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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
David Kent

Eerie pictures of empty Dublin Airport emerge as new Covid rules blasted as 'ridiculous'

These are the eerie scenes at Dublin Airport on one of the last weekends before Christmas - as a leading travel agent has blasted the "ridiculous" new rules surrounding airports during Covid-19.

From yesterday, anyone who is visiting the UK and returning to Ireland must provide evidence of a negative Covid-19 test when they return here.

The exact type of test, and the time limits for them, vary depending on your vaccination status.

But this isn't the case going the other way - people travelling to the UK from Ireland will not need a negative Covid-19 test to enter the country - as long as they haven't left the Common Travel area in the last ten days.

However, it appears that anyone who had wanted to jet off for a bit of winter sun has been spooked by a combination of the situation of the virus around the world and the new Government restrictions on travel.

The move has been heavily criticised by both the airline and travel agent industry.

One agent spoke to the Irish Mirror and blasted the Government for what they perceived as a lack of support - as pictures of an empty airport at 2pm on Friday emerged.

Sandra Finegan, owner of Globe Travel in Drogheda, Co Louth, said: "It’s absolutely ridiculous. The government always talks about hospitality but others are struggling too. The travel industry has been hit massively again and needs support.

"Our supports were cut in May despite international travel not returning until the 19th of July. The government has to help."

Ms Finegan also revealed some grim statistics surrounding the industry; “As travel agents we worked tirelessly for our clients since March 2020 with turnover in the travel industry down in excess of 80%.”

The new travel rules had originally been postponed from Friday to Sunday, but they aren't the only major changes incoming for Irish people.

The biggest move happening at midnight is the closure of nightclubs, just weeks after opening, who will again be wondering when they can return to normal after December 7.

Table service is back in pubs while a limit of six people per table are permitted at any one time in hospitality settings.

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