The Dáil's Covid-19 committee sat in public for the first time today, with members hearing from health officials and representatives of the construction sector.
The day-long hearing took place with committee members sitting in the Dáil chamber - rather than in the committee rooms of Leinster House - to allow for social distancing.
Here are five of the main points from the day's events:
Covid-19 here for 'some time to come'
Ireland will be dealing with Covid-19 for some considerable time to come, HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid told the committee in his opening statement.
The health service has risen to meet many of the challenges of Covid-19, he said, but stressed that the country is still very much in the midst of the pandemic crisis.
"We are not at the end of it by a long stretch," he added.
Paul Reid, HSE CEO, says that it is 'still contending with Covid-19 for some considerable time to come' | https://t.co/xoI8agbAdW pic.twitter.com/BXXzpgQ2Im
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) May 19, 2020
Mr Reid said he is "extremely proud" of how the health service prepared for and responded to the crisis, saying that he has "never seen such significant and important change undertaken and implemented by so many dedicated people, in such a short timeframe".
Test results issue 'a breach of confidentiality, full stop'
The committee heard that reports that employers received test results before their employees who were subject to the tests would amount to "a breach of confidentiality, full stop".
This morning RTÉ News reported that in cases of "mass screening" - where an entire workforce in a facility is tested - in many cases the HSE issued the results to employers.
When questioned about this at the committee, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said that "employers should not be receiving result for employees".
Mr Reid also said the HSE process is to inform an individual first about their test results through their GP.
When questioned by Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy, he said: "There may have been one case - probably one case that we know of - where the employer was notified [about] the significant number of positive cases and that discretion is for the public health official to make and the judgement that they make."
Asked if he agreed with Dr Holohan, Mr Reid said there are exceptional cases where public health officials have a responsibility and a derogation in managing a major outbreak.
He said that would be a responsibility that they take in extremely exceptional cases such a pandemic.
This evening the HSE said it is to to suspend the practice of informing employers of Covid-19 test results and is to seek guidance from the Data Protection Commissioner.
'Challenged healthcare environment' for foreseeable future
The Secretary General of the Department of Health also addressed the committee, saying a review would be carried out of the provision of "non-essential care".
Jim Breslin said that in the current healthcare environment it would take longer to do many procedures, and he said there was a good chance that less would be done over the period the virus is here.
He said it would be a "very challenged healthcare environment" for the foreseeable future, with most procedures taking longer and costing more.
He also said it was relevant that non-essential care was not taking place in public or private hospitals up to the start of this month.
However, he said this now needs to be reviewed in its entirety.
Mr Breslin also said a further surge or wave of the virus could happen at any stage and we would need the capacity available in private hospitals.
The HSE's chief executive said the organisation is anxious to get the health service back to non-Covid services, in particular screening services.
He told the committee that services have to be restored in a way that protects the public but said it would be a "big challenge".
Warning safety measures could increase house cost
The Construction Industry Federation has warned that safety measures introduced on building sites to prevent the spread of the virus could add 5-10% to the cost of building a house.
CIF Director Tom Parlon said he had spoken to a substantial house builder this morning, who had forecast that implementing the measures including social distancing could add €10,000-€15,000 to the cost of a house.
In relation to apartment projects which he described as "more intense", he said that added cost per apartment could reach €20,000.
He said the time required to build a house could rise from 15 weeks to 25 weeks.
Mr Parlon also said it will take months for the industry to return to previous output levels.
However, on a more optimistic note he forecast that 100,000 construction employees could now be gradually taken off the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme.
No HSA inspections carried out at meat plants
The Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Authority told the committee that it had received a number of complaints in relation to meat processing plants.
However, Dr Sharon McGuinness said no inspections had been carried out on foot of the complaints to date.
Ms McGuinness said arrangements were being made for inspections to be carried out but she said the primary responsibility was to get the outbreaks under control so it didn't spread into the community.
She was responding to a question by Sinn Fein's David Cullinane who asked if the HSA had any remit in relation to meat factories.
Deputy Cullinane said it was "extraordinary" that the HSA had received complaints but no inspectors have been able to go into meat factories.
Call for inspection of Kerry direct provision facility
There was a call in the Dáil chamber for the HSE to urgently carry out an unannounced inspection of a direction provision centre where there was a coronavirus outbreak.
Fianna Fáil TD Norma Foley said there has been 26 cases of Covid-19 at the Skellig Star centre in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry.
She called for an immediate inspection of the premises as a matter of public safety and asked that it is shut down if it fails this inspection.
Mr Reid said there has been ongoing collaboration between the HSE and the Department of Justice about the centre.
He said he would ensure there was a response from the HSE's team on the matter.
