Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1664. To ask the Minister for Health if a student returning from studies in South Africa must undergo a period of hotel quarantine. [34758/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Any person, other than an exempted traveller, who has been in a designated State within 14 days of arriving in Ireland must complete mandatory hotel quarantine.

At present, the Minister for Health has designated South Africa as a designated state. The list of designated states is under constant review.

The Health (Amendment) Act 2021 provides for exemptions from mandatory hotel quarantine. The full list of exemptions are as follows:

- arriving into the State in the course of duty and who hold a valid Annex 3 certificate (ensuring the availability of goods and essential services)

- arriving in the State in the course of duty and are drivers of a heavy goods vehicle

- airline pilots, aircrew, maritime master or maritime crew and who arrive in the State in the course of performing duties

- travelling to the State pursuant to an arrest warrant, extradition proceedings or other mandatory legal obligation

- a member of An Garda Síochána or Defence Forces (or their equivalents from another state) and travelling to the State in course of duty

- travelling to the State for unavoidable, imperative and time-sensitive medical reasons and these reasons are certified by a registered medical practitioner or person with equivalent qualifications outside the State

- having been outside of the State to provide services to or perform the functions of an office holder (under any enactment or the Constitution) or a member of either house of the Oireachtas or the European Parliament

- diplomats and certain other categories of persons entitled to privileges and immunities in the State

The Act also empowers the Minister to prescribe other classes of person who should be exempted. The following is the full list of exemptions implemented since mandatory hotel quarantine went into operation:

- SI 134 of 2021 brought in an exemption for passengers transiting through an Irish port or airport

- SI 181 of 2021 brought in an exemption for athletes competing in events of international standing

- SI 183 of 2021 brought in an exemption for new-born infants born abroad returning to the State together with their families; this was amended by SI 211 of 2021 to better reflect the intention of the measure

- SI 183 of 2021 brought in an exemption for travellers who are fully-vaccinated against Covid-19

- SI 216 of 2021 brought in an exemption for travellers returning to the State after receiving unavoidable, imperative and time-sensitive medical treatment, together with carers or dependants travelling with them

- SI 241 of 2021 brought in an exemption for travellers providing essential services in the State

- SI 366 of 2021 brought an exemption for travellers in possession of a Digital Covid Certificate (DCC) demonstrating that they have been vaccinated, travellers in possession of a DCC providing evidence of recovery from Covid, and travellers with a certificate of recovery issued by a third state where it contains the same information as is contained in a DCC.

Neither the Minister for Health nor the Department of Health 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.

Exemptions are granted by the Border Management Unit (BMU) on arrival at immigration. Passengers need to be able to provide documentation supporting their case for exemption to the immigration officers at the port of entry. If an exemption is not granted, the passenger will be taken to Mandatory Hotel Quarantine.