The government's spokesperson on public procurement was forced to apologise on behalf of a senior Cabinet Minister this morning over a blunder regarding Covid certificates.
Ossian Smyth said comments made by Tourism Minister Catherine Martin were a "misunderstanding" after she incorrectly said people could get proof they have recovered from Covid-19 from their GPs.
Minister Martin erroneously said on national radio on Tuesday that people "can apply to your GP for a recovery cert or you can apply to a testing centre after you've received that positive PCR test".
She added that this "would be valid for 180 days".
She told RTE's Morning Ireland: "You can contact your GP to confirm that you've had Covid. The recovery cert is available 11 days after a positive test from a GP or a test centre and for no more than 180 days. They can also be requested from the HSE."
The Minister was explaining how the new Covid certificates for indoor dining will work.
The government is set to meet with representatives of the hospitality sector today to formalise the introduction of new legislation for indoor hospitality.
Phase one of the three-phase plan will allow fully vaccinated people or a person who has recovered from Covid-19 allowed to dine indoors.
She explained that patrons can gain access to indoor venues by presenting their vaccination cert or proof that they have had Covid in the last six months.
However, following the interview, GPs said they would not be involved in providing proof of recovery from coronavirus, causing confusion as to how this documentation could be obtained.
In a letter, the Irish Medical Organisation advised members that GPs will have "no role in the issuing of documentation to patients in respect of the Digital Covid Certificate".
Dr Ilona Duff, a Monaghan GP, said the letter clarifies where GPs stand and it is not about them being obstructive, rather it was about providing clarity for people.
She told Today with Claire Byrne: "We can't have it that it's put out there by a Minister on radio that GPs are going to be providing letters or certificates to people to say they've had Covid in the last six months.
"We don't always know when somebody has had a positive Covid result.
"I think it's just going to add to the workload of people think they call their GP and get a letter or a cert and there will be pressure to provide that if they're over the six months.
"I think it's really madness to state that GPs would be doing this when we already know that there is to be a helpline set up and to be open quite soon where people will be able to get these recovery certs."
Speaking on the same programme, Minister of State Ossian Smyth sought to clear up any confusion caused earlier by his Green Party colleague.
However, as was the case with Catherine Martin, he was not able to provide the helpline number for people to access documentation on proof of recovery from Covid-19.
He said: "It was a misunderstanding and the doctors were right, the doctors are not going to be involved in issuing recovery certs, I issue the recovery certs.
"They're based on two things - one is of you tested positive in the last 180 days, and the other thing is that you've actually recovered.
"You've got to contact the call centre and say you have recovered since because there are people who tested positive in the last six months who are still in hospital."
He apologised on Minister Martin's behalf, and clarified her comments in saying that people should not go to a vaccine centre nor their GP for recovery documentation and instead, they must ring the call centre.
