Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
673. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts his Department 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. [31736/21]
View answerThe Government has been clear in expressing its support for the EU Digital Covid Certificate which is expected to be implemented in Ireland from 19 July 2021 subject to the prevailing health conditions. The EU Digital Covid Certificate will provide a standardised recognition of the holder's status related to vaccination, recovery from Covid or test result. Each country participating in the EU Digital Covid Certificate continues to be responsible for the definition of its own entry requirements and rules, which are not standardised at the EU level. Each country will also determine how the Digital Covid Certificate will be used as part of their national public health measures. As such, the various testing and quarantine exemptions available to arrivals holding Digital Covid Certificates, depends on the measures and entry rules in place at the country of destination. Council Recommendation 2020/1475 which has recently been revised, sets out standard validity periods for Covid-19 tests in order to simplify travel within the Union. Most Member States already provide that a PCR test be carried out not more than 72 hours prior to arrival. However, as with all Recommendations, it is not legally binding on all Member States.
As the Deputy is aware, policy and operational matters relating to the recognition of Covid-19 tests are primarily a matter for the Minister for Health.
