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The government is considering locking thousands more in hotel quarantine.
Our leaders had a discussion on the issue after our ministerial colleagues in Britain announced a series of stricter regulations.
The UK now has a list of more than 30 countries from which travelers can face mandatory hotel quarantine, at their own cost.
And our own leaders are now considering tightening our own restrictions in light of this news.
These include increased fines for traveling abroad without a reasonable excuse, adding to the number of countries on our special list, and the possibility of a mandatory quarantine for everyone entering Ireland.
(Image: Collins Agency, Dublin)
A Taoiseach spokesperson said: “Obviously, looking at the UK measures that were announced today, the Government is looking at options.
“Leaders met yesterday to discuss the current situation regarding travel restrictions.
“The government is well aware of the need to be as restrictive as possible.
“More restrictions are being examined.
“I think some of the measures may have already been talked about, but, by adding more countries to Program 2’s list, that is, people who would be expected to be assigned a hotel quarantine, increasing the punishment above and beyond the € 500 fine for trapped people he went on vacation, but went ahead regardless, because we have seen reports of people who were willing to accept that fine and therefore it is not enough deterrence.
(Image: Garda Siochana’s Twitter)
“And the government is also discussing the possibility of people being quarantined in a hotel after they come from vacation destinations.
“There are many measures that are still under review as we move towards legislation.”
There is an average of 2000 people arriving in the country a day.
Our Health Minister Stephen Donnelly had a phone call with his UK counterpart, Matt Hancock, where they agreed that they would look to see where they could ‘line up’ on trips.
Tanáiste, Leo Varadkar, said that the legislation for mandatory quarantine in hotels could be ready next week and that several hotels have contacted to offer their services to the state.
Mr Varadkar said he believed that the measure introduced in the UK to threaten people with 10 years behind bars was “a bit extreme”.
He said: “I think what we should have is a common policy on international travel.
“That does not mean that the penalties have to be the same.
“The route they have followed is a bit more authoritative [than we would do]. “
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said the government will continue to coordinate with Britain to ensure there is effective cooperation.
He said more countries besides Brazil and South Africa will be added to the mandatory quarantine list, but the system must start working first.
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