Minister of State Ossian Smyth has said that the HSE won’t be providing free digital Covid certs to everyone.
He also said that the highly anticipated July 19 date for travel is not guaranteed and the lifting of the travel restrictions will depend on case levels and vaccine uptake.
Speaking on RTE Radio One's Claire Byrne Show, the Minister insisted that this isn’t a “nefarious” plot by Government to block people from travelling.
Instead, he explained that the HSE is focusing on public health and isolating the virus - and resources won’t be allocated to provide tests for people looking to travel abroad.
Anyone who hasn’t received a jab before their summer holiday will have to get a private laboratory test in order to get a digital certificate.
Anyone looking to travel will need one of three things on their digital devices - proof of recovery from Covid, proof of full vaccination or that they have received a negative test result in the previous three days.
Mr Smyth said that travel is still risky and there is no guarantee travellers won’t end up “stuck” abroad if they contract Covid-19 while abroad.
However, the Minister was positive overall and was confident that the Covid cert system will be easy to access and use once it is fully in place.
