Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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283. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the person or body that made the decision preventing flights out of Ireland to EU states; whether it was a Government decision or whether such a decision is at the discretion of the airlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32617/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Irish Government has not adopted any form of flight restrictions during the Covid crisis. The suspension of flights throughout this period can be due to the adoption of flight restrictions in other jurisdictions; and/or commercial decisions made by the respective air operators.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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284. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration has been given to allowing Irish citizens to return home without restricting their movements for 14 days if they present a negative Covid-19 rapid airport test before boarding their flights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32775/20]

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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289. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given to Covid-19 testing on arrival here from abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33371/20]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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323. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) on aligning the travel policy here with that in the EU; the status of same; his views on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32922/20]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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352. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline the EU's traffic light travel advisory system as recommended by the ECDC; the way in which it will operate in Ireland from 8 November 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33617/20]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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377. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for Covid-19 testing at ports and airports; and the timeframe to which he is working. [33916/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 284, 289, 323, 352 and 377 together.

The EU adopted a new coordinated approach to travel measures at the meeting of the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 13 October 2020. As set out in the Living with COVID-19 Framework, the Government broadly supported this effort to improve coordination within the Union and has made clear our intention to align with the new Recommendation.

Last week the Government made a decision on the approach to implementing the EU “traffic light” system of categorising countries according to controls over the Covid-19 virus that was adopted on 13 October.

Specifically the Government decided that persons arriving from green list locations can enter the State without the requirement to restrict movement or undergo testing for Covid-19. The default for persons arriving from orange or red locations should be to restrict movement for 14 days, with the exception of those exempted. The requirement on those arriving from orange locations to restrict movement could be dis-applied if they have negative test result of an appropriate pre-departure test carried out by an authorised entity (specific requirements to be confirmed). While the current requirement to restrict movement for 14 days following arrival from a red region remains until further notice, the Government agreed that as soon as practicable, passengers arriving from red regions should have the option to dis-apply the requirement to restrict movement following a negative result from an approved Covid-19 test taken five days after arrival. The same restrictions that apply for arrivals from red locations will apply for arrivals from grey locations.

A senior group is to report back to Government by the 10th of November with a plan to establish a regime for testing for arrivals from red list regions.

For as long as the ECDC continues to report in data for the UK, that arrivals from Great Britain be subject to the same traffic light categorisation and restrictions as set out above for EU countries. An approach to third countries, notably the US, will be kept under review – for the present, arrivals from the US will be treated on the same basis as arrivals from red/grey regions.

The proposed measures for arrivals from orange, red and grey regions, once implemented, will be reviewed fortnightly.

Passengers travelling to Ireland will be asked to confirm before boarding that they are not symptomatic for Covid-19, nor have they tested positive in the last 14 days; that they are not a close contact of a confirmed case of Covid-19, and have not been advised by doctors to restrict their movements. If the answer to any of these questions is ‘yes’; the passenger should not be permitted passage.

The Government also agreed to maintain the position that no restrictions will be applied to International Transport workers. In addition and, in accordance with the EU Recommendation, travellers with an essential function or need should not be required to undergo restricted movement or testing while exercising this essential function.

The Passenger Locator form will remain in place for all persons arriving into the State regardless of the colour location they are arriving from. Essential transport workers will continue to be exempt from completing the form.