Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2020
559. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects restrictions on airlines providing services for passengers that are to commence regular non-essential work here will be lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9895/20]
View answer570. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the assessment he has made of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control guidelines on flight safety during the Covid-19 outbreak; the applicability of same in assessing the appropriateness of generalised quarantine measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10006/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 559 and 570 together.
The Department of Health, as the lead Government Department in relation to Ireland’s response to the COVID 19 pandemic, established the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) on 27 January 2020, chaired by the Chief Medical Officer. The NPHET oversees and provides national direction on the development and implementation of the strategy to contain COVID-19 in Ireland and the measures to protect public health. The Department of Health is responsible for the development of the policy proposal concerning possible restriction measures, following the recently implemented passenger location card requirement for the voluntary self-isolation of incoming travellers to Ireland.
At present, airports are following public health measures as advised, such as, social distancing, disinfection procedures, passenger announcements and airport notices on hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. Guidance has also been provided concerning alternative measures for aviation security screening of passengers which ensure that both health safety and aviation security standards are maintained during this time.
On 20 May the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control jointly published guidance on measures to assure the health safety of air travellers and aviation personnel once airlines resume regular flight schedules. My Department, through the National Facilitation Committee is coordinating the implementation of these measures by industry, aimed at promoting health safety and virus control throughout the aviation journey, with due regard to the maintenance of aviation safety and security standards. I expect that a National Code of Practice in this regard will be finalised in the coming weeks.
The European guidance for safe passenger management in air transport represents merely one element within a broader EU proposal for a common approach to future lifting of border restrictions published by the European Commission on the 13 May 2020, which is subject to the epidemiological circumstances and the response of the Public Health Authorities in each individual Member State.
