Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputies Cronin and Wynne. We will respectively take seven minutes, four minutes and four minutes. If the Minister does not mind, I will ask some questions and request a response, and we might go back and forth.

My first question concerns the Covid-19 checks and the controls at our ports and airports, particularly the latter. We know that our airports have never been quieter. Passenger numbers at Dublin Airport were down by 57% in March, and possibly by as much as 90% in all Irish airports last month. Despite these low passenger numbers, the current system of Covid-19 checks and controls, including the public health passenger locator form, has proven entirely inadequate. It is reported that approximately one third of passengers do not fill out the form and a further one third do not answer follow-up calls. We know that Ryanair wants to resume 40% of flights from 1 January. This could lead to significantly increased passenger numbers at our airports at a time when the citizens of Ireland are supposed to be staying within 20 km of our homes. We also know that the European Commission is today publishing a strategy paper on resuming leisure travel in a safe and co-ordinated manner. Will the Minister acknowledge that the current system of checks and controls at our ports and airports is not fit for purpose? Will he assure people that public health advice, and not the commercial interests of airlines, the European Commission or anybody else, will determine transport policy at ports and airports at this time? Will he outline the measures that will be introduced to ensure the very highest standards of Covid-19 checks and controls at our ports and airports as we progress through the different phases of relaxation? Are protocols being developed? Are temperature checks being considered? What about additional powers for the Garda? What are the plans for the 14-day period of isolation? Is the Minister working with colleagues in the North to ensure that these protocols apply to all ports and airports on the island of Ireland?

See this speech in context