Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
250. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport the Government plans to recognise the Covid-19 travel certificates for entry into the State that have been issued by non-EU states in the Schengen zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31190/21]
View answer267. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport the preparations that have been carried out to prepare for the use of the digital green certificates to allow ease of travel for those wishing to travel abroad in summer 2021; if those who are fully vaccinated will be able to travel without any restrictions or quarantine imposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31443/21]
View answer280. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport the efforts Ireland is making to ensure that member states adopt a uniform approach of accepting a negative PCR test result 72 hours before arrival and 48 hours in the case of rapid antigen tests for inbound EU travel under the digital green certificate system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31735/21]
View answer287. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the role he envisages rapid antigen testing playing in respect of Ireland's implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31861/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 250, 267, 280 and 287 together.
Government has been clear in expressing its support for the EU Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC) proposal and welcomes the agreement reached between the Council and European Parliament which will enable roll-out of the system and allow Digital COVID Certificates to begin to be issued to EU citizens in the coming weeks. I can advise the Deputy that the Department of Health in conjunction with the Department of the Taoiseach are continuing the work to ensure Ireland is in a position to comply with the EUDCC as required.
From 19 July, subject to the prevailing public health situation, Ireland will operate the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) for travel originating within the EU/EEA.
A DCC will show if a passenger is vaccinated against COVID-19; has recovered from COVID-19; or has a negative test result.
Passengers arriving into Ireland with a DCC will not have to undergo quarantine. However, passengers with a DCC based on a non-PCR test (for example, an antigen test), or those arriving without a DCC, will require proof of a negative RT-PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival.
Children aged between 7 and 18 who have not been vaccinated must also have a negative RT-PCR test.
A passenger who has been in a non-EU/EEA country in the 14 days prior to arrival into Ireland will be subject to the rules applying to that country.
All passengers will be advised to observe public health restrictions and to present for post-arrival testing if they develop symptoms of COVID-19.
It is important to note that the EU DCC is not a travel document. The possession of an EU DCC will not be a precondition to travel. Individual Member States will determine how the DCC will be used as part of national public health measures.
Furthermore, from 19 July, Ireland will also broadly align itself to the EU approach to non-essential travel into the EU from third countries (outside EU/EEA).
To protect its citizens against the importation of variants, an ‘emergency brake’ mechanism will be coordinated at EU level to react swiftly to the emergence of a variant of concern or variant of interest.
