July ‘too early’ to ease air ban

Concern as Government is lobbied on restrictions

A GOVERNMENT taskforce has called for the restrictions on non-essential air travel to be lifted by July 1 – despite a worrying rise of Covid-19 cases in returning travellers recently.

However, consumer chief Dermott Jewell last night said lifting the restrictions this early was ‘not the right decision’.

The Aviation Recovery Taskforce has recommended Ireland lift travel restrictions and end the two-week quarantine requirement on incoming air passengers by next week. This is despite the highest daily rise in coronavirus cases worldwide occurring this week, and recent evidence of people bringing the disease back into the country from Covid-19 hotspots.

Professor Philip Nolan, chairman of the National Public Health Emergency Team’s Irish Epidemiological

Modelling Advisory Group, said the re-emergence of coronavirus cases associated with travel was a cause for concern.

He said there were fewer than ten cases, with many of them still under investigation, but that a number of the cases were related to people travelling from Covid hotspots: the UK and Sweden. Prof. Nolan said: ‘Just over the last two weeks we have begun to see a small number of travel-related cases, but it is a cause for concern nonetheless.’ And Mr Jewell, chief executive of the Consumers’

Association of Ireland, said last night: ‘Whilst I have sincere understanding for the difficulties of business as much as consumers, it still comes across as being rushed.’ The interim report from the taskforce noted the extensive recommendations provided on June 11 by the European Caution: Prof. Philip Nolan

Commission, which called for member states to lift all border restrictions by June 15.

‘Ireland is now significantly behind other member states in this regard – despite having equivalent or even better success in containing Covid-19,’ the taskforce stated. ‘As an island nation with an open economy, the taskforce calls on the Government to prioritise the recovery of this critical industry which enables large-scale tourism, international business and exports.’

It said the Government must ‘urgently adopt’ a code of practice for the aviation industry that has been developed by the European

Centre for Disease Control and the European Aviation Safety Agency.

It has also called for confirmation that the Wage Subsidy Scheme would be extended for the industry along with any other financial supports.

‘It comes across as being rushed’ ‘We’ll be led by NPHET’s response’

Aer Lingus, Ryanair, business group Ibec and the Irish Travel Agents Association have all backed the taskforce recommendations and have urged the Government to immediately implement them.

Transport Minister Shane Ross said the interim report ‘very succinctly captures the huge importance of the sector to the Irish economy’. He said: ‘It very clearly sets out the case for taking steps to be taken to begin opening up to international travel sooner rather than later. There are of course important public health issues to be considered, which the report acknowledges, and I will give the matters my priority attention.’

Fianna Fáil health spokesman Stephen Donnelly said the right balance needs to be struck, and added: ‘We will be led by NPHET’s response to this.’