Tag Archives: Mandatory Hotel Quarantine

Yesterday afternoon.

Dublin Airport.

Meanwhile..

The Minister for Health has told the Dáil that Ireland “will be in a better position to act quickly” if legislation is introduced to permit hotel quarantine if it is needed.

Stephen Donnelly was speaking during a debate over the Government’s reintroduction of mandatory hotel quarantine legislation.

“These measures may not be enough” and “hotel quarantine may be necessary for a limited time” to give us time to increase vaccination rates and deliver promising anti-viral drugs, Mr Donnelly said.

The biggest benefit of quarantine previously was that it delayed visits to Ireland from countries of concern.

Mr Donnelly said the bill contains new provisions based on lessons learned from Ireland’s previous experience, including the speeding up of the appeals process.

Dáil debates reintroduction of mandatory hotel quarantine laws (RTE)

RollingNews

Steve McQueen in The Great Escape (1963)

Yesterday/This morning

Via Irish Examiner:

More than 70 people from red-listed countries have absconded from mandatory hotel quarantine since the system was implemented, it has been revealed.

Of the 75 people who left mandatory quarantine , just 24 returned to their accommodation “voluntarily” after gardaí intervened.

The Sunday Times reports more than a dozen people have left their hotel without permission in the last week alone.

Leader of the Social Democrats Catherine Murphy said it defeats “the whole purpose” of mandatory hotel quarantine if people can just walk out of their own accord.

More than 70 abscond from Ireland’s mandatory hotel facilities (Irish Examiner)

Friday: Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying


Yesterday.

Fintan Dunne spoke to Cindy Connolly about her mandatory hotel quarantine experience.

Ms Connolly had travelled to Dublin from the UK to care for her 79-year-old father, James (top) who was released from hospital after suffering an adverse reaction to Pfizer’s Covid 19 vaccine.

She was tested negative for Covid-19 by the NHS but was told on arrival at Dublin Airport she needed a PCR test and was escorted by members of the Defence Forces and detained at the Croke Park Hotel.

Previously: Something To Declare

Meanwhile…

Eau.

This afternoon.

International Air Transport Association (IATA) boss Willie Walsh said the Mandatory Hotel Quarantine detention system was “particularly dangerous” for a country like Ireland.

He asked why Ireland was the only country in Europe to impose mandatory quarantine even on vaccinated travellers.

The former Aer Lingus and BA chief said:

“The message is we don’t want people travelling to the country.…

“Freedom of movement is a fundamental principal of the EU. That is what has upset me most.

“Nobody travelling into the UK from Belgium tested positive yet you are locking them up…

“If these people are vaccinated then these restrictions should be removed. Why do you want to lock up people who have been fully vaccinated?”

IATA head criticises ‘repressive’ hotel quarantine (RTÉ)

RollingNews

This morning.

An interview by Fintan Dunne with Cindy Connolly (top right) who was transferred from mandatory hotel quarantine to hospital on Friday night suffering chest pains due to stress.

Ms Connolly travelled to Dublin from the UK to care for her 79-year-old father James (top left) who was released from hospital earlier this week after suffering an adverse reaction to Pfizer’s Covid 19 vaccine.

She was tested negative for Covid-19 by the NHS but was told on arrival at Dublin Airport she needed a PCR test and was escorted by members of the Defence Forces and detained at the Croke Park Hotel.

Woman in hotel quarantine hospitalised after returning to Ireland with negative test to care for her dad (Irish Mirror)


French Ambassador to Ireland Vincent Guérend (above) has criticised Ireland’s Mandatory Hotel Quarantine scheme, which has seen members of the Defence Forces escort arrivals at Dublin Airport. Ireland is the only EU member state to detain travellers from other EU countries

This morning.

Via Irish Times:

France’s ambassador to Ireland Vincent Guérend said the French embassy had received “large numbers of desperate calls” in recent weeks from Ireland’s French community, many of whom need to travel to France for medical reasons including cancer and cardiac care.

The ambassador told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that mandatory hotel quarantine was preventing those who need to commute between Ireland and France from travelling. There are between 25,000-30,000 French nationals living in Ireland, he said.

“We’re not speaking for normal travel, it’s not business as usual, people go for really compelling reasons, for severe medical treatment, for cancer, for heart disease and we believe the mandatory hotel quarantine prevents almost all travelling and that the exception mechanism is really insufficient.”

Ireland’s quarantine system unnecessarily harsh, says French ambassador (Irish Times)

RollingNews/French Embassy

This afternoon.

“The commission has concerns regarding this measure in relation to the general principles of EU law, in particular proportionality and non-discrimination.

“We have been in contact with the Irish authorities during the past days on this matter. Today the commission sent a letter to the Irish authorities asking for clarifications on this matter and on the criteria used to determine the designated [EU] countries.

“The commission believes that the objective pursued by Ireland, which is the protection of public health during the pandemic, could be achieved by less restrictive measures.”

“We invite the Irish authorities to align more closely their measures taken with the provisions of the council recommendation member states agreed in October and updated earlier this year.”

Christian Wigand, EU Commission Spokesperson for Rule of Law, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Employment and Social Affairs.

The commission has given Ireland ten days to respond.

FIGHT!

Earlier: “No Apologies”

RollingNews

Meanwhile..

Thanks, Steve.

Terminal 2 arrivals at Dublin Airport this afternoon

Tonight.

The European commission sent a list of questions to Government Buildings this evening on behalf of concerned EU citizens concerning Mandatory Hotel Quarantine (MHQ)/

In a statement to RTÉ News, the European Commission said:

“We understand that Ireland requires travellers coming from a “designated” country, irrespective of their nationality, to undergo a mandatory hotel quarantine.

“The commission is looking into these measures as there are some concerns in relation to the general principles of EU law, in particular proportionality and non-discrimination.

“While quarantine and testing requirements are a national competence, nevertheless, when affecting citizens’ rights to free movement, such measures have to comply with general principles of EU law.”

EU raises concern about mandatory hotel quarantine (RTÉ)

Earlier…

This afternoon.

Dublin Airport.

American travellers are greeted by Irish Army soldiers and escorted to the Crowne Plaza Hotel for mandatory quarantine. USA was added to the list of covid ‘hot spots’ at 4am.

Bookings were temporarily paused yesterday as the Tifco Group of hotels have reached capacity. Those who have already made a booking are not affected by the pause.

RollingNews

This morning.

Earlier…


This morning.

Dublin Airport.

From Thursday, the US will be added to the Mandatory Hotel Quarantine list.

Name those planes, anyone?

Meanwhile….

A woman who returned from Dubai ten days ago to support her mother after her father was diagnosed with cancer, has become the latest person to challenge the legality of her detention at a quarantine hotel, in what her lawyers described as a “profoundly urgent” application.

A special remote sitting of the High Court was told last night that 30-year-old Emma Kelly was fully vaccinated and had tested negative for Covid-19 twice before she travelled from the United Arab Emirates and arrived here ten days ago.

Her lawyers told the court she should have been tested again today but has been told she won’t receive a test until tomorrow and if negative, she won’t be able to leave until the following day.

They have asked the High Court to inquire into the legality of Ms Kelly’s detention.

The woman is in quarantine in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin Airport.

The court will continue hearing the case this morning when the State will respond.

Woman takes High Court challenge over mandatory hotel quarantine (RTÉ)

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