[ad_1]
CHRISTMAS TRIPS: Should Irish abroad book flights or ferries home? Is it okay to plan a trip abroad from Ireland?
These are just a few of the questions being asked in homes here and in remote parts of the world this week.
The travel issue has dominated the headlines after Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told the Dáil this week that he would not advise people abroad to book flights home just yet.
His words to the Dáil on Thursday elicited a mixed response. Joe Duffy’s Liveline switchboard was lit up with calls, and a listener told the host that they were “disgusted” with Varadkar’s comments.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the government has come under fire for its perception of mixed messages about international travel.
Those in the corridors of power expected this to be fixed this month, as Ireland aligned itself with the rest of Europe in adopting the new “traffic light” travel system.
But heading into December, the public has several layers of travel advice to understand. Far from being ideal.
So what is the big picture?
Well, first of all, there is what legally it can and cannot do.
Legally, there is no law that prevents someone from flying to Ireland or leaving Ireland. Flights run every day, travel never stopped in Ireland and was never banned.
If you decide to fly to or from Ireland, you will not be stopped at the airport or sent back home.
Mandatory quarantine is not in force in Ireland. Nor is it a legal requirement for a person to restrict their movements for 14 days after their arrival from another country, but as one of the key measures To stop the spread of Covid-19, it is strongly recommended
What is a legal mandate is the requirement to complete a personal locator form at the airport or port when you arrive in Ireland. Your address details and other contact details should be recorded on that form, to help track the contact if necessary.
Going from what is legally allowed or not, we come to the government official public health advice under Level 5 restrictions.
With current restrictions in effect through the end of the month, the advice is maintained that no non-essential international travel.
Additionally, all Irish residents are asked to restrict movement within 5km of their home, unless strictly essential. All passengers arriving in Ireland are asked to abide by these public health measures.
Official government policy on international travel is provided by the Department of Foreign Relations.
Anyone wishing to travel to Ireland or abroad will generally be guided by this advice, which is available on the DFA website.
The department indicates that if you are considering travel, it continues to advise against nonessential travel abroad: other than the countries that are part of the EU’s “traffic lights” approach.
The advice to the people traveling to these areas is taking a high degree of caution.
However, many of the countries that have joined this system currently have their own quarantine or other requirements for arriving passengers, some of which are much more severe than ours.
For example, Irish arriving in France can only enter “provided they present proof that they are traveling for urgent professional, medical or family reasons, or that they are returning to their main residence in France.”
More on the traffic light system later.
What is the plan for Christmas?
In short, officially, there isn’t one yet.
What Leo Varadkar told the Dáil on Thursday was that Irish living abroad should not book flights home for Christmas. still.
The reasoning behind this is somewhat obvious. While we have our second wave largely under control, it is still raging in other countries, meaning that a large influx of people traveling to Ireland and dispersing across the country carries a massive risk of transmission.
Medical Director Tony Holohan went one step further than Varadkar, saying flying home for Christmas was not essential.
“We believe that people should avoid non-essential travel and continue to do so for the foreseeable future,” Dr. Holohan said at the NPHET press conference Thursday night.
“That includes the Christmas period, and we feel like the kind of travel that normally happens at Christmas, people coming back to spend time with their loved ones, […] We have to consider it not essential for this Christmas ”.
At this time, we don’t know what public health tips will be in effect once Tier 5 expires at the end of this month. Although, obviously, there will have to be some level of restrictions.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin recognized this yesterday when he told RTÉ’s News at One that the government would warn the people “before the end of november“Of what will be the plans for the Christmas period” so that people can make preparations.
He agreed with Varadkar that “at this point people should wait” before booking flights to Ireland for Christmas, but added that this and other arrangements would be cleared up for Christmas before Level 5 ends.
The Taoiseach said the government would listen to NPHET’s advice, but that what happens in terms of travel around Christmas will be a government decision.
Enhanced testing regimes are expected to be part of any international travel council.
Tell me more about the tests
Starting at midnight on November 29, travelers arriving in Ireland from the so-called ‘red’ regions in the new traffic light system will be informed that they no longer need to restrict their movements once they pass a Covid-PCR test. 19 (usually a nasal swab) five days after you arrive here.
As of last Sunday night, travelers arriving from the orange regions do not have to restrict their movements if they carry the results of a negative Covid-19 test taken at least three days before arrival.
Those who do not obtain a negative test upon arrival in Ireland can take a test five days after arrival.
Passengers will be asked to restrict their movements until they are tested.
Currently, a person is advised to restrict their movements for 14 days after arrival from a “red” region.
A Covid-19 test center will be operational at Dublin Airport next week, while new test facilities went into full operation at Cork and Shannon airports this week.
Private operator PCR tests cost between € 130 and € 199 in most cases in Ireland; Outside of airports, other private companies already offer them.
Some airports in other countries offer free PCR tests. As demand increases, the cost here is projected to decrease. If other rapid tests are approved as alternatives to PCR, they will be much cheaper.
Children under the age of 6 must be exempt from the testing requirements.
And what’s the story with the stoplight system again?
As stated above, Ireland is now part of this.
Under the new EU traffic light scheme, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control publishes a weekly map of the EU using a three-stage color system to indicate the level of risk in each zone.
The levels are determined by a variety of epidemiological factors, including the incidence of 14 days per 100,000 population and the level of positive tests.
Ireland joined the plan in October and it became fully operational this month.
Currently, as the second wave rages on the continent, almost everywhere is “red”. There are a handful of orange areas and absolutely no green at all.
Wait. What happened to the Green List?
Do you see why this is confusing?
Don’t worry about the Green List.
No news is bad news
Support the magazine
your contributions help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you
Support us now
It is no longer a thing.
Forget it ever existed.
What about countries like the United States, what rules apply to travel from there?
The US and other areas are classified as “gray” under the new traffic light system.
Gray areas are classified in the same way as ‘red’ countries or regions and, therefore, if you arrive from a red region or gray regions, such as the United States, as of November 29 you will be advised that you can move freely once you pass a PCR test five days after arrival.
Currently, people must restrict their movements for 14 days after arrival.
So can we fly?
Once again, yes. Airports are open and flights are taking off. There is nothing to stop a passenger from flying.
Can Christmas flights to Ireland be booked?
Airlines and routes are operational and open to receive reservations.
Can I book a holiday outside of Ireland?
The new EU travel plan does not specify the reasons for the trip.
The Department of Foreign Relations says that if you decide you need to travel, you should inquire about any requirements at your destination.
Information on entry restrictions currently applied by other countries is available in country-specific DFAs. travel tips pages.
Additional restrictions may be placed on your destination, including for the duration of your visit.
Once again, current public health councils advise against non-essential travel, nationally and internationally.
What groups of people do not have to adhere to movement restrictions?
Under the traffic light system, a certain number of travelers are exempt from the requirement to undergo quarantine measures or movement restrictions.
These include passengers traveling for imperative family reasons and those traveling for business purposes. You can see the full list here.
– With reporting from Daragh Brophy and Nicky Ryan
[ad_2]