Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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2465. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has assessed the impact on agri-food exports and live exports and the transportation thereof, of placing Italy, France and Germany on the quarantine category list; and if he will publish that assessment. [18623/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Mandatory quarantine requirements apply to all persons who have been overseas in the 14-days prior to entering Ireland. Arrivals from designated a list of ‘Category 2’ countries are subject to mandatory hotel quarantine. There are some limited exemptions to the requirement to complete mandatory quarantine. These exemptions are clearly set out on the relevant section of the Government web-site www.gov.ie.

Having regard to the exemptions applying to persons providing essential supply chain services, such as international transport workers in possession of an Annex 3 Certificate, it is considered that this is sufficient to ensure the continuation of Irish agri-food and live exports. However, the Department continues to monitor the broader situation and any market impacts of COVID-19.

These national quarantine exemptions are consistent with EU Commission recommendations that transport staff should be exempt from any travel ban across any border and from testing and quarantine requirements when they are travelling across a border to and from a vessel, vehicle, or aircraft. To ensure a coordinated approach at EU level, the Commission has also issued guidance to Member States governing the operation of a ‘Green Lanes’ system whereby border crossings remain open to freight vehicles carrying goods without undue delays caused by checks and tests.