Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is mandatory to correctly complete the passenger locator form and we are looking at further potential mandatory obligations. As far back as the summer I spoke to the Northern Ireland Executive about the dangers of travel. We did not have the same exponential increase in the Republic as they did in the North after the summer because we were very slow in reopening travel in this country. I took much criticism at times for not reopening travel more liberally during the summer.

The story for the Republic right through to now is that we are the best-performing country in the European Union in keeping the virus spread down. That did not happen by accident. It happened because we have taken a conservative approach, relative to other countries, in reopening society and the economy.

Travel this Christmas will be more than 90% down on last year. It is the reality. That said, extra measures will be taken at airports not just with passenger locator forms but with follow-up checks with those who have travelled in to ensure people are residing where they said they would or have notified a change of address. Random checks will be rolled out across airports and ports by immigration officials, who will select a proportion of appropriate arrivals to see whether they have supporting documentation for either essential travel or a negative Covid-19 PCR test in their possession.

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