Government publishes ‘green list’ for travel with 15 countries

The 14-day isolation period will not apply for travel from countries on the list

After an initial postponement, the government has finally published a “green list” for travel.

The list was decided upon by the Cabinet after a meeting at Dublin Castle yesterday evening.

The 15 countries on the list have been deemed safe for travel and do not require a 14-day isolation period upon return to Ireland.

Green list

Countries on the list are: 

• Malta
• Finland
• Norway
• Italy
• Hungary
• Estonia
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Cyprus
• Slovakia
• Greece
• Greenland
• Gibraltar
• Monaco
• San Marino

The Department of Foreign Affairs says travellers from these countries will only have to exercise normal precautions.

However, while a post-travel quarantine is not required, all passengers will have to fill out a Passenger Locator Form regardless of where they are travelling from to allow for contact tracing. 

Not a holiday list

The government wants to ensure that people do not view the “green list” as a holiday list. 

The National Public Health Emergency Team still advises against all non-essential foreign travel, whether a country is on the list or not.

Because non-essential travel is still encouraged, the Cabinet argued if publishing the list was the best idea, hence the delay in its announcement.

Mixed messages

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar was one of those previously opposed, saying that the “green list” could give mixed messages.

“There should be a green list as was previously agreed by the Government but if the travel advice for countries on the green list isn’t different to advice for other countries, then we would be better off not having a green list at all,” said a spokesman for Varadkar.

Yet an agreement was reached, with Cabinet members supporting the importance of the list’s publication.

The government says it will continue to take a cautious approach and the “green list” will be reviewed and updated every fortnight.

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