Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
1765. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he plans to alter the mandatory Covid-19 detention system in order to comply with any EU regulation that facilitates travel within the EU on the basis of testing or vaccinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18913/21]
View answerAt present there is no EU regulation or programme which facilitates non-essential travel in a way that requires alteration to the Mandatory Quarantine System.
The EU is looking at this issue at the moment and Ireland is engaging with the process.
The list of designated states under the Health Act 1947 will be reviewed in line with the advice provided by the Expert Advisory Group on Travel to the Chief Medical Officer. The Chief Medical Officer considers EAGT recommendations and in turn makes recommendations when considering the designation of individual states.
Quarantine of persons arriving from areas with a high incidence of variants of concern is considered a deterrent against the emergence of such variants in the state and as such all persons arriving from those designated states are required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a designated facility unless otherwise exempt.
The Government continues to evaluate wider policy on international travel as informed by the epidemiological situation and public health advice. In this context, regulations have been introduced to allow fully vaccinated persons arriving from designated states to be exempt from Mandatory Hotel Quarantine. However, this only applies to persons who are fully vaccinated with an EMA-approved vaccine and there will still be a requirement for them to quarantine at home following arrival into the State.
