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

Multipass wrote: »

Is there anyone here who has travelled back from the UK recently who could PM me regarding the PCR test?
It has to be taken within 72 hours of travel, but any 24 hour results tests are outrageously expensive. The ‘cheaper’ (hah) ones are all 48 hours which gives no leeway for any delays at all given the time of the flights don’t line up with testing times. I’d like to hear from anyone who found a reliable tester, or alternatively what the connections are like by bus from Belfast airport to Dublin airport.

No need for PM, I came back on the ferry 14 days ago. Used boots but test was £120. Turnaround was very fast about 16 hours, but test as late in the day (before 4pm) as you can as they only send the samples off once a day at 4pm. You can phone the boots pharmacy where you are testing to check when samples are sent.

From the time the test samples are taken you have to be back in the country within 72 hours

I believe Boots have had some special offers of £99 but you probably just need to keep checking their website.

If anyone has a cheaper option (not in an airport as I travel by ferry back from the UK) I'd also love to hear about it.

agoodpunt wrote: »

cost not helped by govt VAT on pcr tests

UK, Irish or on both?

Niner leprauchan wrote: »

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/147/free-movement-of-persons


Health is specifically mentioned and we are not, again, denying anyone from entering the state. The rules apply equally to all eu citizens.

We are not a schengen country and retained our border control. That's the simple reality. The eu cannot order us to stop requiring quarantine for all arrivals.

Again, I'm all for open travel but ireland will not be made abandon restrictions within 6 weeks of anything.

Did you read my note where I specifically referred to public health being a ground to limit freedom of movement?

Did you read where I said that the Digital Green Certificate to be adopted by all EU member states prescribed the measures (vaccination, negative test, recovery from covid within 6 months) which are designed to ensure that the public health requirement is met?
Ireland will not be “made” but Ireland will agree to open up on that timeframe. A failure to do so with result in a formal Letter from commission (a “reasoned opinion”) followed by a formal notice of proposed action.

Ireland’s ability to a derogation from this would be at this stage as it is being pushed through the EU Parliament.

Can you understand that, with the exception of Italy and limited other states, the change here is not to require a test from those who hVe recovered or who are vaccinated. We don’t require home quarantine by Irish people so we are not permitted to impose it on EU nationals without public health reasons.

The government continues to state that it will implement the Dogital Green Cert so there is no question of “imposition”. They are simply sending out a stronger message to holiday at home to spend euros here.

Up until yesterday, I would not have believed intercounty travel before 7 June but I certainly expect this to be implemented by 30 June or 14 July in extremis.

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

I disagree - I have portugal hotel booked for last 2 weeks in August and we (family of 4) are 100% going.

I will book my flights closer to the time but if I have to, ill fly from Belfast.

It's not a great airport but 1.5hr drive up the road? No problem - it could be either that or no holiday.

I'm 100% going.

If you are not able to go by that stage then we will be in a ****load of other trouble. Ireland wants to welcome vaccinated high spenders from the US, U.K. and Europe. It can send mixed messages to us but they cannot come unless borders are reasonably open. There are a lot of grey haired yanks desperate to come to the old sod.

Personally, I want to go to Portugal for 3 months and would be there at the moment supervising a refurbishment if I could. I could argue that it is an essential trip to Gardai but I don’t want to push the point. Thereafter, however, I want to drive down there and continue working from home there until the autumn. It would be nice to come back for a few short trips but I content not to. I will be fully vaccinated long before I go.

munchkin_utd wrote: »

its strange though that the RKI (Robert Koch institute) in Germany, a small wee organisation with 1100 staff dedicated solely to disease control, so obviously clueless compared to a temporarily bandied together group in Ireland who still have other full time jobs in the background, now have no EU country or region at all listed as a region with variants of concern
https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Transport/Archiv_Risikogebiete/Risikogebiete_aktuell_en.pdf?__blob=publicationFile

I would never make little of the irish experts, as they are the most expertly experts ever and more infalliable than the pope, especially on social media, but why are they coming up with one thing and a permanent organisation on disease control something else.

I have nothing but respect for RKI. I have little faith in the third hand analysis of the hastily banded together group here. My reference to Italy (which was put on the list early on) and its contrast with other EU states related to the statements emanating from the government wafflers earlier in the week seeking to justify why, despite NPHET recommendation, a number of other EU countries were not associated with MHQ. I have no skin in this game - if MHQ had been in place earlier, I might have had more respect for them. If mandatory testing for flights had been in earlier, I might have more respect for them. To a significant extent, each of those was brought in too late and may have had little true effect.

josip wrote: »

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(Dublin)

I'm going wait and see the specifics of the digital cert, or whatever it's called now. Getting a pcr on the last day of you hols before heading back to Dublin sounds like a bit of a 'mare.

Van.Bosch wrote: »

Better than a staycation if you ask me.

Absolutely. But mightn't be needed by returning to Belfast. Out of Dublin by Ryanair, back to Belfast on Easyjet.

Marcusm wrote: »

I have nothing but respect for RKI. I have little faith in the third hand analysis of the hastily banded together group here. My reference to Italy (which was put on the list early on) and its contrast with other EU states related to the statements emanating from the government wafflers earlier in the week seeking to justify why, despite NPHET recommendation, a number of other EU countries were not associated with MHQ. I have no skin in this game - if MHQ had been in place earlier, I might have had more respect for them. If mandatory testing for flights had been in earlier, I might have more respect for them. To a significant extent, each of those was brought in too late and may have had little true effect.

Well said and we should remember that those misfits spent months arguing against the need for masks.

Marty Bird wrote: »

No PCR required for Belfast ?

Not sure but whatever rules are in place now are likely to be amended somewhat in mid May when Borris gives his update on foreign travel.

NI will likely follow suit.

India on it, at last.

Flew to Ireland today from the Netherlands and back again (had an essential reason to visit for one day). The difference between Schiphol and Dublin was night and day. Half the lights in T2 were off and pretty much everything shut. Schiphol was pretty much fully open and not quiet at all. Guards were going mental at some german man ahead of me upon departure, interrogating him harshly on why he was in Ireland. Not nice to see.

So sad seeing so many EU and FR planes mothballed on stands in Dublin. Hope the industry rapidly recovers.

Ratzo Rizzo wrote: »

Just curious, are all passengers stopped and checked at Dublin airport if travelling abroad? What sort of checks are done when returning to the country?

Depends on the time of they day. You wont see a single Garda on way or at the airport for early morning flights.

On returning, you are only asked at immigration for reason of travel, pcr and countries you have been in last 14 days. They do check immigration stamps on passport to make sure (not all countries stamp passports). No Garda etc.

I have not travelled personally but know several people who have over the last few weeks and above info is from their experience.

yer man! wrote: »

Flew to Ireland today from the Netherlands and back again (had an essential reason to visit for one day). The difference between Schiphol and Dublin was night and day. Half the lights in T2 were off and pretty much everything shut. Schiphol was pretty much fully open and not quiet at all. Guards were going mental at some german man ahead of me upon departure, interrogating him harshly on why he was in Ireland. Not nice to see.

So sad seeing so many EU and FR planes mothballed on stands in Dublin. Hope the industry rapidly recovers.

Jesus but that is absolutely horrendous, makes me so very ashamed of what this country has become. Cead mille failte my ass :mad: just shows how hypocritical that expression when push comes to shove.

Let's hope that tyrannical carry on disappears after 10th May. Otherwise it's Belfast all the way. Even with a valid reason to travel, who would subject themselves to arbitrary police interrogation when just going about your business! The blood boils. :mad::mad: