Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2020
466. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if exemptions will be given from the new requirement to self-isolate for a 14-day period to parents who travel by plane frequently from the UK to Ireland to visit their children. [10522/20]
View answerThe measures taken are underpinned by a clear public health rationale.
As the number of indigenous cases here declines and Ireland eases some restrictions, the relative importance of the risk of importation of cases from overseas increases. Ultimately, the progress towards suppression of community transmission which has been achieved and which should allow for greater resumption of social and economic life in Ireland could be endangered.
The public health advice for passengers arriving into the State from overseas is to self-isolate for 14 days. I would ask that all persons arriving into the State follow this advice, and indeed all public health advice, as closely as they can. Persons arriving from Northern Ireland, international transport workers, including airline and maritime workers, and supply chain workers are not asked to self-isolate.
Information for those who are self-isolating and for people living with those who are self-isolating is published by the HSE on www.hse.ie. Information resources on self-isolation are also available on the website of the HSPC, and these have been translated into a number of languages.
My Department engages directly by email with families and businesses who have queries about public health advice.
Separately, since 28 May, it is a legal requirement for passengers arriving from overseas to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form. The information on the form may be used to assist our contact tracing teams.
