Mattie McGrath: Says Contact Tracing 'Shambolic' After Business Left in Limbo
Mattie McGrath criticised the operation of contact tracing and testing after describing a small business in Deboreri left waiting for HSE contact and unable to obtain tests. He said the business closed, kept children at home and was told to wait for the HSE despite having a confirmed contact, calling the contact tracing system a sham.
Case raised in the Dáil
The deputy recounted a call from a businessperson in Deboreri who had a customer later confirmed positive. The business closed, entered self-isolation and contacted both their GP and the HSE but were unable to get tests or clear guidance.
Allegations about contact tracing
He described contact tracing as "a sham" and "shambolic," saying people have lost confidence in the system. He criticised the 48-hour contact tracing window as unfair when businesses and families fall outside it.
Impact on the small business
The deputy highlighted the financial and personal consequences: business closure, children kept home from school, and the inability to operate or obtain information. He stressed the business had been diligent and compliant but was left in limbo.
Government response in the exchange
The Taoiseach intervened, rejecting the language used and offering to investigate if details were provided. The Taoiseach also pointed to increased testing capacity, referenced RTÉ bulletins and asked for avoidance of condemning those involved in the system.
Offers of help and public confidence
The deputy noted offers of assistance from other deputies that he said were not accepted, and argued that people across the country are experiencing similar problems with contact tracing, testing access and HSE follow-up.
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Teachta, I got a call this morning from a business person in Deboreri, they run a good premises and are hard working, they had a customer on their premises last week, he phoned them this week to tell them he tested positive, they've been diligent, went into self-isolation, closed down their business, they've contacted the HSE, they went to their GP, he couldn't get a test for them, they're told to wait for the HSE to contact them, they contacted the HSE to be told that they'd have to wait and just close their business, keep their children home, from school, this is clearly all over the place, I mean they're told, nobody here to see that they're operating, that the contact tracing is operating in a 48 hour window, they're clearly outside of that, so it's totally unfair to force a business to close, they can't get tests, they can't get information, they can't get anything else, and this is happening up and down the country, and you have people like Deputy Billy's talking about offering to give help, and you won't do it, I mean the people have lost confidence in the system, totally, this is a small business who want to work and want to live, pay rates of pay taxes, and provide a business, but this is totally unfair, and it's disgraceful that they haven't been contacted by the HSE, they're left in limbo, kids at home from school, they can't afford this, and it's clearly not working, the contact tracing is a sham, it's shambolic, and you should be shamed. Thank you very much, Taoiseach. Look, it's not a sham, and it's not shambolic, and you shouldn't be saying that. I don't know the individual case there, and I can check it out for you, if you can send me the details, we can track it down with the HSE as to what either went wrong there, or what the explanation is. But if you look at, if you even watch the RT bulletins last evening, the amount of testing going on now, it's far... The Taoiseach without interruption, please. You can't turn off RTE. I don't think you should be doing that, or advocating for that. Please, Deputy, please. No, I'm just making the point that the volume of testing going on right now is far in excess of what went on even in the earlier period of the pandemic. So, in the sense of the capacity has expanded and grown to try and meet increasing demands. Thank you, Taoiseach. We are meeting demand at the moment, our testing system is, unlike other systems across Europe, and COVID is very, very challenging, and I think we need to avoid the kind of language that you've used in terms of condemning the people who are involved in this system. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you. Thank you.
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