A man who was released from mandatory hotel quarantine to care for his dying father after an appeal to the High Court has called for a more “common sense” approach to the system.
Derek Jennings is fully vaccinated but was forced to enter the facility at Dublin’s Crowne Plaza hotel on Friday after returning from Israel.
The 47-year-old, from Clondalkin, had been working in Israel since February, but rushed home when his father, who suffers from cancer, collapsed and was admitted to intensive care during the week.
Mr Jennings said he supports the idea of quarantining foreign arrivals but described the system in Ireland as a “shambles”.
He added: “I agree with the quarantine, I really do. I’m not against it.
“Logistically, from the moment we arrived in Dublin Airport it was a bit of a shambles.”
He added: “I just think there needs to be a little bit more logical, open-mindedness about the situation here.
“We’re not criminals. People have openly put themselves in this situation.
“A more common sense approach [is needed].
“In my case, I appealed on humanitarian, compassionate grounds. I was refused twice.
“If my situation is not humanitarian or compassionate, I don’t know what is.”
Meanwhile, an Israeli woman who moved here to be with her Irish fiance and take up a job in Cork was also released from quarantine yesterday.
Inbar Aviezer’s case challenging the legality of her detention was due back before the High Court this morning.
Earlier yesterday, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said even fully vaccinated people must undergo quarantine as public health officials are concerned that they may still be able to pass on the virus.
He told Newstalk’s On The Record: “We don’t have an international certification process, we have to wait on health advice on that.
“There’s still some concern with the health authorities that even post-vaccination, people may be transmissible, so they are cautious around that.
“But I would expect that will be a change that we will see in the coming weeks and months.
“That process is not in place internationally yet and that does need to be there.”
Mr Ryan added that mandatory hotel quarantine was not “foolproof” but part of a number of measures taken against Covid.
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