Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 June 2021
365. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Irish citizens who reside here but work in Northern Ireland and have been vaccinated as part of the system in Northern Ireland will be in a position to apply for an EU Covid-19 digital green certificate when it is introduced here in cases of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29756/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Digital COVID Certificate is designed to facilitate the safe free movement of citizens within the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be valid in all EU Member States, including Ireland, and will be provided by the Member State within which the vaccination or Covid-19 test took place.
Individual Member States will determine how the EU Digital COVID Certificate will be used as part of their national public health measures. Information on how the Certificate will apply in each country will be made available by Member States and on Re-open EU. Under the Regulations, individuals who have been vaccinated or tested in the Member State, who are EU citizens or third country nationals legally in the State, have a right to be issued these certificates on request.
The Department of Health is leading on the cross Departmental development of the EU Digital Covid Certificate and the HSE are developing the IT and required operational procedures. However, the timeframe is very challenging and the new operational processes required to support this interoperable certificate framework is yet to be established. Further, the cyber-attack on the HSE is likely to impact on the timeframe to deliver the Certificates. The focus will therefore initially be on delivery of the vaccination certificates, with recovery and test certificates to follow.
With regard to persons not vaccinated in Ireland, including EU citizens vaccinated in Northern Ireland, the Regulation gives the option to issue vaccination certificates to persons vaccinated elsewhere, with EMA approved vaccines, upon receipt of appropriate proof.
Currently, the main development focus is on the delivery of the obligations of the EU Regulation with respect of persons who received a vaccination or a test in Ireland. The possibility of providing vaccination certificates to persons not vaccinated in Ireland will be kept under consideration.
