SUMMER HOLIDAYS BACK ON!
Breaks away to UK on the cards by end of the season
IRISH holidaymakers will be allowed to travel to the UK for a break away later this summer.
While non-essential travel is not recommended at the moment, holidaymakers could be crossing the Irish Sea by the end of the summer – without any need to self-isolate on arrival.
From June 8, Irish tourists travelling to the UK will be exempt from the 14-day self-isolation period, the UK government announced yesterday.
Similarly British tourists will be allowed to travel freely here if
they arrive later this summer, Health Minister Simon Harris indicated yesterday. ‘I am eager to get ahead, and it’s up to me to make sure we align as closely as possible with the UK... in relation to common travel areas, there’s work ongoing in that area,’ he said.
When asked by the Irish Daily Mail if that meant people from the UK could holiday in Ireland this summer and vice versa, he said: ‘At the moment, yes.’
A specific date in the summer when this could start has not yet been finalised.
However, Ireland’s last phase begins on August 10 – so it is expected to be after that.
The Minister also confirmed that a tough new quarantine regime will be introduced for people entering the country.
From next Thursday, those entering the country will be legally required to accurately fill in a locator form specifying where they will self-isolate for their initial 14-day period here, and a contact number they can be reached on.
They will be emailed the form prior to arriving in Ireland and gardaí will conduct spot checks on their whereabouts.
Failure to fill in the form, or providing false or misleading information will become an offence carrying a potential €2,500 fine or up to six months in prison.
However, self-isolating will still be done on a consent basis. These measures will be reviewed on June 18.
Passengers transiting to another jurisdiction, certified international transport workers, air and maritime pilot/masters and crew, will not have to complete the form, while individuals from the North will only have to fill out a portion of the form.
‘Our success will continue to be on working with people and I actually think people want to know that these measures are in place because they’re working hard and sacrificing so much,’ Mr Harris said. ‘They want to know that anybody coming into the country… that we’re all aware of our obligations.’
Cabinet signed off on the measures yesterday. Minister Harris said that the strict measures were essential in order to safeguard public health.
‘These are extraordinary measures but they are necessary in a time of a public health crisis,’ he said. ‘We continue to advise everyone against non-essential travel. However, if a person does arrive into Ireland, they will be legally obliged to fill out this form, regardless of their nationality.
‘The form will be used to facilitate a system of follow-up checks to make sure people who travel to the country are staying where they said that they would. The form will also ensure more accurate and quicker contact tracing, should we have a confirmed case on a flight or ferry coming into Ireland. Every measure we take is aimed at stopping the spread of Covid19 and protecting people from this virus. This is no different.’
The Minister said he is giving consideration to making this a legal requirement also. He said that he would be examining measures published by the British home secretary Priti Patel announced yesterday.
Under the UK measures, twoweek quarantines will be imposed on new arrivals to the UK from June 8. However, passengers travelling from Ireland, seasonal agricultural workers and medical staff battling Covid-19 are exempt.
Similar to Ireland, passengers arriving in the UK will have to fill in a locator form – with breaches punishable with a £1,000 (€1,100) fixed penalty.
Everyone coming into the UK from abroad will have to give an address and phone number to public health officials setting out where they will be staying.
However, a key difference in the UK is that if accommodation does not meet necessary requirements – with hotels, or with friends and family listed as options – they will have to self-isolate in ‘facilities arranged by the government’.