Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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847. To ask the Minister for Health if he will publish a letter from his Department to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, ECDC, seeking assurances that processes are in place to ensure continued quality and consistency in the provision of advices; if a reply has been received to the letter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45019/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is advised that the relevant correspondence, which issued from my Department to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on 9th December 2020, has been published on the Department of Health website and can be viewed here:

A reply to this correspondence was received. It is being prepared for publication and will be published on the Department of Health website in the coming days.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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848. To ask the Minister for Health the other EU and EEA member states that share the concerns of his Department regarding recent advices given by ECDC and European Union Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, on testing and quarantining for air travellers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45020/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On 11 December, Ireland through our representative on the management board of the ECDC wrote to the Chair of the management board of the ECDC to outline serious concerns held by national public health experts with the following publications:

- COVID-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocol Operational guidelines for the management of air passengers and aviation personnel in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic Issue

- ECDC/EASA Guidelines for COVID-19 testing and quarantine of air travellers –Addendum to the Aviation Health Safety Protocol

- Risk of COVID-19 related to end of year festive season

These publications have been discussed by Member States through a number of EU fora including among health experts at the Health Security Committee. Member States have not been surveyed for positions on the concerns expressed by Ireland, but I note the published summary reports of recent HSC meetings, available on the Commission website, and that revised guidelines are anticipated.