Are we there yet? Your second Travel Megathread (threadbans in OP}

fm

SusanC10 wrote: »

Have they ??

https://m.independent.ie/world-news/coronavirus/us-canada-france-italy-and-belgium-to-be-added-to-irelands-covid-hotel-quarantine-list-40295495.html

IQO

https://twitter.com/Philip_Ryan/status/1380592783090716677

fm

IQO wrote: »

https://twitter.com/Philip_Ryan/status/1380592783090716677

Also everyone needs to take a test 5 days after arrival

saabsaab

fm wrote: »

Also everyone needs to take a test 5 days after arrival

I wonder how that will be enforced.

DylanJM

MHQ is the single most stupid fúcking thing this government has implemented during the pandemic. There is absolutely no rhyme or reason about any aspect of it. Countries being added and removed at a whim. Israel and Albania were areas of variant concern not a week ago and are now seemingly fine and removed from the list??? WHAT THE ACTUAL FÚCK IS GOING ON?

fm

saabsaab wrote: »

I wonder how that will be enforced.

Not sure, just says legally have to take test with hse, wonder is that free?

Gael23

fm wrote: »

Not sure, just says legally have to take test with hse, wonder is that free?

Nobody can be forced to take a test against their will

ninebeanrows

If that is the full list of countries added I will really be baffled, but I guess there are a few that just haven't been mentioned, otherwise it is bonkers.

ninebeanrows

ninebeanrows wrote: »

If that is the full list of countries added I will really be baffled, but I guess there are a few that just haven't been mentioned, otherwise it is bonkers.

he has just tweeted that USA and Canada will be added as well

saabsaab

Gael23 wrote: »

Nobody can be forced to take a test against their will

Not so useful so. Best no entry at all.

fm

Gael23 wrote: »

Nobody can be forced to take a test against their will

Probably not, but fine or prison if you don't I suppose.

Also MHQ to be reviewed in June

"The Cabinet will also agreed the legislation governing hotel quarantining will be reviewed in June. An extension of the legislation will then have to be passed by the Dáil"

Frank Bullitt

https://twitter.com/newschambers/status/1380596566545854466

I live in Canada, so this is a very big deterrent for me. We are so be vaccinated by Canada Day, which is in June, so time will tell.

CruelSummer

The way in which this mandatory quarantine system is being implemented is an absolute shambles and damaging to Ireland reputation.
1. Why is Stephen Donnelly & the Dept of Health given the remit to oversee this when they’re already dealing with a litany of issues due to the pandemic.
2. How on earth did we allow a Green Minister of Transport who seems hellbent on implementing his ideals of holidaying on a bike around Ireland & letting all Irish airlines, airports and transport jobs go bust.
3. Who decides the criteria for MHQ? Why are the public not told what the criteria is, considering it’s ordinary people expected to foot the Bill.
4. Why would the Government not be looking at flight corridors between Ireland and the US, as a huge amount of their population are vaccinated. Instead of placing them nonsensically on this list?? How will this play out for the tourism sector here?
5. Why is every other State in the world looking at ways of reopening to vaccinated people, and to those who are in their immediate travel zone - including rapid tests, green passes and other forms of safe travel.
6. And finally, who decided that we should place everyone that arrives here in a detention facility? How on earth do people think the highly skilled jobs will be filled here as they're usually taken by our European counterparts? Do people seriously think this will be easy to remove? There is a very extreme faction of anti travel / zero Covid lunatics created by this pandemic that want to introduce far left ideologies in the guise of ‘public health measures’.

ninebeanrows

CruelSummer wrote: »

The way in which this mandatory quarantine system is being implemented is an absolute shambles and damaging to Ireland reputation.
1. Why is Stephen Donnelly & the Dept of Health given the remit to oversee this when they’re already dealing with a litany of issues due to the pandemic.
2. How on earth did we allow a Green Minister of Transport who seems hellbent on implementing his ideals of holidaying on a bike around Ireland & letting all Irish airlines, airports and transport jobs go bust.
3. Who decides the criteria for MHQ? Why are the public not told what the criteria is, considering it’s ordinary people expected to foot the Bill.
4. Why would the Government not be looking at flight corridors between Ireland and the US, as a huge amount of their population are vaccinated. Instead of placing them nonsensically on this list?? How will this play out for the tourism sector here?
5. Why is every other State in the world looking at ways of reopening to vaccinated people, and to those who are in their immediate travel zone - including rapid tests, green passes and other forms of safe travel.
6. And finally, who decided that we should place everyone that arrives here in a detention facility? How on earth do people think the highly skilled jobs will be filled here as they're usually taken by our European counterparts? Do people seriously think this will be easy to remove? There is a very extreme faction of anti travel / zero Covid lunatics created by this pandemic that want to introduce far left ideologies in the guise of ‘public health measures’.

It was demanded by the people on Twitter.

If you are aware of the public sector in the last few years, there is an absolute obsession with social media. Things posted by a eejit on twitter make more things happen than complaints by employees.

They are yet to understand the outrage of people on social media is not a direct correlation with opinion in the community.

Micky 32

Gael23 wrote: »

If the Israeli nurse wins her case is that the end of MHQ?

She won’t win the case, not a hope. Once the health act is applied it over rules everything including your freedoms. The judge will side with the government on this.

Even if she does win the government will rush some legislation in to ammend it.

ninebeanrows

Just a reminder if you want to complain about Mandatory Hotel Quarantine in Ireland to the EU Commission you can with the link below, it takes just 3 to 5 minutes and will put a voice across.

https://ec.europa.eu/assets/sg/report-a-breach/complaints_en/

Darwin

ninebeanrows wrote: »

Just a reminder if you want to complain about Mandatory Hotel Quarantine in Ireland to the EU Commission you can with the link below, it takes just 3 to 5 minutes and will put a voice across.

https://ec.europa.eu/assets/sg/report-a-breach/complaints_en/

Excellent idea. Also, don't forget to email your local TD, minister for Tourism and as many MEPs as possible.

Wallander

IQO wrote: »

https://twitter.com/Philip_Ryan/status/1380592783090716677

I did a quick reference of this list against the latest infection rate indicators on:


https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/cases-2019-ncov-eueea


And the lack of logic continues. Some countries (Poland, Czechia, Netherlands) a fair bit higher than some of those that made the list (Italy, Belgium). I'd wager that countries that privately threw up a fuss got left off.

hmmm

If France is added to the list, does this include the ports? And if not why not?

And does it include truck drivers? And if not why not?

This whole thing is a shambles. The strategy makes no sense, we've suddenly decided that "variants" is an argument for dropping the country into a zero-Covid-lite with little to no discussion or even explanation.

hmmm

hmmm wrote: »

If France is added to the list, does this include the ports? And if not why not?

And does it include truck drivers? And if not why not?

This whole thing is a shambles. The strategy makes no sense, we've suddenly decided that "variants" is an argument for dropping the country into a zero-Covid-lite with little to no discussion or even explanation.

Good question. How are the ports being managed? If you’ve been in Germany and are driving home to Cork, are you going to get a Garda escort on your drive up from Rosslare to Citywest?

stephenjmcd

hmmm wrote: »

If France is added to the list, does this include the ports? And if not why not?

And does it include truck drivers? And if not why not?

This whole thing is a shambles. The strategy makes no sense, we've suddenly decided that "variants" is an argument for dropping the country into a zero-Covid-lite with little to no discussion or even explanation.

Ports have been included since the start, no idea how it works but they are listed

And no truck drivers aren't included. Covered under below exemptions,

arriving into the State in the course of duty and who hold a valid Annex 3 certificate (ensuring the availability of goods and essential services)
arriving in the State in the course of duty and are drivers of a heavy goods vehicle

Darwin

stephenjmcd wrote: »

Ports have been included since the start, no idea how it works but they are listed

And no truck drivers aren't included. Covered under below exemptions,

arriving into the State in the course of duty and who hold a valid Annex 3 certificate (ensuring the availability of goods and essential services)
arriving in the State in the course of duty and are drivers of a heavy goods vehicle

I find it very strange that the virus knows a truck driver is performing essential duties and therefore gives them a wide berth. The whole thing is beyond ridiculous.

ninebeanrows

Darwin wrote: »

I find it very strange that the virus knows a truck driver is performing essential duties and therefore gives them a wide berth. The whole thing is beyond ridiculous.

Usually truckies don't mind if they get a inside berth in the bows of the ship:pac:

I'll get my coat

hmmm

Darwin wrote: »

I find it very strange that the virus knows a truck driver is performing essential duties and therefore gives them a wide berth. The whole thing is beyond ridiculous.

It's a well known fact that the virus cannot infect truck drivers.

I see there's a small number of other exceptions on the list, including TDs. Another group immune from these fabled variants.

embraer170

fm wrote: »

Also everyone needs to take a test 5 days after arrival

No problem with a test, but can it be made an affordable test please? I find it outrageous that large corporate profits are being made on COVID testing, masks, etc. France has taken the sensible approach of free testing for everyone with a French health insurance card. FFP2 masks are available at very affordable prices in supermarkets (certainly compared to Germany).

I did a bit of research and a COVID PCR test should cost about about €30-40 to provide in most EU countries (incl. testing staff, lab analysis, issuance of results). The real costs charged either directly to people or to the health system/insurance providers is almost always multiples higher.

embraer170

France for example allows antigen tests for truck drivers but insists on PCR tests for everyone else.

Arrivals in Irish ports must leave their car and are escorted by bus to the hotel facility. I am not sure if there have been many such cases handled until now.

namloc1980

USA and Canada added to the list as well as a raft of EU countries. This government has lost its mind! It's insane what is going on with little or no debate.

dalyboy

Deleted User wrote: »

Good question. How are the ports being managed? If you’ve been in Germany and are driving home to Cork, are you going to get a Garda escort on your drive up from Rosslare to Citywest?

Or if your a camper/caravan’er who drives back from France by road through the UK onto the ferry back to Rosslare ?
Talk about glaring loopholes

hmmm

namloc1980 wrote: »

USA and Canada added to the list as well as a raft of EU countries. This government has lost its mind! It's insane what is going on with little or no debate.

The same week that the Biden administration undercut our Corporation Tax strategy, we are going to indefinitely effectively ban foreign investors, executives and staff from travelling to Ireland because of fear of some variant which may or may not arise in the future. We have lost our mind.

Some of the most prominent virologists are saying the fear of variants is overblown. I'm not qualified to say it isn't a risk, but it seems extraordinary that the government has gone all-in on one side of an ongoing debate. https://www.thestreet.com/latest-news/there-are-no-covid-super-strains-yet-says-virologist-vincent-racaniello

General Toilet

The government has selected the losing side in the debate.