Travel between Ireland and Britain banned for 48 hours

Flights are banned from mainland Britain for 48 hours.  File picture.

A ban on flights and ferries coming from the UK will initially run for 48 hours until the cabinet has the chance to review the situation on Tuesday.

The unprecedented decision was made after a meeting of the government party leaders on Sunday after a day of conferring between cabinet ministers.

Transport minister Eamon Ryan made the announcement on the new restrictions on Sunday evening after a further 764 new cases of Covid-19 were reported and four further deaths and as a new strain of Covid-19 continued to grow in Britain. EU countries began banning travel to and from the UK over the weekend, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands had already banned passenger flights from Britain

EU countries began banning travel to and from the UK over the weekend, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands had already banned passenger flights from Britain.

Exemptions have been made to essential workers and those bringing goods into the country.

"This had never been considered before but the UK decision on their travel restrictions was very dramatic and we conferred this morning agreeing to act," he said.

"I spoke to the UK transport minister (Grant Shapps) today and in the UK they do a lot of genome testing and found this new strain and their concern was they hadn't seen any reduction but increased virulence.

"Seemingly this is why they made the decision to tell everyone stay at home and I said that it would be prudent for us to take action too.

"With the common travel area, we do not do this in any way lightly.

"We looked at a few options like keeping scheduled flights but it would be too difficult to manage or police.

"On the same precautionary basis, it's right for us to follow the Dutch, Italian, and other governments..

"A moving situation"

"Any passengers that are in transit or near difficulty we will have mechanisms to repatriate them in a safe way, but general travel between here and Britain is restricted and we'll review it at Cabinet.

"There will be further changes, this is a moving situation.

"There is a concern and we've seen a spike in numbers in our own country in the last two or three days in particular. So, the European Centre for Disease Control has issued further advice this evening.

"We're looking at that and it is saying across Europe, not just here we have to be extra vigilant, to be extra careful.

"Follow the basic advice, reduce the contacts, reduce the amount of socialising, unfortunately, at this time of year as that is what we do."

Mr Ryan does not expect to announce a time limit for how long the ban will continue for on Tuesday.

The government has made an announcement for restrictions on travel from Britain this evening. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

"There will be further changes, this is a moving situation.

"We have the ban now for 48 hours and then we'll review it at cabinet," he said.

"We have to wait and see how it operates initially and keep in contact with the UK.

"The best way to approach this, because it's changing everyday, is that it's better to review and monitor it on a phased basis."

Mr Ryan added that "it's not as if after 48 hours this would be loosening."

A statement released by Government said: "The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Health had detailed discussions on Sunday and announced that in the interests of Public Health, people in Britain, regardless of nationality, should not travel to Ireland, by air or by sea.

"Ministers have engaged with the UK authorities and the Department of Transport has advised airlines of the ban.

"There will be close coordination with the Northern Ireland authorities as these arrangements are put in place.

"Ferry crossings between Ireland and Great Britain will continue in order to keep essential supply chains moving. The Government direction for people not to travel from Great Britain to Ireland does not extend to essential supply chain workers."

Essential workers are listed as:

• Deck Officers, 
• Engineering Officers and ETOs, 
• Deck Ratings, 
• Engine Ratings, 
• Pursers, Hotel/Catering Ratings, 
• Cleaners, 
• Contracted technicians, 
• Marine Pilot and HGV Drivers and/or persons holding an EU Annex 3 International Transport Worker Certificate

Infection spike

Stephen Donnelly said the Government were "not sealing the border" but would be giving "strong advice" about travel north and south.

The new strain of Covid19 is "out of control" in England according to UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock and is thought to spread more easily while being harder to detect.

There has been no evidence that the new strain has reached Ireland.

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, said In Ireland every indicator of disease severity is moving in the wrong direction.

"We have particularly strong concerns about the prospect of inter-generational mixing around the festive season," he said.

"If these younger people come into contact with their loved ones over the age of 65, we could see a spike in infections in this more vulnerable group. This would lead to very a serious pattern of disease, hospitalisations, ICU admissions and unnecessary deaths.” The UK government's decision to go into further lockdown over the weekend was directly linked to the uncontrolled spread of the virus throughout the south of England.

There were lengthy queues in London airports and train stations as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the tightening of Covid-19 restrictions in the South East - including London

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said the Government were "not sealing the border" but would be giving "strong advice" about travel north and south.