CONCERNS OVER RELAXING OF TRAVEL RULES IN NORTH

THE Government faces a dilemma on foreign travel restrictions, with the North removing mandatory self-isolation from 50 countries.

On Thursday, a decision was made at Stormont to allow travellers from 50 countries, deemed to be of medium or low risk, to enter without the need to self-isolate for 14 days.

This has led to calls by public health officials, including Professor Gabriel Scally, for greater allisland co-operation in relation to foreign travel. Speaking on RTÉ’s Today With Sarah McInerney, Dr

Scally said: ‘We can’t do this in just one part of the island.’

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that public health officials here are ‘very concerned’ about the reopening of international travel to the North. Mr Martin said he agreed with Prof. Scally that an all-island approach was ‘optimal’ but there would be challenges around implementing it.

He said he would discuss the lifting of quarantine restrictions with the First and Deputy First Ministers, Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill, at Stormont next week.