Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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518. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether the potential introduction of a Covid-19 vaccine certificate, vaccine pass or immunity certificate to govern access to services, goods or employment would amount to discrimination against sections of the population; his further views on whether vaccine certificate systems at a national level would lead to a two-tier Ireland, marginalizing those who cannot access, cannot medically receive or may simply object to receiving a vaccine and that this would be an infringement on the fundamental rights of Irish citizens to exercise self-governance without coercion over their own bodily autonomy; if he will address the matter given that he failed to address the issue of potential discrimination in response Parliamentary Question No. 1911 of 21 April 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22659/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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It is important to differentiate between a vaccine certificate, the purpose of which is to provide evidence that a particular vaccine has been administered to a certain individual on a certain date, with the notion of an immunity certificate which might exempt people from public health measures on the basis that the person is purportedly immune to SARS-CoV-2.

As well as providing a record of vaccination, vaccine certificates also facilitate follow up of adverse events. The HSE is planning for the production of vaccine certificates at part of its implementation planning for a COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Immunity certificates are problematic on a number of grounds. It is not yet clear if the proposed vaccines for COVID-19 actually stop people getting the virus. It is also not clear whether the thresholds for protective immunity are the same in all groups e.g. older persons or those who are immunosuppressed.

On 17 March 2021, the European Commission published its proposal for a Regulation to introduce a ‘Digital Green Certificate’ to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU during the pandemic.

This proposed regulation lays down a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable certificates to facilitate people’s fundamental right to move and reside freely within the EU. Possession of a Digital Green Certificate shall not be a precondition to exercise free movement rights. Careful consideration is being given to the proposal and its many policy, ethical, infrastructural and operational implications across a number of sectors.

Vaccine/immunity certificates can be used in ways that may conceivably both restrict and promote the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Department is currently examining the impact such certificates could have on public trust and solidarity, as well as their potential for discrimination and stigmatisation of certain individuals/groups in society. Questions of national as well as international equity are being considered, as are the privacy implications of introducing such digital certificates. The ethical and human rights issues attendant to this issue will be considered as part of the broader policy position.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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519. To ask the Minister for Health the protections in place for children who are required to quarantine under section 38B of the Health Act 1947 (as amended); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22666/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Mandatory hotel quarantine has been introduced as one element of Ireland’s public health measures to combat the transmission of COVID-19 variants of concern.

The Health Act 1947, as amended, provides that all persons arriving in Ireland from a designated state, or having travelled through a designated state in the previous 14 days, are required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a designated facility unless they are an exempted traveller under the Act. All applicable travellers must reserve and pay for a place in mandatory hotel quarantine.

Unaccompanied minors who have travelled from or through a designated state in the 14 days prior to arrival in Ireland will not be permitted to enter a mandatory quarantine facility alone. To board a flight/ferry to Ireland, an unaccompanied minor must produce a negative RT-PCR test within the last 72 hours and their passport.

Their adult guardian can enter mandatory hotel quarantine with them, however, if this is not possible a responsible adult collecting the unaccompanied minor must sign a guardian release letter undertaking in writing the legal responsibility for ensuring that, the unaccompanied minor, will complete the mandatory 14-day quarantine at a specified address and that it is possible to effectively isolate at the said address.In instances where an unaccompanied minor is arriving in Ireland to attend boarding school, a school representative must present themselves to Irish Immigration authorities with proper identification and on arrival, they will fill in, sign and return the Guardian Release Letter to the Irish immigration official. It is a criminal offence to give misleading or fraudulent information to an Irish immigration official.

Arrangements are also in place with Tusla (the Child and Family Agency) to provide suitable accommodation for any unaccompanied child arriving from designated states who is required to complete their mandatory 14-day quarantine under Tusla's care.

As of 17th April, passengers who are fully vaccinated and have the documents to confirm this are no longer required to complete mandatory hotel quarantine on arrival in Ireland. Dependents, including children, will also be exempted from the requirement to complete mandatory hotel quarantine in this instance. Please note that the 4 EMA approved vaccines currently accepted have specific definitions for when a person would be considered ‘fully vaccinated’.

Passengers who are fully vaccinated and exempt from hotel quarantine are still subject to other travel restrictions, such as the need to provide a negative pre-departure PCR test and complete a period of self-quarantine at home or wherever specified in their passenger locator form.

Neither I as Minister for Health nor my Department have a role in decisions relating to whether individual persons must enter mandatory quarantine or whether individual persons are exempted travellers. All such decisions are to be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

Further information can be accessed on www.gov.ie/quarantine.