Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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1644. To ask the Minister for Health if Irish citizens returning from green list countries must quarantine upon arrival in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34577/21]

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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1645. To ask the Minister for Health if Irish citizens returning from green list countries via red list countries must quarantine upon arrival in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34578/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1644 and 1645 together.

Mandatory hotel quarantine is a legal obligation for any person, except an exempt traveller, who has been in a designated state within 14 days of their arrival in Ireland.

This applies to all passengers who have been in a designated state and includes persons travelling from, or transiting through, designated states within 14 days of their arrival in Ireland, regardless of nationality or residence.

Mandatory hotel quarantine is also required for any person, except an exempt traveller, who arrives in Ireland from a non-designated state but who does not have a relevant test result. A 'relevant test result' is either:

- a negative RT PCR test result taken no more than 72 hours before you arrive in the State or

- a positive RT PCR test result from a test taken no less than 11 days and no more than 180 days before your arrival

The Health (Amendment) Act 2021 provides for exemptions from mandatory hotel quarantine. If you are not an exempt traveller, you must complete mandatory hotel quarantine at a designated facility.

Passengers who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 and have the documents to confirm this are not 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.