Ms Deirdre Ní Fhallúin:

The wait times on the helpline are very low at under one minute generally and we normally reply to emails within 24 hours. I want to clarify that while we are responsible for advice to citizens on outbound travel, we co-operate very closely with the Department of Health to ensure that we give citizens the correct information in regard to inward travel. We deliver that through our citizen contact in Ireland via our helpline and our email address, but also through our network of missions abroad. We push messages on the latest public health travel requirements and restrictions for inward travel out through our network of missions. The latter share it on social media in order to make sure that the Irish people abroad who are planning to travel home for Christmas are aware of the latest rules.