Local lockdown and clusters in factories on the agenda for Covid-19 committee

Clare TD Michael McNamara is chair of the commitee. Picture:  Gareth Chaney/Collins

The Oireachtas Covid-19 Committee is meeting today discuss the outbreak in meat plants in the Midlands.

Representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Meat Industry Ireland, the HSA and trade unions are due to appear.

They will discuss the ongoing issues in the facilities following the clusters which have led to a local lockdown in Kildare, Laois and Offaly.

It comes as the HSE and Minister for Health have been invited to the session to discuss the State's response to the pandemic.

Academics will appear before the committee in the afternoon to debate policy decisions around the virus.

Mr McNamara told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that he wants to know what is happening with the implementation of Covid-19 regulations and health and safety standards.

The issue of sick pay for workers in the sector remained an issue, he said.

When representatives appeared before the committee last month they were unable to provide a response, despite being asked four times what proportion of workers get sick pay.

Mr McNamara said that the issue went beyond meat plants and extended right across the workforce.

Ireland had a long history of treating the meat industry differently to other industries and giving it “a large degree of latitude,” he added.

Mr McNamara pointed out that the gardaí did not alert pubs when they were going to check if guidelines were being observed so why did HSA alert meat factories before inspections, he asked.

He added that he was also concerned at the situation of "serfdom" for some workers at meat plants and the Siptu information on crowded houses.