Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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502. To ask the Minister for Health if there are plans to provide access to the EU digital Covid certificate for persons under 18 years of age who are resident in Northern Ireland, as is already the case for persons aged 18 years and over; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62448/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The EU Digital COVID Certificate is a document which is issued to help facilitate the safe and free international movement of people across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ireland is currently accepting applications for vaccination certificates from Irish citizens vaccination in third countries in line with Article 8 of the EU Regulation. Currently, Irish passport holders, 18 years of age or older, who have reliable proof a vaccination regime completed in Northern Ireland with a vaccine product authorised for use in Ireland, can apply for an EU Digital COVID Certificate online at covidcertificateportal.gov.ie.

On the 28 October 2021 the UK was awarded and equivalence decision meaning that COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates issued by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in accordance with the system entitled “UK COVID Certificates” shall, for the purpose of facilitating the right of free movement within the Union, be considered as equivalent to those issued in accordance with EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation.

As such, vaccination certificates issued in Northern Ireland, in accordance with the system entitled “UK COVID Certificates”, are now considered as equivalent to EU Digital COVID Certificates without having to apply through the Irish portal.