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Covid-19 Tests

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2021

Wednesday, 20 January 2021

Ceisteanna (438, 439)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

438. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice the person or body with responsibility for monitoring and enforcing the testing requirements for departing and arriving passengers through airports and ports here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2853/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

439. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice the procedure in the case of a person who does not present a negative pre-departure test upon arrival into Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2854/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 438 and 439 together.

From midnight on 15 January 2021, all passengers arriving into Ireland by air or ferry are required to produce evidence of a negative/not detected RT-PCR Covid-19 test, taken up to 72 hours prior to arrival.

Regulations under the Health Act 1947 underpin these new requirements. Under these Regulations, passengers are legally required to produce evidence of a negative/not detected result from an RT-PCR Covid-19 test when boarding a ferry or aircraft and will be denied boarding by the carrier if they cannot produce such evidence unless they fall into the very limited exemption categories.

Checks of evidence of a negative/not detected RT- PCR Covid-19 test on all arriving passengers into the State are carried out by Immigration Officials of the Border Management Unit of my Department and An Garda Síochána at ports of entry to the State.

All passengers are advised and expected to follow all public health advice and adhere to current level 5 restrictions in place.

Passengers who arrive in an Irish port or airport without evidence of a negative/not detected test result commit an offence and may be subject to prosecution, punishable by a fine not exceeding €2,500 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or both.

A referral will be made by Immigration Officials to An Garda Síochána who will prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

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