Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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842. To ask the Minister for Health the reason Covid-19 testing units have not been opened at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26607/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland supports efforts to find a coordinated approach to balancing free movement and travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. It remains the responsibility of each Member State to enact the measures it sees fit for the protection of public health. However, a coordinated approach is necessary in order to limit the spread of the virus while at the same time keeping restrictions to the free movement of persons and goods to the necessary minimum.

We are working closely with the European Commission and other members states of the EU to agree a common approach to international travel. This includes consideration of the need to ensure that the establishment of any travel-related testing is effective in controlling transmission of the disease and does not impact negatively on the testing and tracing of symptomatic patients and serial testing of high-risk groups or workplace environments as recommended by NPHET from time to time.