Ms Elizabeth Canavan:

We are encouraging people not to ring up to ask where it is because they are only going out in batches over the coming days, so we are asking people to be patient. If they are expecting it by email, they should get it very quickly, but if it is expected by post, it will arrive over the coming days, as they have to be managed in batches. If the letter comes while you are abroad, and we talked about this earlier, and if you have a neighbour minding the cats, they can open your letter, photograph it and send it to you. The QR code will transfer and it will be readable in that way, so there is a work-around on that. Obviously, you can pick up your email abroad, if you are getting it by email. However, it can be photographed and photocopied.

In terms of the science changing, what the Deputy set out is correct. For the vaccination, at the moment validity is indefinite, as he said. The science may change on that, but that is what the EU rules are at the moment and we are working on the basis of that.

In terms of recovery, validity is 180 days. That will be the duration of the validity for a DCC based on recovery. PCR or antigen tests will have a more limited validity. In general terms, PCR is considered to have a 72-hour validity and antigen a 48-hour validity. The digital Covid certificates based on the tests are of much shorter duration.

Regarding travel delays, we are advising people to check in advance everything relating to their travel arrangements and that they have everything they need. To be clear, the main document they will need to enter this country will be the electronic passenger locator form. They will not be allowed to board without it. The carriers are carrying out the check for that at time of boarding, so it is necessary to have that form completed and to have a receipt to show it has been completed. The electronic format is live now. The requirement for carriers to ensure they have checked for the EPLF before boarding is in place since yesterday.