Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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84. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a proposal (details supplied) to use Covid-19 medical detention dogs at airports and ports, following the roll-out of the testing method in Helsinki, Finland, and the research on the method being conducted in other countries, will be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27740/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I note that the same question was asked of the Minister for Health in May, and he had no plans at the time. I am not aware of any change in that position. My Department also has no plans for use of dogs in the detection of Covid-19 in Airports and Ports.

Under the plan for living with Covid-19, it is proposed that Ireland will broadly support consideration of the European Commission proposals on a common EU approach to International Travel and COVID-19 restrictions. The EU proposal would see mapping of European states by the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) based upon agreed relevant Epi data, and a proportionate approach to international travel restrictions favouring testing as a means to avoid 14-day quarantine.

The EU proposal is still under consideration by European Member States. Consideration of any possible testing arrangements for international travel must be cognisant of the resources and capacity available in the health sector for the testing and tracing of the general public, of symptomatic patients, and serial testing of high-risk groups or workplace environments.

My Department is continuing to engage with colleagues across Government, including with Department of Health and the HSE, concerning international travel policy in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.