Results 16,901-16,920 of 26,148 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Broadband Infrastructure: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank all of the witnesses. This has been a very informative session for us. We have held various meetings on broadband. NBI and Eir have appeared before us. Our next port of call will be based on the members' recommendations. The mobile phone and broadband task force has been in existence since 2016. We will be looking to bring the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, in. Senator Dooley made...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Today, we will discuss Ireland's implementation of the EU digital Covid certificate. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Ms Liz Canavan, assistant secretary, Department of the Taoiseach, Mr. Muiris O'Connor, assistant secretary, Department of Health, Ms Maeve Brett, principal officer, Department of Justice, Mr. Phil O'Flaherty, principal officer, Department of Transport, Mr. Damien...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Ms Canavan for that very comprehensive statement. We also thank RTÉ, whose news channel is covering the proceedings live because it is of such importance to every person living in Ireland as to how the digital Covid certificate will be rolled out and work in practice. We will now proceed to members' questions and there are people in a group to deal with all the queries. Deputy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will move to my questions. I want to get clarity on a point from Ms Canavan. The Department expects the app to be up and running by 19 July. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Some 160,000 people who were vaccinated at a vaccination centre might have received the email today and printed it out or received the letter in the post. Can we take it then that they can take that physical piece of paper and travel abroad with that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Are there any complications with other countries?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is the Department still aiming to have the app up and running by 19 July?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: When does Ms Canavan expect would be the latest date that the app would be up and running? We know everyone is digitally driven now and that provides a degree of security. When does Ms Canavan expect that to be and what would be the latest date? The intention is to have it up and running by 19 July.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Are we looking at an earliest date of 19 July, which is next Monday, and a latest date of Friday, which would be 24 July?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I also want to ask Ms Canavan about the issue with the common travel area and the UK. There are issues that the public will be aware of around the Delta variant. Will the common travel area be treated any differently to the EU? We also are getting a lot of queries from countries such as the US and Australia as we have a lot of Irish people living there. Can Ms Canavan elaborate on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: The public looking in will want certain questions answered. The digital Covid certificate will prove that a person either has a vaccination, has recovered from Covid within the previous six months, or has a negative PCR test taken 70 hours prior to arrival. That is within the EU. Does the exact same situation apply in respect of the UK from 19 July?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Ms Canavan will appreciate that there is speculation and media commentary that the common travel area with the UK will be treated in the exact same way as with the EU common travel area with the Covid certificate after 19 July. Ms Canavan is saying something slightly different here so we need clarification on that area. Can Mr. O'Connor give us that clarification?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Before Mr. O'Connor goes there, I want to ask who will make the decision and when that decision will be made?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Anyone who is fully vaccinated from 19 July will be able to come to Ireland without having to quarantine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: What about someone who has recovered from Covid in the previous six months or someone with a negative PCR test coming from the UK after 19 July? Has that been clarified? Who will make that decision and when will it be made?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Okay. That is a matter we will be taking up with the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, tomorrow as it is critical that point is properly clarified. Lastly, with respect to the US, Australia, New Zealand and non-EU countries of that type, what will be the situation post 19 July?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: What of people who have recovered from Covid in the previous six months and the requirement for a negative PCR test 72 hours prior to arrival? Is that yet to be decided upon for those countries?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Ms Canavan. We will move back to Senator Dooley.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: These are matters we will take up with the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, tomorrow.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate: Discussion (13 Jul 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: We move to a Sinn Féin slot and Deputy Ó Murchú.