Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021
904. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if there will be a requirement for persons to quarantine in a hotel following their return from abroad in cases in which an Irish citizen is returning home from abroad on a work contract that has expired and where the person was vaccinated against Covid-19 under the vaccination programme of the third-country; and if not, if they can quarantine in their home residence in Ireland. [9936/21]
View answerMandatory home quarantine requirements are currently provided for under SI No. 44/2021. Exemptions from these requirements are in place for categories of travellers including international transport workers, members of An Garda Síochána or the Defence Forces travelling who have travelled in the course of their duties and persons who are travelling for unavoidable and time-sensitive medical reasons. It is intended that the Health (Amendment) Bill 2021 will give effect to the Government Decision on mandatory quarantine at designated facilities for persons who have travelled from specified higher risk countries.
It is not intended that exemptions will be extended to vaccinated persons at this time. It is not yet understood whether available vaccines prevent vaccinated persons from being infected or transmitting the disease to others. As such, the impact vaccinations will have on travel policies internationally is yet to be determined. The WHO continues to caution governments against introducing immunity passports at this time.
The Government gives continuing consideration to travel policy informed by the epidemiological situation internationally and public health advice.
