Mr. Willie Walsh:

That is a great question. It is section 212(f) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act that allows the imposition of this restriction. It was put in place for the Schengen area before it was put in place for Ireland and the UK, and it was approximately a week or two after the US Government imposed the restriction on Schengen countries that it imposed the restriction on Ireland and the UK. I do not believe Ireland is at risk of being left behind. I know the US is considering it but I am not sure the appetite is very strong.

There is a move for this to be done on a reciprocal basis but that would be regrettable. We must recognise there is major value to Ireland in having inbound US tourism. These people tend to be the most valuable tourists we get into the country. There is a very short summer season we can take advantage of if we get things moving. Equally, I understand that as an Irish citizen, I would love to be able to travel to the US because I have business there. It is not nice being restricted but we must be pragmatic. The interests of the country are best served by allowing access to Ireland to US citizens with freedom to travel into and outside the US without restriction because they are vaccinated. Other European countries are certainly going to do that.