Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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430. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will prioritise the resumption of freedom of travel arrangements heretofore enjoyed under the common travel area subject to the appropriate public health advice in view of the improved Covid-19 situation and given that the United Kingdom operates a robust mandatory quarantine regime and has made significant progress on its vaccination programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26355/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government has had to introduce a range of restrictions on domestic and international travel to address the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. These restrictions were developed on the basis of public health advice and are being amended on the basis of such advice, as conditions allow.  

Our current arrangements are set out on the “Travelling to Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic” and “Travelling outside of Ireland” pages of the gov.ie website. The Government continues to advise against non-essential international travel, including between Ireland and Great Britain.  Those travelling are required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator form; obtain a pre-travel negative RT-PCR test; and to quarantine on arrival in Ireland.  

The Common Travel Area allows for Irish and British citizens to move freely between Ireland and the UK. I wish to see British and Irish citizens travelling in as seamless a manner as possible, as soon this is feasible and safe. The Common Travel Area  plays a vital role in facilitating the way in which Irish and British people live on these islands and it will continue to enhance and nurture our bilateral relationship.  The temporary health measures which currently apply remain consistent with the CTA, in that they apply equally to all passengers arriving into Ireland, including Irish citizens, with only very limited exceptions. 

Ireland and the UK have remained in close contact at political and official level on our respective approaches to managing travel in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, including in relation to our systems for mandatory hotel quarantine.  Liaison takes place on a North-South and East-West basis and has been highly productive.  We will continue to prioritise all aspects of this dialogue in the period ahead.