Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
2401. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health the practical procedures which must be followed by a person flying into Ireland but who is exempt from mandatory hotel quarantine as a result of a mandatory legal obligation in order to avail of this exemption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20699/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Act 1947, as amended, provides that all persons arriving in Ireland from a designated state, or having travelled through a designated state in the previous 14 days, are required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a designated facility unless they are an exempted traveller under the Act.
The Act identifies those who are exempt from mandatory hotel quarantine, a full list of which are available on gov.ie/quarantine, including a person " who travels to the State pursuant to an arrest warrant, extradition proceedings or other mandatory legal obligation".
Any person arriving in the state who is an exempted traveller should have and provide clear evidence upon arrival of the details of their exemption, along with any other necessary documentation. This evidence will be assessed on arrival and the exemption confirmed or denied. Where persons who are determined to not be exempt, or where further clarification is required, such persons will be required to undergo quarantine at a designated facility.
Where further clarification is required regarding an exemption, the provisions of the Act also allows for travellers to request a review of decisions relating to their quarantine; however this can only be undertaken once quarantine has begun. An independent panel of appeals officers has been established to consider all appeals.
Neither I as Minister for Health nor my Department have a role in decisions relating to whether individual persons must enter mandatory quarantine or whether individual persons are exempted travellers. All such decisions are to be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
