To ask the Minister of Health what percentage of face masks purchased are clear masks enabling staff faces and mouths to be visible; (ii) who is the supplier of these face masks; (iii) how they will be distributed; and (iv) whether there is a priority in place for the type of staff issued with clear masks.

To date clear face masks have not been purchased for Northern Ireland’s health and social care system. Work is being undertaken with physical and sensory disability teams across the HSC in NI and part of this work will be to ensure there is appropriate PPE provision for these priority areas going forward. There are procurement mechanisms in place through the PPE dynamic purchasing system, for purchase of transparent masks and as an interim measure NI will benefit from a UK national order for clear face masks.