Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 July 2021
354. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) would need to enter mandatory hotel quarantine on return to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32136/21]
View answerThe Health (Amendment) Act 2021 provides for mandatory quarantine in designated facilities for persons coming into the State from areas where there is known to be sustained human transmission of COVID-19 or Variants of Concern, or from which there is a high risk of importation of COVID-19 or any variant of concern by travel from that area, and for the designation of such areas by the Minister.
Peru is currently on the list of Designated States.
There are some limited exemptions from the requirement to complete mandatory hotel quarantine and these are provided for under the Act, i.e. persons arriving into the State:
1 in the course of duty and who hold a valid Annex 3 certificate (ensuring the availability of goods and essential services)
2 drivers of a heavy goods vehicle in the course of duty
3 airline pilots, aircrew, maritime master or maritime crew in the course of duty
4 pursuant to an arrest warrant, extradition proceedings or other mandatory legal obligation
5 who are a member of An Garda Síochána or Defence Forces (or their equivalents from another state) and travelling in the course of duty
6 who is a diplomat or certain other category of persons entitled to privileges and immunities in the State
7 for unavoidable, imperative and time-sensitive medical reasons certified by a registered medical practitioner or person with equivalent qualifications outside the State
8 having been outside of the State to provide services to or perform the functions of an office holder (under any enactment or the Constitution) or a member of either house of the Oireachtas or the European Parliament.
The Act also empowers the Minister to prescribe other classes of person who should be exempted:
1 SI 134 of 2021 regarding passengers transiting through an Irish port or airport.
2 SI 181 of 2021 regarding athletes competing in events of international standing.
3 SI 183 and SI 211 2021 regarding new-born infants born abroad returning to the State together with their families
4 SI 183 of 2021 regarding travellers who have received the full course of a relevant EMA approved Covid-19 vaccine.
5 SI 216 of 2021 regarding travellers returning to the State after receiving unavoidable, imperative and time-sensitive medical treatment, together with carers or dependants travelling with them.
6 SI 241 of 2021 regarding travellers providing essential services in the State.
Exemptions are granted by the Border Management Unit (BMU) on arrival at immigration. Passengers need to be able to provide documentation supporting their case for exemption to the immigration officers at the port of entry. If an exemption is not granted, the passenger will be taken to Mandatory Hotel Quarantine.
