Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1543. To ask the Minister for Health the reason hotel residents are exempt from the 8:00 pm rule for hospitality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63531/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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While guidance for this sector is a matter for my colleagues, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, I can inform the Deputy that the measures in place for overnight hotel residents have been differentiated throughout the pandemic in recognition of the practical requirement that those resident in hotels have access to dining facilities. 

Hotels have remained open throughout the pandemic, including at Level 5 for essential non-social and non-tourist purposes. Fáilte Ireland has published significant guidance for hotels which can be found here

failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Hotels-and-Guesthouses.pdf

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1544. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered the implications of the PCR and antigen test requirements for persons with Covid recovery certificates travelling into the country within 90 days of receipt of their certificate; and the rules in place for those with a recovery certificate who may be unable to get a clear PCR or antigen test result within 90 days of receiving the certificate. [63542/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Since 6th January overseas travellers to Ireland holding accepted vaccination or recovery certificates may arrive to Ireland without any additional pre-departure test results.

Under the current travel rules, passengers without accepted proof of vaccination, or accepted proof of recovery from COVID-19 must show evidence of a negative / not-detected PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to arriving in Ireland.

In cases whereby a person is unable to present evidence of a negative/not-detected RT-PCR test prior to travel due to persistently positive RT-PCR test after recovery, then a positive RT-PCR result which is no less than 11 days prior to the date on which the person arrives in the State and no more than 180 days prior to the date on which the person so arrives, will be accepted.

Travel restrictions are kept under close consideration due to the evolving epidemiological circumstances.