IRELAND’S CURRENT international travel restrictions look set to remain in place until 20 July at the very earliest.
It comes despite Tánaiste Leo Varadkar this past Thursday announcing that a ‘green list’ of countries Ireland could strike “air bridge” deals would be published by 9 July.
However, the new government has postponed that date, with the quarantine measures already in place for visitors into Ireland set to remain in place until the ‘green list’ is published.
Under the current system, anyone visiting Ireland from abroad, resident or otherwise, is asked to self-isolate for 14 days. They must fill out a Covid-19 passenger locator form, providing details on where they intend to self-isolate.
The delay comes after Ireland’s outgoing Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, said he was “genuinely very concerned” about people taking holidays abroad and “re-importing infection back into this country”.
As a result, the Irish government ‘s advice remains that people should not engage in non-essential travel outside Ireland.
The Irish Travel Agents Association has criticised the “mixed messaging” over travel.
Ireland’s stance contrasts that of the UK government who on Friday moved to publish a list of 73 countries and territories English holidaymakers are free to visit without self-isolating for twoo weeks upon their return.
The list includes familiar destinations like Spain, France, Italy, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, along with far-flung locations including Australia, Barbados, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and Vietnam.
