The outbreak of the coronavirus in meat processing plants is likely to come under further scrutiny following a series of recommendations from the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response.
In its final report, the committee has recommended that the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Marine and the Committee on Health pursue a range of issues that have arisen with the spread of the virus in the meat industry.
The committee has said that the need to ensure Covid-19 compliance officers are appointed in all meat plants should be pursued.
The Agriculture Committee has also asked that the role of department veterinary inspectors in meat plants be examined.
In addition, the committee has been asked to review reports of workers returning to work in meat plants when awaiting test results.
The Health Committee has been asked to refer the routine testing of workers in meat plants, with results to be returned within 24 hours.
Significantly, the committee specifically suggests that the results should be returned "to the individual workers".
In its final report, the committee says it welcomes an investigation by the Data Protection Commissioner of potential breaches of data belonging to meat plant workers in relation to test results.
The investigation was initiated after RTÉ News reported that test results had been given to employers rather than workers.
Meanwhile, the chair of the committee said they are calling for an Oireachtas inquiry into the State's action in dealing with the virus in meat plants.
Speaking to RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Michael McNamara said: "We shut down counties because of outbreaks in meat plants, but yet the lack of inspection of meat plants to me is inexplicable."
Mr McNamara said Covid-19 "demonstrates the systemic weaknesses in how the state deals with meat plants".
He is also calling for a turnaround time for testing of less than 24 hours.
