tests had been given in the agriculture sector.

A scheme is being developed “but we have to get best value for the public purse. That’s important that we don’t just dive into it”, he said.

That will happen and “we will bring the details to you”. But he stressed that the fundamental variable that will change this is “reducing socialisation, which people are doing; [and] the booster campaign which is going to have an impact”.