This is fundamentally a logistics project. Plus, they have access to Medtronic engineers, and as long as the FDA approve the devices, I have no problem with it.
Indeed, they just need to fly the devices, and parts for final assembly from the Medtronic factories in China.
In the current situation, it makes zero sense to spin new assembly lines when old ones are situated in the world's biggest manufacturing supercluster, and can be realistically scaled tenfold if they commit to that.
What I read going round Chinese BBSes now is that Medtronic's "factory" in Ireland is just doing a screwdriver assembly from Chinese parts, and all that just to do the infamous "Double Irish" manoeuvre
Edit: Trusting them to supply medical components seems like a huge risk at this point.
And many people are shipping and donating masks to their friends oversea.
http://weekly.caixin.com/2020-04-04/101538661.html http://international.caixin.com/2020-04-04/101538867.html
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-27/stacks-of...
I mean personally I wouldn't object to them lowering requirements temporarily because we're in a crisis situation, but I hope they won't give permanent approval for all of the hacked ventilators that a lot of companies seem to be producing right now - once the pressure is off, stop using the temporary ones until they've been pulled through the FDA wringer thoroughly.