Dáil debates

Wednesday, 10 February 2021

Covid-19 (Transport and Travel): Statements

 

2:25 pm

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy O'Rourke for his questions. This is the most serious issue and one on which we take and follow public health advice. The public health advice will come later this afternoon as to on which additional countries we, similar to the UK, should consider applying much stricter restrictions. We will implement that advice with full speed.

I have been in regular contact with the UK transport minister and colleagues in the North - it does not have a commensurate minister for transport - to ensure that we co-operate and co-ordinate as best we can. I will speak to the UK minister again later this afternoon when I have details of our public health advice so that we can inform each other of what measures we intend to take. There will be no holding back or unwillingness to take decisions.

I agree with the Deputy that, in the coming months at this critical moment when we have to get the vaccinations done and reduce the Covid numbers, it would be unfair if we at home were restricting our movements and our lives in many different ways when non-essential travel was seen to be facilitated. The Deputy is right about the fines being introduced and increased. They will be increased again should there be any evidence that they are not proving to be a restraint. We would also consider other measures should such non-essential travel continue.

Looking back over the past year and an analysis of what has happened in various countries within the European Union, which is our peer group, the level of reduction in travel into our airports and ports has just about exceeded every other country. In this as in other areas, the Irish people have seen strong measures to restrict travel. According to the latest figures from yesterday, the level of travel into the majority of our airports other than Dublin Airport had seen a 100% reduction because there was not a single passenger. Dublin Airport had seen a 98% reduction. I acknowledge that may need to be reduced further. We need some flights and ferries because we need cargo and essential workers, and there will be a small number of cases in which people have to undertake essential travel. We have to facilitate that while providing for and listening to the public health advice.

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