Calls have been made to make Ryanair and other airlines put health warnings on their ads offering breaks in the sun.
The Government has a travel ban in place advising no travel abroad unless it’s essential because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
And when you come back there is currently a mandatory quarantine of 14 days where you are urged to stay at home.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, has warned this week that returning international travellers is now the “number one” risk of spreading the coronavirus again.
But despite this, Ryanair has been strongly promoting summer holidays this week despite the government warnings.
Their website had a summer sale section offering flights to destinations in countries such as France, Spain, Italy and Greece from just €24.99.
The airline is also boasting that Ryanair is “back flying 1,000 flights per day” as they promote “summer beach breaks at fantastic low fares.”
Sinn Féin transport spokesman, Darren O’Rourke, believes it is reckless for the airlines to be advertising fun breaks away when there is still a substantial risk of contracting Covid abroad.
He said: “The government’s contradictory approach to foreign travel to date has simply been unacceptable.
“Planes are permitted to arrive and depart, but the advice from the government is for citizens not to travel.
“This is resulting in people losing the money they have spent on flights and leaving them with no entitlement to a refund.
“It’s a very unfair situation that is costing people thousands of euro.
“Airlines should be offering refunds or rescheduling for free while the pandemic restrictions remain in place, and travel insurance companies should be offering compensation to those who have lost money on cancelled holidays.
“In addition, airlines are now advertising flights to destinations across the world.
“This flies in the face of the current public health advice and only adds to the public’s confusion around foreign travel.
“We believe a Covid-19 warning should be required on advertisements for flights to countries where the virus remains a serious threat.
“While many states are making great strides towards eliminating the virus, it is clear that the infection rate in some continues to be out of control.
“It is important that people are fully aware of the dangers of travelling to certain areas due to Covid-19.”
Mr Coveney earlier this week warned against heading abroad.
He said: “Public health experts see international travel as the number one risk of contributing to a second wave.”
Mr Coveney added: “If you look at the numbers in terms of those travelling now to Irish airports, a week ago there were 1,200 passengers arriving into Dublin Airport.
“Yesterday it was 4,000. So you can see the increased numbers of people who are now travelling to Ireland.”
