Written answers

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Department of Defence

Defence Forces Deployment

Photo of John BradyJohn Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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904. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if members of the Defence Forces returning here from overseas deployment will have to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine upon their return; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19008/21]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Defence Forces personnel arriving into the State in the course of performing duty are classified under the Health Act as exempt travellers and as such are exempt from the requirement to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine. This is in line with S.I. No. 44/2021 - Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Restrictions upon Travel to the State from Certain States) (No. 4) Regulations 2021 which identifies those who are exempt from mandatory hotel quarantine.

Notwithstanding this exempt traveller classification and out of an abundance of caution, personnel repatriating from peace support operations in all instances where a PCR test has not been conducted in advance of repatriation, will be tested on arrival in Ireland. Following a negative test result they will be required to restrict their movements for 14 days after repatriation at their home address or at a military installation. In all cases where personnel repatriating test positive or are not in a position to self-isolate at home they will be afforded the facility to self-isolate in a military installation or other dedicated facility.

The first major rotation of personnel returning to Ireland from a peace support operation since the establishment of mandatory hotel quarantine was completed successfully on the 7th of April when the 62nd Infantry Group returned from the UNDOF mission on the Golan Heights. In this instance, the 121 strong contingent returned to Dublin from the UN mission area on a dedicated charter flight. They were transported directly to a hotel for a PCR COVID-19 test. All personnel in the returning contingent tested negative and went home to undergo a 14 day period of restricted movements.

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