Tourists travelling into Ireland from EU red zone countries will not be expected to stay at home any longer than five days once they receive a negative Covid test.
Cabinet Ministers have agreed a range of measures for the purposes of aligning arrangements for international travel with the EU ‘traffic light’ approach.
Anyone travelling from a red zone will be required to restrict their movements for 14 days until new measures come into effect on November 29, paving the way for people to travel home for Christmas.
But passengers will be required to seek a Covid-19 test privately.
A spokesman said: “From midnight 29th November, arrivals from an EU red region will not be expected to restrict movements following receipt of a negative/not-detected result from a Covid-19 PCR test taken a minimum of five days after arrival in Ireland.
“This provision will also be available to arrivals from orange regions who may not have availed of a pre-departure test.”
The government has also said that the Dublin Airport Authority will be granted an exemption from planning permission requirements for the purpose of establishing a Covid-19 testing facility at airports.
A spokesman said: There are a number of Covid-19 testing technologies currently available or emerging on the commercial market.
“However, subject to the ongoing review of testing by NPHET and Government, a negative result from a Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test is the only test result that means the passenger is not expected to follow advice to restrict movements.
“Testing technology and delivery options for facilitating international travel will be kept under review.
“Testing provision under Ireland’s framework for international travel will not be provided through the public health system, but rather will be met by the private commercial sector testing supply on a user pays basis.
“As the availability of testing cannot be guaranteed, intending passengers wishing to avail of a test should seek an early appointment for a test in advance of travel.”
A government spokesman also confirmed that passengers travelling from EU orange zones can either present a Covid-19 PCR negative test no more than three days before coming to Ireland.
Or if they do not have a test prior to departure, they can be treated as those travelling from red zones.
Travellers from the UK are subject to the same traffic light system and restrictions for as long as the European Centre of Disease Control continues to include data for the UK.
While a spokesman said the approach to countries like the US will be kept under review for now.
But added: “Arrivals from third countries will be treated on the same basis as arrivals from red/grey regions, including exemptions from advice to restrict movements for the purpose of performing an essential function.”
