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'We need to open up our travel industry,' says Minister

Minister Robert Troy said it is “critically important” for tourism and trade to have an open travel industry.

A GOVERNMENT MINISTER has said that Ireland’s travel industry must be opened up to protect jobs and revenue linked with travel and tourism around the country.

Speaking to Katie Hannon on RTÉ One this afternoon, Minister of State for Trade Promotion Robert Troy said that we “need to open up our travel industry again”.

The minister said that it was “critically important” for tourism and trade to have an open travel industry.

Ireland is moving away from the previous system of a Green List, which identified a select number of countries that individuals could travel from without needing to restrict their movement upon arriving in Ireland, to an EU-wide travel policy that will use a traffic light system to indicate how safe a country is to travel to.

The plan, which was agreed on by ministers from the 27 member states earlier this week, will see the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control release a weekly map of the EU with a three-stage colour system showing the level of risk in each area.

“Traffic lights may have drawbacks, but the benefit of what was agreed earlier this week in the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg is that it will enable each individual country to determine what they’re going to do when the [EU member] states are orange and red,” Troy said.

He said that we need to “ramp up” antigen tests and that they would be a “game changer” for the travel industry.

Paul Hackett, CEO of online travel company Click and Go, said that we “rely on 20 million tourists per year coming into this country”.

“It is hugely important that we take an adult approach to how we manage this,” Hackett said. “Yes, we’re in a crisis, but what we want to look at the way in which we can reintroduce travel in a safe environment, in a Covid-negative environment as much as we possibly can.”

Hackett criticised the EU policy to adopt a traffic light system for permitting travel between countries.

“Traffic lights, by their very nature, change colour and I think it was indicative of a total Kicking the can down the road scenario with what happened with the traffic lights,” Hackett said.

Hackett said that the traffic light system would not work because the “position can move too quickly”.

“What we need to have is pre-departure airport testing so that passengers who are travelling feel safe and confident that they’re on an aircraft with other Covid-negative people,” he said.

Senior government leaders are meeting to discuss public health advice to move Ireland to Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions, which would see tighter limits imposed on social activity, businesses, and travel within the country.

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    Mute Do the Bort man
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    Mar 16th 2017, 8:14 AM

    the recorders have not actually been found, but they know the general location of where the recorders (and hopefully the wreckage) actually are, so it shouldn’t take too long to locate them. Such a terrible loss of life, from some of our bravest people. RIP

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    Mute Daire Brady
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    Mar 16th 2017, 8:00 AM

    Hopefully all are found!

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    Mute Ronan C Gantly
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    Mar 16th 2017, 9:28 AM

    Still shocked. As a pilot I am aware of the many risks but I also know there are only so many risks you can legislate for. Hopefully there’s closure soon for the families involved.

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    Mute Jon Mackey
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    Mar 16th 2017, 10:18 AM

    @Ronan C Gantly: would I be right in saying if the box is still in the wreckage there’s a chance of finding the rest of the crew still onboard?

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    Mute Ronan C Gantly
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    Mar 16th 2017, 1:44 PM

    @Jon Mackey: reasonable to expect that yes.

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    Mute Mary Mc Carthy
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    Mar 16th 2017, 10:43 AM

    To lose someone you loved suddenly is a tragedy, but to lose that person and not retrieve their body brings about suffering that few of us comprehend . I hope that their bodies are returned to their loved ones soon .

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    Mute Lapmo Dancer
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    Mar 16th 2017, 11:13 AM

    *Captain Mark Duffy

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    Mute Christopher Gibbons
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    Mar 16th 2017, 10:55 PM

    Shared a house with and worked alongside Captain Mark Duffy in San Fransisco. A very capable guy. A truly terrible situation.

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    Mute PWD Dublin
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    Mar 16th 2017, 2:08 PM

    Shock, respectable coverage of the tragedy and a reminder of the bravery of those that risk their lives. I’m still confused with the timidity towards wanting to understand what actually caused this tragedy. Yes, the voice and technical black and red box recorders will, if recovered reasonably intact, reveal a lot. However, this was a highly experienced crew not involved at the time of it’s disappearance with the rescue effort, returning to re-fuel. No mayday? No communication? Disappears off the radar? If this turns out to be a catastrophic mechanical failure surely it is in the interests of all other crews flying this helicopter type on our island that a focus is placed on its cause.
    It is a world away from macabre interest and respect for those who have lost their lives to ask these questions surely?

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    Mute Bryan Long
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    Mar 16th 2017, 9:19 PM

    Is the government jet in the USA and are Air Corp personnel who should have been providing fixed wing cover for this flight out of the country?

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