Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The number of people travelling has decreased significantly. When I last appeared before the committee, approximately 15,000 people a day were coming into or leaving the country. The most recent figures show that this number has halved, approximately, as a result of the level 5 restrictions and what is happening internationally. There are a significant number of essential workers who must travel. The majority of them are coming in by aeroplane but significant numbers are still coming in by ferry. There is a significant number of essential workers. I refer to the trucks that must enter or leave the country to deliver goods, as well as other essential workers who are travelling and will continue to travel. We wish to continue that connectivity. We cannot cut ourselves off as an island. We expect and ask passengers currently coming in to restrict their movements for two weeks. The new scheme, which is similar to other schemes and based on the European Union practice, will mean that people who must undertake essential travel will have the option of not having to restrict their movements for two weeks. They would have to pay for the test. The State will not cover the cost of the test. In doing that-----