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

Timmyr · 06-04-2021 11:04PM

Micky 32 wrote: »

Looks like New Zealand and Australia opening up a travel bubble between the 2 countries. Hopefully this is the begining and other countries will eventually follow suit as the world situation improves and gets vaccinated.

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-australia-56645990

I hope that other countries dont open too soon!
NZ and Australia run a zero covid approach so they are able to do this.
They will also be able to lockdown the borders again if there is any case of community transmission, which is why I wont be going across to Australia just yet, I dont want to get stuck there

dalyboy · 06-04-2021 11:08PM

Micky 32 wrote: »

A small amendment added.:pac:

I doubt he will still be there by 2022. He’s too spineless & toothless and it continues to amaze me how he’s actually still in the top man position.
Simon Coveney is waiting to stake him any minute coming.

Van.Bosch · 06-04-2021 11:10PM

ShadowTech wrote: »

Sorry if this has already been discussed; I've gone back several pages but didn't see it.

Are the criteria for a country to be added or removed from the MHQ list explained somewhere? Is it tied to the number of vaccines per capita, the number of active cases, something objective? I have looked but all of the documentation I have seen so far regarding MHQ is highlighting the relevant countries and the actions and costs involved.

Is there a sunset clause in the law for MHQ? I'm not necessarily suggesting a date but are there metrics (e.g. number of Irish residents vaccinated, number of hospitalisations over a period of time, etc.)? Has anyone in the government indicated if this is a temporary measure to buy time for the vaccine rollout or is this kind of curtailment of travel expected to go on for years?

The reason I ask is that both myself and my partner have family, including our parents, living abroad. My partner is going to need to travel to care for her mother for a short time following a surgery and, though the country in question isn't currently on the list, we're concerned that could change at the drop of a hat. My own family are in the States and depending on how the current drama plays out that may go on the list soon. While we can absorb the cost of MHQ once if required this isn't something we're willing to live with long-term.

I can’t answer most of your questions but there is no way I can see the government adding the US to the list.

Micky 32 · 06-04-2021 11:29PM

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/not-many-kids-in-my-constituency-go-on-holidays-in-the-south-of-france-fianna-fail-td-paul-mcauliffe-urges-fightback-against-fine-gaels-reluctance-over-quarantine-rules-40280436.html

“Mr McAuliffe, who has a quarantine hotel in his Dublin North West constituency, said he did not believe 10 days of quarantining is a “major imposition” on people who want to travel aboard for non-essential reasons.”” :rolleyes:

normanoffside · 06-04-2021 11:40PM

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/government-departments-clash-over-lack-of-answers-on-quarantine-1.4530474?fbclid=IwAR1D01hw7Iyhxplydf1iFMdtifT_fB0_K5qyG-v92wukEx6tFzJwk_aT6aY

From this article 96 people have been in quarantine hotels so far.
From that 96: 6 have ‘escaped’, 2 have refused and gone to court a family of 4 and an older lady have gone to the press over conditions.

I’ve also seen various videos of people screaming as they have been led to the hotel.

That’s a lot of media exposure/bad publicity for the system given the small amount who’ve been in it.
This just can’t work on an expanded basis.

Micky 32 · 06-04-2021 11:45PM

normanoffside wrote: »

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/government-departments-clash-over-lack-of-answers-on-quarantine-1.4530474?fbclid=IwAR1D01hw7Iyhxplydf1iFMdtifT_fB0_K5qyG-v92wukEx6tFzJwk_aT6aY

This just can’t work on an expanded basis.

Unfortunately i disagree. They will succeed in this and the people of Ireland will accept it as usual.

Micky 32 · 07-04-2021 12:12AM

A possible glimmer of hope..

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom/2021/03/23/us-travel-reports-that-biden-will-lift-eu-uk-travel-ban-by-mid-may/amp/

Seeing that Aer lingus is now flying out of Manchester maybe going through Belfast a possibility. Once we are all vaccinated of course. As i said i don’t encourage travelling presently.

hynesie08 · 07-04-2021 12:34AM

Micky 32 wrote: »

A possible glimmer of hope..

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom/2021/03/23/us-travel-reports-that-biden-will-lift-eu-uk-travel-ban-by-mid-may/amp/

Seeing that Aer lingus is now flying out of Manchester maybe going through Belfast a possibility. Once we are all vaccinated of course. As i said i don’t encourage travelling presently.

It's nice to see progress, but until bars, resteraunts, sports, concerts and tourism are fully reopen at 100% capacity, who does he think is going to travel there?

Micky 32 · 07-04-2021 12:37AM

hynesie08 wrote: »

It's nice to see progress, but until bars, resteraunts, sports, concerts and tourism are fully reopen at 100% capacity, who does he think is going to travel there?

I certainly will travel to the US because of family.

hynesie08 · 07-04-2021 12:39AM

Micky 32 wrote: »

I certainly will travel to the US because of family.

Fair enough, I'm dying to get back, but not until I can catch a show and a game.

Micky 32 · 07-04-2021 12:45AM

hynesie08 wrote: »

Fair enough, I'm dying to get back, but not until I can catch a show and a game.

As far i know my favourite pizza place and restaurant are open in the area i going to so it will do for a start

:pac:

seansouth36 · 07-04-2021 05:47AM

Been asked to go check on some paper at a London printer for a client - does the client need to send me a letter describing the work and that it is "essential"?
I presume the Gardai are still checking departing passengers at Dublin Airport?
Anyone been through London lately? There's no need for a negative test for people arriving in UK from Ireland?

Any insight appreciated - a lot is online, but would be good to hear from someone who has made the Dublin-London trip recently.

07-04-2021 06:37AM

Did I hear Donnelly say that MHQ was 'only for a few months'
You would wonder why they bothered if that was their thinking.

wcooba · 07-04-2021 06:55AM

bubblypop wrote: »

Did I hear Donnelly say that MHQ was 'only for a few months'
You would wonder why they bothered if that was their thinking.

Didn’t they say that lockdowns are for few weeks only and here we are?
This is the main problem with his proposal - there are no clear criteria how countries get removed from the list or how often it’s reviewed. The legislation itself has sunset clause but I have zero doubt it will be renewed in June.

faceman · 07-04-2021 07:12AM

Doctor Jimbob wrote: »

FG are definitely up to something. All the noise in favour of increasing MHQ or other restrictions seems to be coming from FF. Meanwhile we have Leo making noises about having outdoor dining open in May while staying fairly quiet about quarantine. Looks to me like Martin and Donnelly are being lined up to go under the bus.

I wouldn’t think so. The general public think MHQ for all is necessary. Is suspect FG is aware of this but is also conscious of the fact that politically and legally it won’t fly. Once vaccine rates are high by the end of Q2 people won’t care for MHQ so much anymore unless the scaremongering over variants that don’t exist continue

Tazz T · 07-04-2021 07:31AM

bubblypop wrote: »

Did I hear Donnelly say that MHQ was 'only for a few months'
You would wonder why they bothered if that was their thinking.

Because it'll take a few months to get rid of it?

Tazz T · 07-04-2021 07:33AM

Micky 32 wrote: »

A possible glimmer of hope..

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom/2021/03/23/us-travel-reports-that-biden-will-lift-eu-uk-travel-ban-by-mid-may/amp/

Seeing that Aer lingus is now flying out of Manchester maybe going through Belfast a possibility. Once we are all vaccinated of course. As i said i don’t encourage travelling presently.

so basically, from next month, the US can travel to Europe while we, a EU, country can't??????

07-04-2021 07:35AM

faceman wrote: »

I wouldn’t think so. The general public think MHQ for all is necessary. Is suspect FG is aware of this but is also conscious of the fact that politically and legally it won’t fly. Once vaccine rates are high by the end of Q2 people won’t care for MHQ so much anymore unless the scaremongering over variants that don’t exist continue

I don't know do they really, this time last year maybe, don't think too many believe it's necessary now.
I really think (hope) the law will be struck down, I can't see it staying, not for citizens.
Non citizens are different.

07-04-2021 07:36AM

Tazz T wrote: »

so basically, from next month, the US can travel to Europe while we, a EU, country can't??????

Why can't you?

JojoLoca · 07-04-2021 07:49AM

wcooba wrote: »

Didn’t they say that lockdowns are for few weeks only and here we are?
This is the main problem with his proposal - there are no clear criteria how countries get removed from the list or how often it’s reviewed. The legislation itself has sunset clause but I have zero doubt it will be renewed in June.

This MHQ issue gives me anxiety for the reasons you mentioned.
Half of my family (my husbands side) lives in the country which is already on the red list. His dad had an emergency surgery last week and is still in ICU. We are waiting to hear how the situation will progress, but we are accepting the possibility that my husband will have to travel home and of course face MHQ on his return.
At the same time my home country which is in EU is a potential candidate to be added to the red list. My mum was hospitalised for covid for a couple of weeks and only got out recently. I want to go home, but with all the talks about adding half of the EU to the list I might be facing MHQ as well.
I have no problem self isolating at home (I've done it last year) and getting tested during self isolation. All the arguments that people cannot be trusted to do that are invalid since people who test positive in the country are totally trusted in doing so.

Chuck Norris 2021 · 07-04-2021 07:51AM

Fully vaccinated people will no longer have to restrict their movements after being identified as a close contact of a Covid-19 case, under new proposals which the National Public Health Emergency Team will consider on Thursday.

By the same logic, should vaccinated people who have travelled not have to restrict their movements?? The article goes on to suggest that they may relax the mask rule for vaccinated people.

ShadowTech · 07-04-2021 07:54AM

wcooba wrote: »

Didn’t they say that lockdowns are for few weeks only and here we are?
This is the main problem with his proposal - there are no clear criteria how countries get removed from the list or how often it’s reviewed. The legislation itself has sunset clause but I have zero doubt it will be renewed in June.

Thank you for this post! I was trying to find out if there was a sunset clause and because of your post I was able to find it in the legislation itself (because I now knew what I was looking for).

I hope you're wrong about it being extended but nothing would really surprise me anymore.

Anyway, I'm still trying to find the criteria the government is using for adding/removing a country. I suppose it's in the legislation too and I'll just need time to read it all thoroughly.

Alast · 07-04-2021 07:57AM

Chuck Norris 2021 wrote: »

Fully vaccinated people will no longer have to restrict their movements after being identified as a close contact of a Covid-19 case, under new proposals which the National Public Health Emergency Team will consider on Thursday.

By the same logic, should vaccinated people who have travelled not have to restrict their movements?? The article goes on to suggest that they may relax the mask rule for vaccinated people.

Relaxing the mask rule for vaccinated people would be bad move. I'm afraid a lot of people will lie saying they are vaccinated and won't wear a mask.

I'm all for removing masks after we pass herd immunity vaccination levels.

Happydays2020 · 07-04-2021 08:00AM

Tazz T wrote: »

so basically, from next month, the US can travel to Europe while we, a EU, country can't??????

People will get even more upset when a Brit can fly to Greece or Spain but you as an EU citizen will not be able to.

Hector Savage · 07-04-2021 08:07AM

faceman wrote: »

She has since tested negative. She doesn’t have it and never had.

https://www.independent.ie/news/they-are-being-treated-worse-than-animals-mother-of-woman-who-travelled-to-dubai-speaks-out-over-quarantine-row-40280223.html

I can hear the disappointment in the baying mob that wanted her thrown into the virtual leper colony ...

Micky 32 · 07-04-2021 08:11AM

Tazz T wrote: »

so basically, from next month, the US can travel to Europe while we, a EU, country can't??????

Well some on here are saying we could travel through Belfast to get around the quarantine or fines so if the USA is open couldn’t people travel to the USA later in the year via that route?

I suspect the USA will probably be looking for vaccination proof.

Tazz T · 07-04-2021 08:20AM

bubblypop wrote: »

Why can't you?

I can think of 2000 reasons

Tazz T · 07-04-2021 08:22AM

Happydays2020 wrote: »

People will get even more upset when a Brit can fly to Greece or Spain but you as an EU citizen will not be able to.

Or if US tourists are enjoying staycations in ireland before the Irish are...

Technically, that's possible.

KanyeSouthEast · 07-04-2021 08:31AM

Tazz T wrote: »

Or if US tourists are enjoying staycations in ireland before the Irish are...

Technically, that's possible.

How can a US tourist enjoy a staycation in Ireland? Surely only Irish people have that particular “honour”

Chuck Norris 2021 · 07-04-2021 08:36AM

Just reading about the latest desperate moves from Donnelly, apparently he's trying to close the legal loophole around medical travel, and trying to cap the numbers entering the country so the MHQ can be applied to all (I'd say about 3 at a time would be the most they could manage). However, one thing jumped out;

Those caught travelling without a valid reason are liable to fines of up to €2,000.

I assume the fine is still €500, but can be increased to €2000 in court on failure to pay?

Also, I would assume that they're not going to close the door on the UK? I think we seem to have more loyalty to them than Europe? Can anyone here see travel to and from the UK being allowed? Would be easier than driving to Belfast. With most of our flight routes decimated, I would imagine that the yanks will be free flowing in via Heathrow?

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

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