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Government Considering Guidelines on International Travel During Covid-19

Emma Tyrrell
Emma Tyrrell

09:38 20 Apr 2020


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All passengers arriving from abroad may be asked to register where they plan to self-isolate as part of a review into international travel.

The Irish Independent reports the government is considering the measure after the controversy involving a fruit company last week.

Keelings flew around 200 people from Bulgaria, on a chartered plane, to pick strawberries at its north Dublin farm.

The company says it hires up to 900 seasonal workers every year, and usually recruits in Eastern Europe, having received just a few dozen applications from people in Ireland.

Keelings say the staff that it's flown in will have their movements restricted for two weeks after arriving here before starting work.

Review

On Friday, the Taoiseach said he was uncomfortable about the number of agency workers coming in - saying travel needs to be kept to a minimum.

He ordered an urgent review of the situation, with officials due to report back to the cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19 today.

Leo Varadkar's already indicated all passengers coming into Ireland need to be interviewed - and says the government may yet change the rules on travel.

Professor Anthony Staines from DCU thinks it’s a positive move to ask people where they plan to self-isolate;

"There have been quite clear guidelines up to now on what people need to know when they're coming in and people are given advice on various points of entry."

He went on to say;

"What this is doing, from the account in the newspaper at least, is that those recommendations will be made firmer and clearer."

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