Yesterday.

In the Dáil.

Independent TD Denis Naughten claimed that some employers are getting their employees’ Covid-19 test results and that these employers are telling their staff whether they are Covid-19 positive or negative.

Mr Naughten had been asking the Minister for Health Simon Harris about Covid-19 infection rates at meat plants when he made the claim. He was also talking about a delay in returning negative results.

He said:

“….negative results are being long-fingered for days and possibly weeks. In fact, the system is so bad that employers are being directly provided with a list of test results and they are the ones informing employees as to whether they are positive or negative for Covid-19. Will the Minister now confirm that medical data are being shared with employers before employees and explain to me why this is happening?”

Mr Harris said he didn’t know anything about employers receiving results, saying:

“I do not have any information about the issue of patients’ details going to their employers but I would be very happy to receive it and revert to the Deputy.”

Later, the Ceann Comhairle raised the matter with the minster and they had this exchange:

Ceann Comhairle: “Deputy Denis Naughten raised the point that information in respect of test results was going to employers before it went to those who had been tested. That would be fundamental concern to the public and needs to be addressed.”

Simon Harris: “As Deputy Denis Naughten has made that comment on the record of the House, I have asked him to provide the details.”

Denis Naughten: “It has happened in a number of instances across the country.”

Harris: “I do not have that detail so I do not intend to comment.”

Anyone?

Transcript via Oireachtas.ie

Naughten tells Dáil ‘contact tracing is so poor that employers informing staff’ (Longford Leader)