Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald slams 'shambles' government over mixed messaging about travel

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has slammed the government as a 'shambles' as she hit out at it's stance on foreign travel.

Confusion has loomed over rules about foreign travel following the publication of the government's 'green list' for travel.

The list consists of a number of countries that do not require you to quarantine for 14 days upon return to Ireland, but the government is still advising against all non essential travel.

And outrage has been expressed after it was revealed workers will lose their €350 Pandemic Unemployment Payment if they travel abroad.

Those on the payment face being punished for going on holiday as gardai and social welfare officers will be at the airports to check the names of those leaving.

Passengers queue for check in at Dublin Airport. (Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

It has also emerged that in the past two weeks just over 100 people have had their PUP payment stopped because they were reported boarding an aircraft.

Until recently those on Jobseekers Allowance were allowed to leave the country for up to two weeks each year.

Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald took to Twitter to hit out at the new policy saying: "Govt travel policy: Best not to go, but you can go, but we will punish you for going, but only if you are in receipt of the Covid unemployment payment, the rest of you shouldn't go but you can go. Not simple but very straightforward #ShamblesGovt "

Speaking on RTE’s The Week in Politics Tanaiste Leo Varadkar confirmed that people receiving the PUP will lose their payment if they go abroad.

Masked passengers in Dublin Airport (Colin Keegan, Collins)

He said also said it was his understanding that in order to receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment you have to be seeking work and resident in Ireland and not travelling abroad.

He said: “My understanding is that in order to qualify and receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment you have to genuinely seeking work and you have to be ordinarily resident in the Ireland.

“So the Department of Social Protection gets information from the airports and if somebody is not genuinely seeking work or is not genuinely living in the country any more their welfare payments can be stopped."