Tensions rise over sharing of cross-border passenger details
Simon Coveney refutes claims that the Government is not co-operating with Northern counterparts, reports Rodney Edwards
THE growing unease between the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive over the handling of the pandemic on the island of Ireland was laid bare last week during a meeting by senior politicians on both sides of the Border.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney and Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken had a “robust exchange” on the issue, according to two sources privy to the discussions which were held to mark the first anniversary of the restoration of the power-sharing Executive.
It all centred around claims the Irish Government had “refused” to share details on passengers arriving on the island, despite multiple requests by Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann.
“Aiken criticised Coveney on the lack of the NorthSouth co-operation, saying it is the fault of the Irish Government,” revealed a source, “but Coveney shot back, saying he was ‘absolutely wrong’, there was no resistance from the Irish Government, and it was down to legal reasons.”
When contacted about Mr Aiken’s criticisms, a Department of Health spokesperson said: “There has been, and continues to be, engagement between the ministers for Health in both jurisdictions on data sharing from respective passenger locator forms.”
A second source said Mr Coveney told the meeting that it is Northern Ireland that is the “back door on to the island and into the South and that’s the real issue”.
“The conversation caused the most anxiety and friction between the two sides and was the biggest issue of the week,” the source added. Days later Stormont’s leaders joined in the criticism, with First Minister Arlene Foster, saying repeated attempts by the Executive to access data on passenger locator forms filled out by people arriving in Dublin had proved unsuccessful.
In a letter to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly last July, which has been seen by the Sunday Independent, Mr Swann advised that the “logical solution is to ensure all international travellers landing on the island of Ireland provide data which is accessible for compliance checks in our respective jurisdictions”. Then in another letter in November, Mr Swann asked Mr Donnelly that those making the journey over the Border into Northern Ireland should be advised of the “extreme importance” to self-isolate.
It was announced last week that passengers arriving into Northern Ireland from outside the UK and the South will soon have to produce a negative Covid-19 test before departure.
People arriving from countries not on the government’s travel corridors list will also still have to self-isolate for 10 days.
The Executive says it is working with the UK government to “facilitate urgent conversations with the Irish Government to improve data sharing from Dublin, to minimise the risk of a back door emerging through the land border”.
Last week, hospitals across Northern Ireland were under significant pressure with “really serious numbers of admissions expected in the coming week”, according to an Executive source. With a surge of Covid cases predicted across the island, measures to ease pressure could include patients being sent from hospitals such as Cavan General Hospital to South West Acute Hospital in Co Fermanagh.
Ms Foster told an Executive Committee last week that the region would consider any “request for assistance” by their southern counterparts should it be required, but that no such assistance has yet been requested. “Whether that is us to the Republic or the Republic to us, we should at all times try to assist when there are pressures,” she said.
As Northern Ireland’s statistics agency recorded 145 deaths, its highest weekly Covid-19 related registered deaths since the pandemic began, there was some noticeable cross-border co-operation, with the chief medical officers North and South pleading for people to stay at home. In a joint statement, Dr Tony Holohan and Dr Michael McBride said they were “gravely concerned” about the “unsustainably high level of Covid-19 infection” across the island of Ireland.
“We will continue to work together to protect public health across the island, as we have done throughout this pandemic, but we need everyone to play their part by staying at home and protecting themselves and their communities.”
Northern Ireland is halfway through its six-week lockdown, with ministers scheduled to review measures this week.
However, Dr McBride says it “optimistic in the extreme” to expect the restrictions to be lifted any time soon.
‘The North is the back door on to the island’