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IRELAND HAS SIGNED up to the Digital Green Certificate system and the country aims to adhere to European regulations around travel in the coming weeks, a government spokesperson has said.
Officials are said to be “working around the clock” to get the EU system up and running in time for 19 July, the date on which the government has said it hopes non-essential international travel can return.
The certificate will facilitate free movement of EU citizens during the pandemic in the European Union and European Economic Area countries such as Norway and Iceland.
However, some in government circles believe another public disagreement between government and the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) about the return of foreign travel could be on the cards.
Focus this week has been the Delta variant of Covid-19 and how it could impact the reopening of indoor hospitality on 5 July, but ministers believe the next big issue will be the resumption of non-essential travel into and out of the country two weeks later.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar clarified last weekend that young people who are not fully vaccinated can travel abroad this summer, despite contrary advice from Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan last week.
People under the age of 30 are unlikely to have both vaccine doses until September at the earliest, and the CMO urged this cohort of people not to travel this summer if they are not fully vaccinated.
There are now concerns that public health experts will warn against resuming travel in July, with sources stating that they expect more mixed messaging on the issue.
Sources indicated that NPHET’s briefing on foreign travel does not align with government policy on the issue.
And this evening, a spokesperson for the Tánaiste told The Journal that Varadkar was simply outlining the government’s position on international travel, which it had partly set out a number of weeks ago, when he made his comments at the weekend.
A comprehensive campaign on the new EU Digital Certificate is expected to be launched by the government ahead of 19 July.
It is expected to outline that those who have been vaccinated, those who have received a negative PCR test result, or those who have had Covid-19 in the past nine months will be able to travel abroad.
“I just hope we don’t get back into this space of ‘you can travel but you really shouldn’t',” said one source, who highlighted that many families have booked flights abroad already to see loved ones, and that it wouldn’t be fair to prevent non-essential travel at this stage.
Minister of State Ossian Smyth told RTÉ’s Claire Byrne programme today that while 19 July is the date the government’s expects foreign travel to resume, the government “can’t guarantee that”.
He said the fact that the UK had to delay their full reopening by a number of weeks showed that “there is still risk attached” to re-opening, and that there was “no guarantee” about a given date.
But he added that a return of international travel on 19 July remains “the current plan”. If numbers stay down, Ireland will be able to allow foreign travel to return, he said.
Under the EU Digital Certificate scheme, certificates will have a bar code that can be scanned at airports which will allow people to travel or not.
The certificate contains only the necessary key information such as name, date of birth, date of issuance, relative information about vaccine test or recovery and a unique identifier.
The data is expected to remain on the certificate, and will not be stored or retained when a certificate is verified in another member state, the minister said.
Each certificate will contain a QR code with a digital signature to protect against falsification. When the certificate is checked, the QR code is scanned and the signature is verified.
The signature can be checked using special software that can run from an app on a phone or any other device that can read a QR code.
Passengers who don’t have a certificate will be required carry documentation of a negative test or vaccination proof to travel, though that process may take longer, the minister added.
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The limit is too low.
Not condoning drunk driving but if a single glass of wine with dinner can make you fail then it’s too low.
Certainly wouldn’t impair driving.
Phone use is far worse imho.
@Fergus O’Donnell: the Swedes would disagree as would the Norwegians. Zero alcohol allowed in those countries.
@Fergus O’Donnell: i disagree, if i haven’t had a drink in a while and i have one pint, it definitely goes to my head, and i can put away a few usually.
@eoin fitzpatrick: that’s fair enough. I never drink and drive as a rule as I think it’s unforgivable.
@eoin fitzpatrick: hope you’re not on your bike then under those conditions
@Fergus O’Donnell: We’re not allowed to talk about these things. It’s instant guilt satisfaction. Like everything the vast vast minority of idiots define the rules for the masses.
Wish the RSA would fix the roads where 65% of deaths are happening instead of being an Ad agency… (no I’m not saying drink driving is grand).
@Thesaltyurchin: we already have different authorities that are responsible for that.
@Sean Parker: sure we do. I see their efforts everyday. lol
Alternative headline: ‘Majority of people who are over the limit realise they’re over the limit.’
@Colm Lambert: Yeah, and probably still drive.
@lorcan barron: Yup to my forever shame, I was over the limit when I passed my driving test. I’m disgusting I know that but seriously agree with zero tolerance.
@Donna Fallon: why? Why in gods name would you do that?
@Mark Donnelly: I know. I have no excuse. That’s why I’m open on this forum… disgusting behaviour absolutely.
How about the do a test of all TDs leaving the Dail
@James Brennan: Why? Do you want to test nurses leaving hospitals or teachers leaving schools or cleaners leaving hotels?
@Me Me: no bars in schools or hospitals
@James Brennan: an iq test?
@Me Me: Er, Dail Bar of course, please tell me you didn’t miss that distinction between other work places.
@Me Me: The comment is influenced by Senator Martin Conway recently arrested extremely drunk, also on benzodiazapenes, on all fours on O Connell Street. This happened after a days ‘work’ in the dail.
George Nkencho’s family is on the about death. If the police tell you drop the knife, you drop it. Crazy to think if he dropped the knife, he still be alive.
@Ichabod Crane: just looking for pay out
@Ichabod Crane: “Is it ‘cos I is black?”
@Ichabod Crane: Apparently he was very seriously mentally ill, schizophrenia, I think. It’s unfortunate.
Advertising and marketing aren’t going to change drivers behaviour on the roads as people flick channels when either listening or hearing. What will change road driving behaviour is the GARDAI who are seriously lacking the basics at the moment as I drove from Ballymoney in Antrim to Schull in Cork in March and I was only pulled in once and that was the PSNI telling me that a bulb had blown in my number plate and I continued on my journey and I didn’t see a Guard from Dundalk to Schull and the behaviour of some people on the roads was lethal.
Russell Brand. I am sure it’s all one little misunderstanding.
@Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: I’m actually torn on this one too…
Can we comment on the sick b a s t a r d s who tortured a 4 week old baby. Seriously??????
Operated similar kiosks in Australia on the mining camps 15 years ago. Great to see a Belgian company doing this rather than a crony appointed Irish company. Should be compulsory in hotels and bars as part of liquor licence, and it’s voluntary to do. But, if you risk it and are caught, tough and full penalties, prison, loss of licence etc…
Your liver can process 10-14ml alcohol in 1 hour. There is 14-16ml alcohol in a glass of wine. So, depending on how fast you drink the wine, an hour after finishing it you are probably good to go! (1 glass is aboit 125ml)
Is there ever any good news from N.I. ?
@Jack Chit: 10% trump tariff
have your say