Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021
773. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health the criteria for travel to be deemed essential; if such essential international travel is listed in regulations; if persons undertaking essential international travel must undertake mandatory quarantine on return to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9443/21]
View answerPassengers arriving from overseas, with limited exemptions, are required to quarantine for 14 days at the address given on their Passenger Locator Form. A ‘non-detected’ PCR test result taken no less than 5 days after arrival can end the quarantine period for passengers who have travelled from a category 1 state.
SI No. 44/2021 sets out categories of travellers who are not subject to the quarantine requirement. These include international transport workers including aviation and maritime crew, members of An Garda Síochána or the Defence Forces who travel in the course of their duties and persons who are travelling for unavoidable and time sensitive medical reasons.
SI No. 44/2021 sets out certain categories of passengers who have travelled with an essential function and who do not have to quarantine while engaged in that function. These categories include journalists, workers conducting repair or maintenance to critical infrastructure and staff of international organisations.
Certain countries are designated as category 2 states due to concerns at the presence of variants of concern. Arrivals from these countries do not have the option to end quarantine early by taking a PCR test. As of 12 February, 20 countries have been specified as Category 2 states.
