I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 78 together.
I would like to advise the Deputy that Government has announced a roadmap for the gradual reopening of international travel from 19 July. From that date, Ireland will operate the EU Digital COVID Certificate (EU DCC) for travel originating within the EU/EEA. This Certificate 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 after that date with an EU 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. Passengers who have been in a non-EU/EEA country in the 14 days prior to arrival into Ireland will be subject to the rules applying to travel from 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.
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.