Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
TÁNAISTE LEO VARADKAR has said the government is asking people not to travel home for Christmas but that if feel they have to come home they should “follow the rules”.
Speaking at a briefing this evening, Varadkar said “there is no ban on international travel or people coming home” but that the government is asking people not to make a journey home if they don’t think it is essential.
Both he and Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said it is for people and families themselves to determine if they feel people travelling home is essential.
“It is a judgement call and it is the individual that is best placed to judge that, I think everyone’s family circumstances are different, I don’t think we can define that,” Ryan said this evening.
“It does have to be a case-by-case basis, every individual looking at their assessment of what theist family needs. If you’re back coming back be careful,” he added.
Speaking a number of weeks ago, Varadkar had said that it was “too early” for people to book a flight home this Christmas.
Asked about his comments this evening, the Tánaiste said that incoming travel to Ireland presents the risk of importing cases of Covid-19.
“We’ve signed up to the EU traffic light system, if you look at that map, Ireland, Iceland, Finland, Norway are orange and pretty much everywhere else in Europe, including the kind of places where Irish people tend to live like Britain, France and Germany, are all red. So obviously coming from a red zone to an orange zone like Ireland it is a risk,” he said.
For that reason we’re asking people to avoid non-essential travel, put off their trip. But if they feel they have to come home for personal reasons or for family reasons, then please follow the rules.
The rules the Tánaiste is referring to is the request for international arrivals from outside of ‘green’ countries to restrict their movements when they come to Ireland
At present, people arriving into Ireland from orange, red or grey countries are asked to restrict their movements for 14 days.
This is set to change from Sunday when people will be able to end their movement restriction if they receive a ‘negative/not detected’ PCR test taken at least five days after arriving.
This also applies to countries outside the EU traffic light system. All passengers arriving to Ireland from overseas are still required to complete a Covid-19 Passenger Locator Form.
Speaking about the number of people who may be planning to return to Ireland this Christmas, Ryan said it is “a fraction” of the number of people who would usually travel.
“What we’re seeing is that Irish people are collectively, by and large, making the decision not to travel. The volumes are minimal, a fraction of what they were previously. Everything we’re seeing is that this is going to continue through this period,” he added.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Great to hear that small to medium firms could deliver 20,000 jobs however these small companies need to be paid on time for the services they provide and until legislation is in place to protect them the 20,000 jobs will be lost instead of created.
Spin the year out……could , should, would………
3 point plan . Every bit as good as the Famous 5 point plan .
Yet you let the council increase rates by 100% which is closing down loads of business and creating mass losses in jobs then Kenny the coward ignores his promise to remove upwardly only rents. Why do people put up with these liars. Pure s.c.u.m
Best not to hold one’s breath on job creation. This government is already the worst in living memory -YES- and that includes the last one. They have broken every commitment, displayed unseemly incompetence and cowardice and are devoid of any leadership qualities. They are now pussyfooting with the next €3billion promissory note payment due in February. Taoiseach Kenny is a laughing stock all over Europe. Does anyone really believe the economy will grow and create jobs under this government. The SFA is just a lapdog for IBEC. It should break away from its powerful masters and begin to see the wood from the trees. It’s very masters in IBEC have driven Ireland’s cost base into the stratosphere not to mention its role in the banking collapse – the two principle impediments to job creation. Get a life SFA.
20,000 jobs possibly(these people seldom do pessimistic forecasting).
80-100k emigrating, no figures for increasing disemployment due to austerity, and half a million already wasting away on breadlines to soupkitchens.
This is the ‘government’s’ economic plan?
They could but will they very very unlikely with austerity at the heart of irish policy. Just more BS from government.
The domestic economy is in ruins. If you disagree you are either a blue shirt or in denial. I want this country to escape the gloom but lets be honest so far we are not doing a good job of it.
Well I think these guys should take a walk down any street in the country and see the state of retail Ireland not to mention the business parks etc. it’s not a pretty sight, I genuinely fear for the future of Ireland as one of our every growing population of ex pats…
Would it not be quicker to get DPD to deliver the jobs rather than waiting for these small businesses to get set up .. Surely DPD know the best routes by now …. Eh oh right
I do apologise for my apparent lack of humour … Or do 21 people work for fastway maybe …
have your say