It's 'unlikely' that most people will be able to travel abroad for a holiday this summer, the Transport Minister has said.
Eamon Ryan also said the Government isn't ruling out mandatory quarantine for all arrivals here, but cautioned that people should be aware of the 'false promise' around strict travel bans.
Minister Ryan was speaking ahead of today's Cabinet meeting, where the Government is set to sign off on an extension of lockdown until at least March 5th.
New restrictions on international travel will see all passengers arriving into Ireland without a negative PCR test face a mandatory two-week quarantine period.
The same rules will apply for anyone coming from Brazil or South Africa.
Passengers will have to quarantine at state-chosen hotels; however, they will be able to leave if they get a negative PCR test after five days.
It comes amid growing calls from opposition parties and health experts for the country to adopt a 'zero COVID' policy to drive case numbers down to very low levels.
On today's Newstalk Breakfast, Minister Ryan said ministers have asked NPHET about such an approach, but were told they didn't think it was practical.
He said extra COVID-19 tests for people arriving here is not being ruled out.
In terms of mandatory quarantine, Minister Ryan said: “People are rightly saying follow the health advice - and we do. That isn’t the advice from NPHET.
“Beware of false promise - 'if only we did the solution we would be fine'. Actually it is highly unlikely to be practical, and would have real consequences.”
The Government is now set to target quarantine for people flying in from high-risk areas where new strains of the virus have emerged - although it's likely to take a number of weeks to put in place.
However, Minister Ryan said stricter rules for all arrivals into the country is something the Government will keep under review.
Foreign travel
Many people are already wondering whether travelling abroad will be possible this summer once more people are vaccinated.
However, Minister Ryan warned that people shouldn't be booking holidays at the moment.
He said: “I don’t think we’re going to be flying in anything like the numbers we would have historically.
"There may be exceptions… but the vast majority of ordinary flights are not going to take place.
“Even if we get completely vaccinated and please god get that sort of cover, we live in a world where this virus is still rampant and variants will come. In those circumstances, I think it’s unlikely that there’ll be a complete opening up of travel.”
He said enforcement is being increased for those travelling for non-essential reasons, including a recent increase in Garda presence at the entrances to Dublin Airport.
