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THE CABINET HAS signed off on strict new mandatory quarantine measures for all arrivals from 20 countries.
The quarantine measures will apply for arrivals from Brazil, the UAE, Austria and 17 African countries.
It also applies for passengers who arrive into Ireland with no negative PCR test with them.
Persons arriving will have to stay at designated hotels for up to 14 days. Flouting of these rules is expected to met with a heavy fine.
Breaching mandatory quaratnine will result in a €4,000 fine or one month in prison for the first offence. The second offence will result in a fine of €4,500 and /or one month in prison, and in the case of the third offence it’s €5,000 and /or six months in prison.
Legislation is expected to be brought before the Dail and the Seanad next week, before it comes into effect in March.
Opposition TDs have said the legislation is “full of holes” as it only applies to certain countries when there are different Covid-19 variants present in other countries.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said that the government was following advice from the ECDC and chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan in its proposals.
“The CMO has designated 20 countries,” Ryan said. “If that has to be widened or extended, then we will do it.”
Health Stephen Donnelly previously told the Cabinet that a high level implementation group will work out the operational details, such as how to deal with instances of non-compliance, when people arrive into Ireland without having arranged their quarantine in advance.
It is understood that the group will also be tasked with establishing options for a system to handle advanced reservation, with a focus on private providers – the preference is thought to be for an outfit that can provide transportation as well as hotel accommodation.
It has long been mooted that private security companies will be tasked with looking after the facilities, however, Cabinet was also told on Tuesday that they would have no enforcement powers in detailing someone should the decide to leave the hotel.
In that case, gardaí would be called to attend for breaches in the Covid-19 regulations, the the AGSI has said they have yet to be informed of how operationally it will work.
It is expected that the hotels will provide full board in en suite rooms, with laundry and cleaning services also provided.
Persons staying in the facility will have to take Covid tests during their stay.
Despite the measure being announced a number of weeks ago, the legislation to underpin the mandatory isolation of people in hotels has only been finalised in recent days.
With reporting from Christina Finn
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She was good. Fair play to her
@JusticeForJoe: Psaki, I mean. Best of luck to the newcomer
@JusticeForJoe: Yes, Jen was very smart, the Republicans couldn’t handle her.
@Al Fresco: chucky was no Kayliegh
@Al Fresco: The Republicans can’t handle anything. The “proud to be thick” mentality they have is pervasive here now too. The comments section here is awash with the anti intellectual. It’s all so f@(king depressing. Dim is in fashion.
@Vonvonic: Correct. The same formula is active in Britain and Australia. I hold Murdoch responsible for a lot of it.
@Vonvonic: all republicans dim, all democrats smart? Simple Simon stuff from Vonvonic.
Do people really swallow this box ticking nonsense.
@Moss Cotter: yes. It’s a sign of “progress” by people whom obsess over and measure everything through the lens of colour. I.e racists
@Moss Cotter: cmere moss one has to start somewhere.Every little helps. But I do see yer point.
@Moss Cotter: Yes. Empower the underprivileged. You don’t buy it because you’re sad.
@Paul Gorry: He doesn’t have a point. It’s just misery.
@Vonvonic: very true.
@Moss Cotter: the rationale your using is making the assumption that she has got the job because she is black and openly LGBT, is it not possible that she was the best person for the job who happens to be black and openly LGBT?
To assume the latter says a fair amount about your point of view and been honest doesn’t paint you in a great light.
@Colm O’ Shea: sorry to assume the former…
@Moss Cotter: it’s hardly justbox ticking when she worked in the roll of Deputy and has years of experience. Representation does matter however, and it is a positive that she was selected for this role as an underrepresented minority who was also an excellent candidate for the role. I think it’s very easy to get tired of these ‘box ticking’ exercises when most people you see in positions of power/public facing look like you. But when they don’t?
@Jensen Bhroin: Representation matters but the sanctimonious fanfair around it doesn’t.
have your say