Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 November 2020
113. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport if the recommendation on a co-ordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the Covid-19 pandemic arising from the European Council meeting of 13 October 2020 requires member states to limit restriction measures restricting free movement on grounds of public health to that strictly necessary. [37514/20]
View answer114. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport if, arising from the recommendation on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the Covid-19 pandemic arising from the European Council meeting of 13 October 2020, Ireland will apply those restrictions to persons coming from specific areas or regions particularly affected rather than to the entire territory of a member state. [37515/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 114 together.
As the Deputy is aware, on 13th October, EU Member States adopted a Council Recommendation on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Recommendation set out four key areas where Member States would coordinate their efforts including:
- a common criteria to be taken into account when considering the restriction of free movement in response to the pandemic;
- a common map of EU Member States, broken down by regions, which would show the risk levels across the regions in Europe using a traffic light system;
- a common approach for travellers; and
- clear and timely information to the public about any restrictions.
It is up to Member States to decide what measures to apply on people travelling from risk areas to their territories.
The Government has developed a framework around the “traffic light” system and as part of this, people arriving into Ireland from EU green regions do not have to restrict their movement for 14 days.
The default advice for all passengers entering Ireland from orange, red and grey regions remains to restrict movements for 14 days (this advice does not apply to essential transport supply chain workers).
The Government has adopted a new list of exempted categories of traveller with essential function or need from the EU Recommendation. These travellers do not need to restrict their movements when performing the essential function related to their travel, for example attending a close family member's funeral, or conducting an important business meeting that cannot be held virtually. For the moment, following the outbreak of a new strain of COVID-19 in Denmark associated with mink farms, passengers travelling from Denmark are advised to self isolate for 14 days regardless of the essential nature of their journey. This requirement does not apply to international transport workers in the aviation, maritime and road haulage sectors.
The advice for those arriving from EU orange regions is that if they have a negative COVID-19 test result from a test taken up to three days before departure, they are not expected to restrict movements on arrival.
From midnight 29th November, arrivals from an EU red/grey region and third countries will not be expected to restrict movements following receipt of a negative/not-detected result from a COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test taken a minimum of five days after arrival in Ireland. This provision will also be available to arrivals from orange regions who may not have availed of a pre-departure test.
There are a number of COVID-19 testing technologies currently available or emerging on the commercial market. However, subject to the ongoing review of testing by NPHET and Government, a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR test is the only test result that means the passenger is not expected to follow advice to restrict movements. Testing technology and delivery options for facilitating international travel will be kept under review.
The Passenger Locator Form, administered by the Department of Health, remains in place for all persons arriving into the State regardless of the "colour" of the location they are arriving from. Essential transport workers continue to be exempt from completing the form. The introduction of an online form supports an enhanced system of engagements with arriving passengers. The main purpose of the form is for the targeting of key public health messages to arriving passengers through SMS and email.
