Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What we have done, and we have made it very clear, is there is an obligation on the Department to provide travel advice to people who choose to travel, which is not consistent with what the Government is asking people. The Government message is very clear that people should holiday at home this year. We are not encouraging, supporting or funding people to go on holidays abroad. If people choose to travel I have an obligation to rate countries on the basis of risk level in order that people can take the appropriate precautions. That is what we have done with regard to travel advice, whereby the so-called green list is a list of destinations that do not pose a greater risk from Covid than is posed here in Ireland. The overall message from the Government is very clear that people should holiday at home with their families this year. That is the safest thing to do.

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