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No EU country will be on the government’s Covid-19 travel green list this week, TD and senators have been told.
Travelers from countries that are not on the controversial green list are told to self-isolate for two weeks after arriving here, creating a significant barrier for tourists and businessmen coming to the Republic.
Eddie Wilson, a Ryanair executive, told Oireachtas’ Transportation and Communications Networks Committee on Wednesday that when the government releases its updated green list on Thursday, none of the EU’s 27 will be included.
“Tomorrow, when the green list comes out, they will say that we are closed to all countries in Europe,” he said.
Figures
Cyprus, Finland, Latvia and Liechtenstein, which does not have an airport, are the remaining countries on the list, which was at 14 when the government published the first version in July.
Only countries with Covid-19 rates of 25 per 100,000 or less are included in the list, which the Department of Foreign Affairs publishes every Thursday. Restrictions apply from the following Monday.
Figures from the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) show that no EU state has a rate lower than 25 per 100,000.
The Department of Foreign Relations uses these figures, which are updated daily, to compile the green list.
Officials did not comment on the possible composition of Thursday’s list, but acknowledged that Covid rates in other EU states are unlikely to change as of Wednesday.
Airlines and airports want the government to adopt the EU’s proposed traffic light system, which classifies countries as green, orange and red, according to their Covid-19 tariffs, and removes quarantines.
According to this, people arriving from green and orange countries should not face restrictions once they arrive, while those from red (high risk) regions must show test results confirming that they do not have the virus.
That system could require the Irish to be tested before flying in case the Republic is designated red.
Tests
Independent water companies are ready to carry out tests at Cork and Dublin airports, according to Dalton Philips, chief executive of DAA, the state-owned company that manages both.
“We have teams ready to go,” he confirmed to the committee. Initially, at least, passengers might need tests confirming that they are Covid-free around three days before traveling.
Although the test centers will be at DAA airports, the company itself will not carry them out. He has spoken to about 20 companies willing to do the job. They will charge the passengers for the tests.
Both Mr Wilson and Aer Lingus CEO Sean Doyle urged the government to adopt the EU system.
Mr. Doyle noted that the most important feature of the plan was to allow people from the green and orange regions to travel without restrictions.
Ryanair recently warned that it would have to close its Cork and Shannon airport bases for the winter if the government did not adopt the system.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said EU foreign ministers would decide on the adoption of the system at a meeting on Tuesday 13 October.
Passenger numbers have fallen by 90% this year, while Cork and Dublin airports have lost 150 million euros.
“Our industry has been demonized since this pandemic started,” stated Philips.
Mr. Doyle warned that the Republic’s air routes to the rest of the world “disappeared.”
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