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TÁNAISTE SIMON COVENEY has said that there is little certainty where airlines will be able to fly to beyond Thursday and Friday, as countries across Europe impose lockdowns and close borders in response to the Covid-19 crisis.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland programme, Coveney stressed that there is significant uncertainly about where flights will actually go in the coming days.
“I don’t think there is any certainly beyond Thursday and Friday where planes will and won’t be flying,” Coveney said.
The government has urged Irish people who wish to return home from Spain to get on a flight before midnight on Thursday.
Spanish airports will remain open for a number of days to facilitate people leaving the country.
Countries across the continent – which has been described as the epicentre of the viral outbreak by the World Health Organisation – have introduced lockdowns, travel restrictions and increased border checks as the virus continues to spread.
In the US, President Donald Trump added Ireland and the UK to European travel ban in a bid to contain the virus.
Coveney said that it was still safe to travel to the UK, but warned that “people should be cautious about travelling at all”.
However, he rejected any suggestion that flights to and from the UK could be grounded.
“We are not planning to close airports and not planning to shut down flights between Ireland and the UK,” he said.
Anyone who returns from Spain and Italy, the worst-affected European countries, will be met by health officials at the airport before having to restrict movements for two weeks.
“Because of the pace of the spread, when people come home from these countries, they will get clear advice,” Coveney said.
“We have an agreement now with the Spanish government,” he said, “to continue a schedule a flights to bring everyone home who wants to come home”.
A Cabinet sub-committee on coronavirus will meet later today to discuss the next steps to tackle the virus.
“We will issue a very clear statement after the Cabinet sub-committee today if there are further decisions,” Coveney said.
“We won’t see any dramatic new decisions made today. You’ll see a refining of previous decisions.”
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Seems to me the UK is the most dangerous place to go at the moment. They are doing nothing to contain it.
@Maureen Monaghan: In fairness as bad as it seems, I think the US to be much worse at the moment.
@Gavin Conran: Why? They are closing all public places, schools etc…. Also they have closed their borders… Why are they much worse than the UK?? Borris Johnson & Co have their heads so far in the sand they can’t pull them out…..
@Gavin Conran: at least new york and LA and shutting pubs and restaurants. The u.k are literally doing nothing.! Everything open business as usual.theyll have a meeting about a meeting today. Meet tomorrow then see on Thursday. SAKE!
@maurolee: it’s a blatant cull !
@maurolee: because there is almost no testing available and no test kits. No one knows what to do if they develop symptoms and many Trumpites (Gov of Oklahoma, Rep Devin Nunes for example)are deliberately advising people to carry on as normal and sharing pics of themselves eating in busy restaurants.
@Maureen Monaghan: they should be insisting that all coming back from the Uk also go on 2 week lockdown- not only is there no containment there little measurement going on. For this reason IMO the Irish government, however difficult it is needs to find a way to close the border with NI.
@Seosamh Snr Nolan: Agreed. There was the great Irish cull in the 1840′s. Attitudes have not changed with the ruling “Elites”. (Elites…..grotesque term).
@Maureen Monaghan: If you look at the figures, the UK is actually containing the virus better than Ireland. Per head of population Ireland has over 34 cases, whereas the UK only has 20. Maybe their way will be seen as better in the long run. It would seem to me that there are a few different methods being used in fighting this thing. Better that than the whole world doing the same thing and it doesn’t work..
cancel all flights with UK since they’re taking no precautions over there…..
@Mr A: is there much point canceling flights when we already have an open border
@Patrick O Connell:
Limitation is better than nothing. Fewer English coming in is better for us. We can’t control NI but we can reduce the number of infected. We’re past containment, it’s all about flattening the curve now.
Full shut down
@John O’Connor: and pull up the draw bridge Behind us for the island of Ireland ! till save to lower it again!
@John O’Connor: What constitutes a “full shut down”?
@John O’Connor: Shut down air travel completely ?
@John O’Connor: it’s well needed, people arent adhering to basic advice and recommendations from the government/medical professions. I for one would fully endorse having the army stationed at supermarkets/chemists to force people to comply. Still cant get my head around children roaming shops with parents etc given the extensive information provided by the hse.
@Bobby wilson: When would you like to see this happen ? You need to be a bit more specific. Up to now the government has been acting on the advice of a ragtag bunch of so-called scientists and so-called medical ‘experts’ to manage this crisis. On top of this our so-called government need to find a balance that not only protects citizens currently in Ireland, but also the 1000′s who are abroad in hotels, hostels plus those who are working on non-resident visas in countries where they are entitled to zero help if their employment ceases. These people need to be brought home. But you have all the answers, Bobby, all the solutions. This is your moment to shine Bobby. You’re country needs you. Tell us what to do.
@Tommy Roche: the situation demands immediate action! Irish citizens and non Irish lives citizens living on the on the Island of Ireland, their lives and health are paramount over anything else! Hard decision will have to be made which will save more life’s in the long run. It’s buying time till new treatments are induced next month and following month’s.to keep people alive till cures and vaccines are available. this unknown virus that we have no immunity too.
@Tommy Roche: the experts in Ireland & the government’s actions are in line with expert opinion in the rest of the world. Unlike the UK experts who are advising the polar opposite of all their colleagues throughout the world. If Boris Johnston was a better leader IMHO, he would be sacking his experts ASAP & finding others whose opinions are in line with their colleagues.
@Annmarie Taylor: I was being sarcastic with regard to the expert opinion our government is receiving. This ‘shut it down now, keep me safe and fcuk the rest of our citizens abroad’ attitude of Bobby and the rest of his zero empathy buddies is sickening. Our government is acting on the best advice available to them and not just medical advice. There are behavioural scientists advising which policies have the best chance of being accepted by the population, which ones will cause panic. It’s all a huge balancing act that all has to come together as a finely tuned plan or cracks will show and it will not work effectively. Numerous times I’ve asked these people to explain what they mean by ‘lock it down now’, how they see people getting food and vital medicines without venturing outside but they never explain. Probably too busy perfecting the fine art of making bog roll and pasta sandwichs and Kitten Soft soup !!
The only people allowed to fly between Ireland and England should have to prove their address. If you live full time in england, stay there. If you are returning home from there, automatic 14 day quarantine, no exceptions. The British are doing the least in the whole of Europe to contain this. Boris and Trump should be joined at the hip
@Sea Graham: Worry about Ireland your own country the brits and the yanks will be OK
@Michael Maher: Due to the land border what they do affects us…
10-12 flights a day were coming into Dublin Airport from Italy for weeks while we knew they were up they creek.
Thousands of people made a scramble to Dublin Airport to get on flights over the weekend to the US.
Thousands came back from Cheltenham.
And thousands more due back from Spain over the coming days.
And we still have thousands coming in from all over the UK every day.
Ah yeah keep the airport open, what could possibly go wrong?
@gerard carey: airport staff should walk out , force the issue
@gerard carey: so what you are saying is Irish people can’t return home
@Sk19: And you’ll obviously be walking out of your job too in solidarity!
@gerard carey: thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands
@Stephen Brady: And thousands more.
@Patrick O Connell: irish people have had plenty of time to return home. Anyone still taking flights out for holidays and work deserve to be stranded.
@Sk19: and will you pay them? Cop on
@Mark: I know people that are retired and went out a month ago and are due to return home, I’m not an expert like you but I reckon they couldn’t tell the future 4 weeks ago like you
@james dimaggio: ya I would , you’ll always get a new job .
@Vlad Eire: how long do you think it will last ?
@gerard carey: All airports staff are on protective notice, expect a shutdown by the end of the week
@Mark: im a doctor preparing to come home to assist with the crisis. do I ‘deserve’ to be stranded while i make my preparations…?
@Sk19: They arent far off it in immigration, mutiny is real close…
@Alan Gee: Get home by thursday or stay where you are, simple really..
@Alan Gee: Obviously it will be essential travel only for doctors etc like yourself
Time for Leo to salvage his legacy
Ask the north to come with us , if they don’t want to we Lock the country , troops on the border,
Nothing in or out only goods
Can anyone start an online petition
@Sk19: if we put troops on the border, the shinners would go into meltdown
@Sk19: The virus doesn’t recognise borders. What we need is for the useless NI Assembly to stop acting like a residents association and start acting like a government. We need Sinn Fein, DUP, Ulster Unionists, SDLP, Alliance and any others to start pulling together for the sake of everyone on this island.
@Sk19: kop on will you we send tons of milk to the North everyday to be processed and sent back across the border, same with beef to be slaughtered, the cross border initiative is at stake here with your attitude… I’m sure the good folk in the north have the brawn to practice social distancing etc…. their schools will close soon when the parents will put Arlene under pressure. Teaching Unions in the North and Britain need to lobby for the schools and universities to close too ..
@Paul O’Sullivan: you realise good
A still have to come in and out ? When a border closes they keep supply chains open .
@Paul O’Sullivan: goods are exempted obviously ,
If ever there was a flight that needed to be shut down at this time it is between the UK and Ireland.
My doc told me she seen dozens with symptoms but tests were not available up until now for people who didn’t leave the country… When are we going to start getting real about this…I know 1 guy who is pretty sure he had it last week but wasn’t allowed be tested, self quarantined himself…Strikes me as it could already be rampant…
They’ll still be flying to Belfast. Let’s all go up there for a pint. BUSINESS as usual as SF continue to take salaries and expenses from three PARLIAMENTS.
Get out of that Executive now. How long more are you going to sit on your hands. Its last Friday since you flip flopped from your 100% support for DUP/ Tory position.
Ger out of that Executive now.
Up theante. Show some leadership.
@David Glynn: so you keep saying. Why don’t our leaders down here just close all borders. There isnt much we can do about decisions that are made in Westminister but plenty can be done about decisions made here. Why not repeat that instead of banging on about SF every chance you get?
@Derek Lyster: Because he’s clinically obsessed
@Derek Lyster: Because it’s physically impossible to patrol the border. Instead it should be easier to get the NI Assembly to see sense and realise that they are physically attached to the rest of this island not to Britain.
Pressure needs to be brought to bear on Arlene Foster to do the right thing.
@Derek Lyster: Stay on the point
No other issue matters now
And think of your own family and drop your deluded diehard loyalthy. Scotland has devolved responsibility for Health . Northern Ireland for Health and Social security.
First Minister Sturgeon assumed the authority to ban mass gatherings. My family can’t wait for Johnson and Foster to give the nod and shutdown. World Health Organisation opposed to mass gatherings.
SF flip flopping. Failure to act with good authority from the start. Temporary abstention from Executive essential.
I am banging on about our safety in the Republic and the reckless endangerment we are being exposed to.
Like that or lump it.
@David Glynn: the only people i am loyal too is my family. N.I. is very very different to the rest of the UK aswell you know. Both SF and DUP hate each other. What is SF walking out of the assembly going to achieve? The reality of it is that our gov can largely control who enters our country and that’s what our concern should be not using every chance available to have a dig at SF so get over yourself. Do what you can to protect your family and stay safe.
@David Glynn: I cant help but imagine you as a christian brother shouting down from the pulpit when I read your comments.
@David Glynn: The irony of it all amazes me. All the people screaming how imperative it was not to have a border imposed by Brexit, are suddenly demanding a border. It only goes to show how scared people are becoming. I am fed up reading comments blaming Arlene Foster and Boris Johnson for everything happening here. Ireland’s leaders have the power to decide who we let in and out. It’s them you should be screaming at!! How other countries deal with the virus is there business. It’s up to us to deal with it our way. Stand up and be counted before it’s too late.
@Derek Lyster: Correct politics has no place in this mess, we all need to work together
@David Glynn: David the country is facing massive issues and all you want to do is score points with political nonsese, jezz man have a break ffs….
@David Glynn: why don’t you f.o. with yer s.f. comments on every thread? I’m no shinner but gettin’ sick from reading your repetitive posts
@Stephen Matthews: Tories have zero morals…David is a pure bred tory
Non essential flights as well as shipping stopped immediatel, as should have been done two weeks ago.
Not aligned to any political party but pretty glad we have the old government still at the wheel, now maybe SF would be great in a crisis but this crowd certainly make decisions
Biggest problem with this virus, and time will tell,if China is to be believed,or will they get a second wave or new out break
Then we are in for a long and sustained fight against this horrible virus
I think both Covid-19 and Brexit have shown Coveney to be a great leader in my opinion. Comes across very well and factual and understands the public’s concerns
Majority of the flights in to this country are from the UK. Why on earth would we allow them flights go ahead when the UK is doing nothing to contain the virus? Why close our pubs etc and then let any Tom dick or Harry fly in from the UK……..
I think it’s reasonable to suggest a time frame for our people to come home, realistically we need to be restricting flights to essential cargo/supplies only, problem is we dont have an all Island approach, so Belfast would need to be on the same page
Are planes not worse spreaders of this virus than pubs?
Regardless of what you think about the approach of GB who can honestly say the Irish/European approach has been better. Europe is now the epicentre of the Covid19 pandemic so their policies obviously have not worked! The spread of the virus is out of control in Ireland and Europe. Ireland had a chance at the very start to stop the virus entering the country but instead, on a daily basis, the government and its medical advisers informed us of the increasing numbers of infected people coming in from Italy. Did they stop flights from Italy? No! Did they quarantine people from Italy? No! Did they restrict people coming back from Italy in any way? No! Now it’s too late! This bull crap about stopping flights from the UK is laughable. It’s here, it’s spreading, it’s out of control.
Please sign http://chng.it/FtdB9XLW
@sandy cummings: Done!
hi boys
waiting here… let’s play?
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my nickname Annaaxx
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When all of this hysteria is over, China must be held accountable for creating this health crisis in the first place. They must not go unpunished.
The question must also be asked: How has the European continent managed to make itself the ”epicentre of the viral outbreak”, as described by the World Health Organisation? Is the inflexibly-held tenet of the EU, that of open borders and the “free movement of people”, to blame?
While this carry on continues and there is no control over travel, we are not supporting our front line people working ridiculous hours and putting themselves at risk to help us. https://twitter.com/stereophonics/status/1238976755022680065?s=19
I seen a CIE bus unloading dozens of tourists in to a restaurant this morning…
@sandy cummings: great stuff it’s a start
Nothing new there so, Simon
Oh, and dropping the portcullis and digging the moat and filling it up with sulphuric acid and removing the fence in front of it and making a slippy slope down to it
have your say