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RollingNews.ie

'Green list' of safe countries to be published on Monday but advice against non-essential travel remains

The Taoiseach confirmed that the list will be published next week and will be kept under review every 14 days.

A ‘GREEN LIST’ for countries to which it is safe to travel will be published on Monday, Taoiseach Michéal Martin confirmed this evening.

The Government and the National Public Health Emergency Team said, however, that its advice against all non-essential travel remains. 

Speaking this evening following a Cabinet meeting, Martin confirmed that the long-mooted Green List will be published next week and will be kept under review every two weeks. 

The Taoiseach said there will be an increased presence of staff at ports and airports to ensure incoming passengers are made aware of their obligations, including restriction of movement for 14 days. 

It comes after days of concern regarding international travel into Ireland and quarantine measures for visitors and people returning – and a rise in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks.

The Taoiseach said he understood that anxiety some people had about people travelling into the country from hot spots.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly also said the total number of the Covid cases among those travelling from the United States, in the last six weeks, is four. These people tested positive upon arrival in Ireland. 

His comments come after Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney addressed recent concerns about US flights landing in Ireland.

“We have between 200-250 people a day arriving from the US,” said Coveney. “That’s in the context of about 4,500 people a day arriving into Ireland. The majority of those people are Irish people coming home.

“One of the flights from Dallas which has been the subject of some attention from the media and social media – there were only 16 people on that flight is my understanding,” he said yesterday. 

Donnelly said the success of stemming the spread of Covid-19 so far is down to collective effort, and that Ireland has one of the lowest prevalence of coronavirus in Europe.

Martin said the numbers in Ireland are still very low compared to other countries, but said “they take very seriously the advice from NPHET”.

The Taoiseach said believes “it is the right thing to do to press the pause button”.

Earlier today, health officials confirmed two further deaths due to Covid-19 in Ireland and 14 new cases. 

This evening, the Government confirmed that the reopening of pubs and nightclubs is set to be pushed back until 10 August following a meeting of Cabinet ministers today. 

Cabinet ministers agreed to postpone the reopening of pubs under Phase 4 from 20 July to 10 August.

The move comes after serious concerns were raised at a meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team on the re-opening of pubs, given the rising number of cases of Covid-19 in the country.  

The Taoiseach also said that face coverings are to be made mandatory in shops, following a meeting of cabinet this evening.

Face coverings will now be mandatory in shops for both shoppers and staff, unless a screen is in place. Regulations to make this measure mandatory are yet to be drafted.

At a briefing this evening, Martin said: “Pubs, hotel bars, nightclubs and casinos will remain closed until 10 August. Pubs and bars which are already operating and serving food can remain open once they are fully compliant with the public health guidance.”

Some of the most recent cases have originated from clusters in congregated settings, and it is feared that Ireland is not yet ready to move to the next stage of re-opening the economy. 

With reporting from Christina Finn

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    Mute Paddy Flynn
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    May 15th 2020, 7:26 PM

    No D4 accent yet, stay strong!

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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    May 15th 2020, 7:57 PM

    @Paddy Flynn: Roight on !

    162
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    Mute Conor Nolan
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    May 15th 2020, 8:10 PM

    @Paddy Flynn: Or Folksrowk with it mony roindabites

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    May 15th 2020, 11:22 PM

    @Paddy Flynn: Dalkey is 26km from D4. Not to split hairs or anything.

    23
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    Mute Jun Stone
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    May 16th 2020, 6:59 AM

    @Paddy Flynn: that’s cos it’s not D4, it’s Co. Dublin!

    11
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    Mute Ro-your-nan
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    May 16th 2020, 6:55 PM

    @Conor Nolan: reverse classism – fantastic. Everyone should be like you.

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    Mute Seán Ó Briain
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    May 15th 2020, 7:32 PM

    Can we just keep him?

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    Mute Trish O'Leary-Dunne
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    May 15th 2020, 8:35 PM

    @Seán Ó Briain: yeah.swap him for bono!

    238
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    Mute Anne
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    May 15th 2020, 10:16 PM

    @Trish O’Leary-Dunne: I’m happy to have both.

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    Mute Dermot Quinn
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    May 15th 2020, 7:54 PM

    Fair play to him. He always comes across as being fairly sound. He stuck miles from home and knows he’s in a privileged position, so hes just rolling with it.

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    May 15th 2020, 7:36 PM

    Ah hes a class act

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    Mute tuco
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    May 15th 2020, 7:40 PM

    He can grow spuds and get home from Mars by himself.his no chance in getting out of dublin with a supervalu bag.

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    May 15th 2020, 7:53 PM

    @tuco: that’s very good on the ball

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    Mute Mairtin Antaine O Conaill
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    May 15th 2020, 8:07 PM

    @tuco: no he didn’t!!! Jessica Chastain had to jump out of the space ship with a rocket pack on her back to catch him while they flew past.

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    Mute Stephen O'Sullivan
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    May 16th 2020, 9:38 AM

    @tuco: hats off, actual LOL at that.

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    Mute Sean Dermody
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    May 15th 2020, 7:29 PM

    Ah isn’t he only a great guy all the same..

    109
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    Mute Aine O Connor
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    May 15th 2020, 9:30 PM

    I remember meeting Matt Damon , Tom Hanks and Stephen Spielberg during the making of Saving Private Ryan near Taghmon Co Wexford in 1997 where some scenes were filmed. Filming was mostly in Curracloe and took two months. Matt Damon played the part of Private Ryan.They were all very friendly and allowed us to take photos with them.

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    Mute Winston Smith
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    May 15th 2020, 8:18 PM

    Honorary Irish passport…

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    Mute kevin mc cormack
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    May 15th 2020, 8:27 PM

    Fair play to him he’s making an effort and well done class of 2020 every we’re

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    Mute Sean Dermody
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    May 15th 2020, 7:30 PM

    Ah isn’t he only marvellous all the same..

    53
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    Mute Jen Gordon
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    May 15th 2020, 8:55 PM

    @Sean Dermody: we got it the first time … still looking for attention ?

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    Mute Sean Dermody
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    May 15th 2020, 9:14 PM

    @Jen Gordon: Really sorry Mammy, thought I didn’t post the first one so I did it again. How many lines are you going to give me. I must never seek attention…

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    Mute Sean Dermody
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    May 15th 2020, 9:15 PM

    @Jen Gordon: Doesn’t let you delete posts which is strange

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    Mute Jun Stone
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    May 16th 2020, 7:02 AM

    @Sean Dermody: I think you can hide posts?

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    Mute Johnny 5
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    May 15th 2020, 8:57 PM

    Surely he’s calling himself Mattie by now, no?

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    May 16th 2020, 6:26 AM

    @Johnny 5: or Damo

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    Mute Brian Flavin
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    May 15th 2020, 9:59 PM

    Fair play to actor matt damon

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    Mute Stan Kowalskis
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    May 15th 2020, 8:58 PM

    Matt for President.get rid of the hobbit.

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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    May 15th 2020, 10:15 PM

    @Stan Kowalskis: Well he’s a lovely guy no doubt about it, but he thinks that Leo is our president & he’s gone back to being a doctor on the “ front line “ . You have to wonder where he gets his info from!!

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    Mute SkepticalHippoEyes
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    May 15th 2020, 11:49 PM

    Thinking about schoolgirls the dirty fecker

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    Mute Type17
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    May 16th 2020, 8:46 AM

    @SkepticalHippoEyes: He’s only wishing them well, it’s you who brought up (your own?) dodgy thoughts in relation to schoolgirls….

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    Mute Maurice Dodd
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    May 16th 2020, 12:05 AM

    Totes awks why he’s still here?
    Kinda why not fukd off home loike?

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    Mute Atlas' burden
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    May 16th 2020, 5:28 AM

    @Maurice Dodd: stop being a knob, they obviously can’t

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    Mute Neil Reilly
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    May 16th 2020, 4:08 PM

    @Atlas’ burden: whoosh!

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