Travel advice and green list
Deputy Doherty criticised the Government's mixed messaging on the green list and travel advice. The Tánaiste said Government, not airlines, sets advice, and stressed that travel to lower-risk countries still carries risks, including links via Northern Ireland.
On Tuesday, I was glad to see that the Tánaiste agreed with my view when a spokesperson said on his behalf that, if the travel advice for countries on the green list was not different to the advice relating to other countries, we would be better off not having a green list at all. Fair play to the Tánaiste. On Tuesday night, however, the Government agreed the opposite. It gave a green light to go and then said "Do not go". The advice from the Government remains not to travel except in essential circumstances.
Last night, Ryanair sent a notification to thousands of people across the State telling them that they had the green light to fly to Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Malta and more and offering them cheap flights. Has the Tánaiste received that notification? Maybe he also received it. We are used to ridiculous announcements from Ryanair, but we are discussing public health. This is not a gimmick. Yesterday, a Minister was forced to admit that the issue of the green list was confusing. That is a result of Government policy.
Does the Tánaiste share my concern that Ryanair is using the green list to encourage people to fly to the destinations on it? What action, if any, can the Government take?
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy. No airline or tour operator can issue travel advice on behalf of the Government - the Government issues travel advice. If anyone is confused about travel advice, he or she should go to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's website to find it. It may not be simple, but it is clear. What we are saying to people is that the safest thing is to stay at home and holiday in Ireland this year. However, there is a difference between countries that have a very low level of the virus and those that do not. If someone is travelling to and returning from a green list country or just coming from there, that person does not need to restrict his or her movements for 14 days on arrival in Ireland. The list will be updated every two weeks based on public health advice and epidemiological data. If someone is coming in from countries that are not on the green list, which account for the majority of the world, including Britain, that person needs to restrict his or her movements for 14 days. The individual will be treated as if he or she was a close contact. This means staying at home like during the lockdown and only going out for exercise on his or her own or to purchase essential supplies. I hope that is clear.
Comment on this
Every country and jurisdiction is taking a different approach. In Northern Ireland where Sinn Féin is in power, the decision has been taken to have a green list of 56 countries, some of which have a much higher incidence of infection than Ireland.