Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 November 2020
64. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the restrictions and advice to persons that must travel to England and that return to Ireland via Belfast; the obligations in relation to travel locator forms and recommended isolation times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34065/20]
View answerIreland is implementing the new EU ‘traffic lights’ approach to travel to countries in the EU / EEA and the UK. Our current advice for travellers to these countries is to ‘exercise a high degree of caution’. Anyone considering travel to Great Britain should also check the latest information from the local authorities there regarding requirements for international passengers arriving in the country.
Ireland’s restrictions and advice for individuals arriving into the State are also based on the EU 'traffic lights' system. Travellers from 'green' regions can enter the State without being requested to restrict their movements. Travellers from orange, red or grey regions within this classification system, with the exception of certain exempted categories of personnel, are requested to restrict their movements for 14 days. It is expected that it will shortly be possible to disapply this request if passengers from orange regions have a negative PCR test up to 72 hours before arrival. The red or grey status currently applies to Great Britain. Therefore, individuals arriving from Great Britain, including England, are at present subject to the attendant restrictions of the 'traffic lights' system.
Restrictions imposed on passengers entering a country in the 'traffic lights' system are based on the location of the passenger during the 14 days prior to arrival, not on the airport or seaport of arrival or the point of disembarkation. Currently, passengers arriving into Ireland who have travelled from England should restrict their movements for 14 days. This includes those who may travel from England to an airport or seaport in Northern Ireland in order to transit onward to a final destination in Ireland.
All passengers travelling to Ireland from overseas, apart from certain limited exceptions, must fill in the COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form before they arrive into the State. This requirement does not apply to those whose journey begins in Northern Ireland, but does apply to those whose journey begins in Great Britain, including England. Passengers who may be travelling to Ireland from England via Belfast must complete the form and can indicate their final destination in Ireland within the fields provided. The COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form is now an online form.
