David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will follow up on those points. All our questions today relate to travel, and we know the certificate will also be used for domestic purposes. Many of the details are still being finalised, but the system is to come into operation on Monday. I ask that a briefing be given to members of the health committee, if they so choose, on the matter. There will be many questions about how this will work. We had a briefing some weeks ago but there have been changes in the guidelines that seem to have been agreed with the industry and so on. There is also the question of how the app will be used. These are reasonable questions so I ask that a briefing would be arranged for us, if possible.

There is the question regarding the issuing of the DCC to people who are Irish citizens but who live abroad. There is also the matter of Irish citizens living in the North. I have heard the witnesses indicate that a citizen who lives in the North and who has an Irish passport will get an NHS proof of vaccination. That does not answer the question as to whether such people can avail of a DCC here. Is the latter possible? The EU website indicates that EU citizens who have been vaccinated in a non-EU country can request certificates from the member state of their nationality or residence. It also indicates that certificates will be issued if there is proof of vaccination and if the structure of the health system allows for it. Is that possible here in respect of citizens in the North? What will be possible for people who live outside the State?

I made an important point earlier. It was not a criticism of any of the officials, who are doing their best. In answering questions on advice for people who are travelling, the witnesses gave very good advice that people should check the website and travel advisory criteria for the countries they are travelling to. The witnesses indicated that this is complex and that while there is a DCC system in place which should ensure that people are not prevented from travelling, each member state will have its own criteria for points of entry. I go back to the messaging from the Government, and not necessarily just the tweet that was mentioned. It seems to suggest that if a person does not have a DCC, he or she will be okay with just a vaccine card. It seems incredibly risky for people to take that advice and travel with just a card. To be clear, is it the view of the witnesses that people should really look at travel advisory criteria for the country to which they are travelling, rather than take it for granted that a vaccine card will be accepted? Is that the advice from the Department?