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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 February 2021

Thursday, 25 February 2021

Questions (340, 341, 342)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

340. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the arrangements for checking that persons arriving into Ireland from abroad have a negative PCR test result; if the test result is verified pre-departure, upon arrival or both; the person or body with responsibility for checking the test results at each stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10939/21]

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Róisín Shortall

Question:

341. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons arriving into Ireland from abroad who presented a negative PCR test upon arrival; and the number who failed to present a negative PCR test in each week from 1 January 2021 to date in tabular form. [10940/21]

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Róisín Shortall

Question:

342. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps taken to date in the case of persons arriving into Ireland from abroad without a negative PCR test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10941/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 to 342, inclusive, together.

Under S.I 44 of 2021, arrivals to Ireland from overseas are required to have evidence of a negative / not-detected result from a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival to the State.

S.I. 44 of 2021 places obligations on carriers to take reasonable steps to inform passengers of the test requirement, to check for the relevant test result prior to boarding, and to refuse to facilitate travel in the event that the carrier is not satisfied the passenger has a relevant test result or is covered by an exemption.

Arrivals to the State through a port or airport must present the test result to the border officials at the point of entry. Overseas arrivals who enter the State via Northern Ireland are required to retain the relevant test result for 14 days after arrival and to produce it if when asked to do so by a member of An Garda Síochána.

Arriving passenger who present to border officials without a relevant test result are referred to An Garda Síochána. They must also agree to complete a PCR test within 36 hours of arrival or will be committing an additional offence.

The Department of Justice has provided the following data on cases referred to the DPP by An Garda Síochána due to passengers failing to produce a relevant test result.

-

-

-

-

-

PCR Referrals

Date

Dublin Airport

Dublin Port

Cork Airport

Rosslare Port

Total Referrals

Week Commencing 09/01/2021

101

16

4

3

124

Week Commencing 16/01/2021

87

0

2

25

114

Week Commencing 23/01/2021

57

4

13

6

80

Week Commencing 30/01/2021

23

0

1

0

24

Week Commencing 06/02/2021

28

4

4

0

36

Week Commencing 13/02/2021

26

4

0

0

30

Total

322

28

24

34

408

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