Results 7,661-7,680 of 26,032 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I apologise to the witnesses for the delay but there was a vote in the Seanad at 1.30 p.m. I thank them for their forbearance. Apologies have been received from Senator Craughwell and Deputy Duncan Smith. The purpose of this meeting is to engage with officials from the Departments of Transport, Health, Foreign Affairs and Justice to discuss Covid testing for international travel into and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Mr. Towey for his presentation. I call Mr. O'Connor from the Department of Health to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Mr. O'Connor for that. I call Ms Ní Fhallúin from the Department of Justice to make her opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I invite Ms Oonagh Buckley to make her opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I know the Department of Transport was in discussion with the airlines about pre-departure checking of Covid tests - antigen tests taken 48 hours prior to departure and PCR tests up to 72 hours prior to departure. Has the Department had those discussions and has an agreement been reached with the airlines that they will check pre-departure tests before flights depart for Ireland from various...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Could a situation arise where passengers could board a flight coming to Ireland without being checked by the airline?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: My main question is whether there are any penalties for airlines that allow passengers to board and come to Ireland without a negative PCR or antigen test?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is that not a weakness? There is that casual worry, in terms of people coming into Ireland, without a negative PCR or antigen test when boarding a flight.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: This has been set up with the Omicron variant in mind and not having knowledge of it. What controls are in place for someone who has boarded a flight without a negative PCR or antigen test? Is this a matter for justice, health, transport or foreign affairs? What are the controls in place to ensure that person does not get off of a flight with the Omicron variant and infect the Irish population?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will go to Ms Buckley on that. She carries out the testing on the border control, correct? She referred to the fact that in more recent days there have been situations where people have been detected without having the requisite documentation. I presume that is a negative PCR or antigen test and they have been referred to the Garda. Could she elaborate on that? What will be the spot...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: These were people who did not have a negative PCR or antigen test, correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: How is a false test determined?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: What happens to those 100 people in terms of testing? How many of them came up as positive?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: If someone is caught coming in without a negative PCR or antigen test, what are the penalties for prosecution under that heading?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Are there any situations where someone would arrive into Ireland without a negative PCR or antigen test and is there any other process for that, bar being referred to An Garda Síochána?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: They self-isolate?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: They have to take a test within 36 hours?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: You never considered doing an antigen test on the spot when these people come in, prior to allowing them to self-quarantine?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: For example, let us say a family with a mother and father and three children were coming back to Ireland for Christmas and it is something they had been looking to do for a long period of time. It is my understanding that children under the age of 11 do not have to get tested. Let us say one of the children is 14 and that child comes up as positive on the antigen test. Maybe it is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: In the case of an individual who gets Covid and tests positive in a PCR test carried in the country of residence at that time, as long as the result is positive ten days before he or she arrives in Ireland, that will be regarded as meeting the requirements.