Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 November 2020
16. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport his plans to test passengers for Covid-19 at airports and ports; when Ireland will adopt the EU traffic light system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35760/20]
View answer19. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which he and his colleagues throughout Europe continue to engage with the airline industry in an effort to bring about a semblance of business restoration while maintaining Covid-19 prevention practices and rapid testing in order to enable economies dependent on air passenger and commercial transport to operate to a reasonable extent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35770/20]
View answer59. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the status of Ireland joining the EU traffic light system for travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35006/20]
View answer76. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the status of his plan to introduce airport Covid-19 testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35652/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 19, 59 and 76 together.
The Plan for Living with Covid-19 and Government decisions affirm that any testing model implemented for international travel should not impinge on HSE testing capacity. In light of this any testing for international travel will need to draw on resources from the private sector which are not being accessed by the HSE.
The testing regime envisaged under the Government decision for international travel will involve increasing the private supply of testing availability in Ireland. This will include:
- testing post-arrival (from day 5) for passengers from EU orange or red list locations; and
- testing for departing passengers who need or wish to complete a pre-departure test before travelling to another country.
Subject to the ongoing review of testing by NPHET and Government, a Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test is the only test that is accepted for the purposes of allowing the advice relating to restricted movement to be waived. Testing technology and delivery options for facilitating international travel will be kept under review, include LAMP and antigen testing.
Shannon and Cork Airports have indicated that drive-through testing will be available today, for passengers and the public. The daa has indicated that testing at Dublin Airport by private providers can be increased within weeks.
As there can be no certaintly that testing capacity will meet potential demand, intending passengers are advised that appointments for testing should be sought in good time before travelling.
With Ireland currently at level 5 of the Living with Covid-19 Plan, there should be no non-essential travel of any kind within or outside of Ireland for coming weeks. The focus is on fighting the virus, and any incoming passengers must comply with Level 5 public health measures.
Passengers from Green regions may enter Ireland without restricting their movements.
The default for Passengers from all other countries not on the Green list is to restrict their movements for 14 days. Since 9 November, the advice to those arriving from orange locations to restrict their movements can be waived, if they have a negative or "not detected" result from a PCR test result taken up to three days before the date of departure for Ireland.
Passengers arriving from red locations from the 29 November will not be requested to follow advice to restrict movements following receipt of a negative or "not detected" result from a PCR test conducted at least 5 days after arrival. Such PCR tests may be obtained from private providers and should be paid for by the passenger. This provision will also be made available to arrivals from orange locations who do not avail of a pre-departure test.
Passengers arriving from 3rd countries (i.e. outside the EU/EEA and UK) will be subject to the same measures as for red or grey locations, including the exemptions for essential travel or functions.
The Government has also aligned with the European recommendation for categories of traveller that may be exempted from advice to restrict movements.
My Department engages with European colleagues on an ongoing basis, through a range of European and International groupings. The Protocol for the management of air passengers inlight of Covid-19, as published in consultation with the National Air Transport Facilitation Committee and National Civil Aviation Development Forum, is aligned to the European Aviation Safety Agency and European Centre for Disease Control (EASA/ECDC) Guidance.
The European Commission has indicated a desire for greater harmonisation and coordination around the EU approach for international travel. It recently requested EASA/ECDC is to develop a protocol for safer air travel, including a proposal for a common EU Health Safety testingprotocol at airports. A number of European countries are currentlly involved in pilot projects to better understand the role that dfferent types of rapid testing for Covid-19 might have in an international travel context.
