Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 May 2021
659. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a person travelling outside the State with their young child for medical appointments and treatment will have to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival back into the country every time they make the trip (details supplied). [23241/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMandatory hotel quarantine has been introduced as one element of Ireland’s public health measures to combat the transmission of COVID-19 variants of concern.
The 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. All applicable travellers must reserve and pay for a place in mandatory hotel quarantine.
The Act identifies those who are exempt from mandatory hotel quarantine and a full list of exemptions can be accessed on gov.ie/quarantine.
An exemption from mandatory quarantine on medical grounds is possible only where a person is travelling to Ireland for an unavoidable, imperative and time sensitive medical reason, which is certified by a registered medical practitioner. Medical services are available at all times in designated facilities, to ensure the health and wellbeing of every person in quarantine. If a person has medical emergency while in quarantine, it is also possible to be transferred to a hospital for treatment.
There is also a possibility for a person in quarantine to apply for review of their quarantine on medical grounds. One of the permissible grounds for appeal is ‘for medical or other exceptional reasons, including the necessity of providing care for any vulnerable person’.
Requests for review are submitted to the State Liaison Officer present in each designated facility and are considered by independent appeals officers. Decisions on requests for review are provided within a 24-hour period.
The Government continues to evaluate wider policy on international travel as informed by the epidemiological situation and public health advice, including the possibility of future exemptions. Public health will remain a paramount consideration.
As of 17th April, passengers who are 'fully vaccinated' and have the documents to confirm this are no longer required to complete mandatory hotel quarantine on arrival in Ireland. Dependents, including children, will also be exempted from the requirement to complete mandatory hotel quarantine in this instance.
Please note that the 4 EMA approved vaccines currently accepted have specific definitions for when a person would be considered 'fully vaccinated'.
Passengers who are 'fully vaccinated' and exempt from hotel quarantine are still subject to other travel restrictions, such as the need to provide a negative pre-departure PCR test and complete a period of self-quarantine at home or wherever specified in their passenger locator form.
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.
Further information can be accessed on gov.ie/quarantine.
We note that the PQ requested a specific answer to a specific situation for which details were not included with the PQ. If the Deputy wants to provide same the Department can review such details.
