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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020

Tuesday, 28 July 2020

Ceisteanna (373)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

373. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a definition will be set out for non-essential travel in view of genuine instances in which persons need to travel abroad for work and family reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18140/20]

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Freagraí scríofa

The Department of Foreign Affairs publishes travel advice for over 200 countries on our website and the TravelWise app. This travel advice includes the use of security ratings to help communicate how safe or unsafe we believe a country may be to visit and to help citizens make informed decisions about overseas travel. 

It is based on consultation with our Embassies and Consulates on the ground, the relevant local authorities in each country and our international partners, together with our domestic partners where appropriate. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the priority of protecting public health, we have cooperated particularly closely with the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Health and the HSE.

Our system involves four levels of security rating: Normal Precautions; High Degree of Caution; Avoid non-Essential Travel; Do Not Travel. These ratings reflect the Department’s estimation of the relative safety and security of a country at a specific point in time. The current advice is against all non-essential travel overseas with the exception of a very limited number of locations.

The Department's travel advice is not designed to advise whether any individual's trip should be considered essential or non-essential. Instead, it provides an objective assessment of the risks individuals could face if travelling overseas, with a view to helping them to make informed decisions for themselves. 

We must adopt a common sense approach to Essential and non-Essential Travel and be cognisant of the personal circumstances of individuals. Essential travel in my view should be for compelling reasons. These can be related to pressing family, extended family or relationship reasons such as bereavement, serious illness or personal difficulties. There can also be compelling business and work related reasons which make travel essential and critical.

 But we must also realise that it is for every individual, having weighed up the relevant data and personal circumstances, to decide whether the essential nature or urgency of the need to travel outweighs the potential risks.

Regardless of whether the travel is essential or non-essential all the regulations must be followed on return.

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