Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
686. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a response will issue to a request by a person (details supplied) to review the green list and travel policy on countries which have a lower Covid-19 rate than Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23449/20]
View answer758. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health his plans to update travel restrictions for persons coming into Ireland from the UK. [23849/20]
View answer789. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health his plans to update travel restrictions for persons coming here from the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23993/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 686, 758 and 789 together.
On an ongoing basis, the Irish Government continues to consider policy in relation to travel to and from Ireland due to the nature of the virus that has caused this global pandemic and the concerns that remain about the very serious threats to health that can be caused by this virus.
The public health advice has not changed, and this is that all non-essential travel should be avoided at the current time. The government travel advisory for countries not on the green list remains to avoid non-essential travel and passengers arriving from all other countries are advised, in the interest of public health, to restrict their movements for 14 days.
The Green List was developed based on the methodology used by the EU for making assessments of third countries, adapted to the Irish context. The primary function of the list is to ensure that appropriate public health measures apply to international arrivals.
The Deputy may wish to note that it is the Government rather than the Department of Health that makes decisions relating to travel. The Department of Health provides data to Government on an ongoing basis to assist their decision-making on travel advisories. The Government decided on August 18th 2020 that there would be no change to the current travel advisory. This is subject to ongoing review and the evolving national and international situation is taken into account when considering these matters.
Given the nature of this disease and the variability of incidence rates, the Government keeps the 'green list' under review.
