Tag Archives: travel

This afternoon.

Via RTÉ News:

The Cabinet has agreed new travel rules which would see the requirement for vaccinated passengers to have a negative Covid-19 test dropped.

However, unvaccinated travellers would be required to show a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before arrival.

The Government moved to require all passengers to have a negative test for the virus when the Omicron variant of Covid-19 first emerged.

However, now that it is the dominant variant in Ireland, the Government has dropped that requirement for vaccinated passengers, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said today.

Requirement for vaccinated passengers to have negative Covid test to be dropped (RTE)

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Minister Eamon Ryan arriving at Dublin Castle this morning.

Minister Michael McGrath this morning

This morning.

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

Government ministers arrive for a cabinet meeting to discuss the reopening of indoor dining and the resumption of international travel.

Meanwhile…

“We just need to be a little more patient. Remember last summer when everything got good and then, everyone kind of relaxed and then we kind of arrived in September and October and ended up in huge trouble. I think that’s where we are going again with a much more transmissible variant this time around. And that is the issue.”

Dr Mike Ryan, head of the World Health Organisation’s Health Emergencies Programme

WHO expert warns over early rush to end restriction (RTE)

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Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar arriving at Dublin Castle for Cabinet this morning

This morning.

Ireland ‘Still On Track’ To End Travel Restrictions on July 5 (Newstalk)

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Arriving for cabinet were from top: Taoiseach Micheal Martin; Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan

This afternoon.

Following a cabinet meeting at Dublin Castle…

Non-essential international travel will resume on 19 July.

From 2 June, hotels can reopen followed by outdoor service at restaurants and pubs from 7 June.

Cinemas and gyms will also reopen on 7 June.

Then on 5 July, bar and restaurants will be able to serve customers indoors again.

The Cabinet has approved plans to hold a number of test entertainment and sports events, with up to 500 people able to gather at outdoor venues in July.

Non-essential international travel to resume on 19 July (RTE)

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This morning.

Good times.

Earlier: New Rules

Irish people will be able to travel abroad this summer if the EU’s digital green certificate initiative is established, says Thomas Byrne, Minister of State with responsibility for EU Affairs

This morning.

Via Irish Mirror:

Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne gave hope when he said that he is optimistic that Irish people will be able to travel abroad this summer if the EU’s digital green certificate initiative is established.

He told Ireland AM that he is very “optimistic”, but also added that he “wouldn’t be booking something yet that’s non-refundable”.

Meanwhile…

Primarily, Government advice remains in operation against all non-essential international travel

If your travel is essential, which holidays aren’t, you are advised to monitor the official advice provided by authorities at your destination, as well as restrictions upon arrival.

The Department of Foreign Affairs warn that any consular assistance requested in such circumstances will be limited…

The rules stopping Irish sunseekers from jetting off to Spain or Portugal today (irish Mirror)

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It is unclear why passport applications must be halted on the basis that staff need to attend the passport office to process the applications, say the Covid-19 Law and Human Rights Observatory

Trying to get a passport?

Losing your mind?

Dr Donna Lyons, a member of the Covid-19 Law and Human Rights Observatory and Trinity College Dublin representative to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs Committee on Human Rights, writes [full article at link below]:

The Irish Times, on February 20, quoted the passport service to the effect that the following services were available: a same-day service for emergencies, a weekly urgent service for Irish citizens resident overseas requiring a passport for local immigration purposes, and in general, adult renewals for work purposes on a weekly basis where a letter from the employer was provided. Expediting passport issuance for immigration or work is nowhere mentioned on the passport service’s website.

The same article quoted the passport office as stating that while routine online passport applications did not involve face-to-face interaction with applicants, staff did need to attend the passport office to process the applications as staff do not have access to the private, personal data of applicants when working remotely.

…It is unclear why passport applications as a general rule must be halted on the basis that staff need to attend the passport office to process the applications. If it is the case that staff in the passport office do not have access to the private, personal data of applicants when working remotely, it would be useful to have an explanation by government officials as to (a) what the specific problem is with staff attending offices in-person to perform this essential service when other essential service-providers have been encouraged to return to the workplace, and (b) how the passport service differs from the likes of the NDLS, RSA, and Revenue in the context of access to personal data on a remote basis.

…In another article on 20 February 2021, an Irish Times journalist commented on the ‘data protection’ justification offered by the passport office as follows:

‘[T]his seems more than a bit disingenuous, when Revenue staff are working away remotely with equally private and personal data, and driver’s licences are still being issued. Britain may have introduced mandatory hotel quarantine to discourage travel, but it hasn’t stopped issuing passports.’

…Even if the ‘data protection’ ground were defensible, it is indefensible that the general phone lines and e-mail contact services have been closed down. Moreover, even in a genuine emergency, applicants are restricted to contacting the passport office during 9:30am and 4pm, Mondays through Fridays, since the actual emergency contact information (e-mail address and phone number) are only accessible via the Webchat service and emergency e-mail account respectively.

It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that a deliberate strategy has been put into place to make it difficult to communicate with the office, even in the case of a genuine emergency, and ‘data protection’ simply cannot be a defence to this in its entirety….

…The question of cessation of passport services in this way raises serious rule of law concerns. Rule of law is a principle which is emphasised as paramount in both domestic law and international human rights law [More at link below]…

Cessation of Passport Services Raises Fundamental Rule of Law Concerns (TCD Law)

Pic: DFA

Last night.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that anyone entering the State from overseas – with some exceptions – are now required to quarantine for the first time.

However, the requirement may take several weeks to become operational.

Via RTÉ News:

Mr Varadkar said some of this quarantining will be done in hotels, some in people’s homes.

Legislation will be needed to underpin the move to hold Irish and EU citizens without a negative Covid test in hotels.

It has also been confirmed that those returning from overseas to the State via Northern Ireland will be subject to the same legal requirements.

Fines for those outside the 5km travel limit who are intending to travel abroad will be increased from the current €100….

Anyone?

Arrivals from overseas face mandatory quarantine (RTÉ)

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