Coronavirus: New Irish travel rules will affect NI passengers



The Irish government is tightening its Covid-19 travel rules and some of the changes will affect overseas passengers who then travel on to Northern Ireland.

Existing Passenger Locator Form rules are to be amended to ensure NI-bound passengers complete the full form by providing a forwarding contact address.

The Irish government said it also intends to agree new "data sharing" measures with the Stormont executive.

It follows NI ministers' complaints of a lack of co-operation on travel data.

The changes were announced as the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) outlined a series of stringent new measures affecting all overseas passengers arriving into the Republic of Ireland.

"The number of travellers coming into our country has absolutely collapsed and we have taken a number of decisions today designed to further suppress that number," Mr Martin said.

The plans include a "mandatory quarantine at a designated facility" for anyone arriving into Irish ports or airports without a proof that they have tested negative for Covid-19.

"They will also be subject to a fine of €2,500 and/or six months imprisonment," Mr Martin said.

In an attempt to curb the spread of new variants of coronavirus, people arriving into the Republic of Ireland from Brazil and South Africa will also be automatically required to quarantine at a designated facility.

In the coming weeks, the government also intends to make it a legal requirement for everyone who arrives in the state from overseas to quarantine in their own homes, hotels or other accommodation.

However, legislative changes will be needed in order to enforce quarantine for Irish and EU citizens as well as those from the European Economic Area.

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