However it may not be a practicable option, according to the Tánaiste.
Leo Varadkar has said that he has not ruled out mandatory testing for people travelling to Ireland.
The Tánaiste said that he is not sure if mandatory testing is practicable, but he does think that it is something that Ireland needs to consider.
Varadkar suggested doing what other countries have done, which is testing people who are not on the ‘green list’. The green list refers to countries that are said to be “safe” to travel to and from.
Speaking to RTÉ News, Varadkar said: “We are examining the possibility of bringing in random testing or testing in some cases, as other countries have done, as we know that mandatory quarantine is not possible in Ireland.
“It wouldn’t be legally sound, and we’ve also seen for example in Australia where it’s worked out very badly, where the hotels in which people were detained turned out to be clusters and sources of infection themselves.”
It is expected that a ‘green list’ of countries where Irish people can travel to without restrictions will be published next week, with an update on travel advice to be expected from Deputy Chief Medical Officer Ronan Glynn this evening.
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