Written answers

Tuesday, 15 June 2021

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Covid-19 Pandemic

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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670. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the arrangements being made to enable Irish passport holders who are resident in Northern Ireland to avail of the proposed EU Digital Covid Certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31688/21]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The EU Digital Covid Certificate is designed to facilitate the safe free movement of citizens within the EU during the Covid-19 pandemic. It will be valid in all EU Member States, including Ireland, and will be provided by the Member State within which the vaccination or Covid-19 test took place.

Individual Member States will determine how the EU Digital Covid Certificate will be used as part of their national public health measures. Information on how the Certificate will apply in each country will be made available by Member States and on the Re-open EU portal. Under the Regulations, individuals who have been vaccinated or tested in the Member State, who are EU citizens or third country nationals legally in the State, have a right to be issued these certificates on request.

Over the coming weeks the Department of An Taoiseach, the Department of Health and the HSE, Department of Justice, OGCIO, Department of Foreign Affairs, Government Information Services, and Department of Transport will continue to develop the technical aspects and supporting operational procedures, legal instruments, and a communications campaign required to support the Certificate system.

With regard to persons not vaccinated in the State, including EU citizens vaccinated in Northern Ireland, the Regulation gives the option to issue vaccination certificates to persons vaccinated elsewhere, with EMA approved vaccines, upon receipt of appropriate proof.

Currently, the main development focus is on the delivery of the obligations of the EU Regulation with respect of persons who received a vaccination or a test in the State. The possibility of providing vaccination certificates to persons not vaccinated here, including Irish passport holders vaccinated in Northern Ireland, will be kept under consideration.

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