Arlene Foster: Don’t give up hope on foreign holidays yet

First Minister Arlene Foster offered potential holidaymakers a glimmer of hope last night when she said it is still “too early to rule out” the possibility of jetting off this summer.

Her comments came after the Health Minister Robin Swann and his Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride warned against taking a trip overseas this summer.

Their comments drew ire from the Belfast City Airport chief executive Brian Ambrose, who warned that ministers “must carefully consider the severe economic consequences of their public comments”.

Mr Swann had sounded the alarm bells during a press conference on Wednesday, when he was asked if foreign holiday plans are likely to be scuppered this summer by the wave of coronavirus infections sweeping across much of Europe.

“Very much so,” the minister said.

The question was put to the First and Deputy First Ministers Arlene Foster (pictured) and Michelle O’Neill last night. DUP leader Mrs Foster said: “I think it is too soon to say.”

In a BBC Radio interview yesterday morning, Dr McBride said: “Looking at the rise in cases in Europe, many people will conclude themselves that to book a holiday would be premature.”

Responding to those comments, and the earlier warning from Mr Swann, airport chief Mr Ambrose said: “The health and well-being of the Northern Ireland population must remain paramount as we exit this pandemic.

“However, ministers and senior civil servants must carefully consider the severe economic consequences of their public comments.

“As an airport we would never challenge decisions made by the health minister in relation to the running of the health service.”

He added: “However, we would expect decisions on international air travel to emanate from the Northern Ireland Executive, rather than the health minister or an advisor.”

The UK’s Global Travel Task Force is due to report on foreign travel next month.

The question was put to the first and deputy first ministers at a press conference in Dungannon, following a meeting of the Executive yesterday.

Mrs Foster said: “The Global Travel Task Force is reporting on April 12, our officials are working through that with other officials from Scotland, Wales and England so we look forward to seeing that report.

“My view is that it’s perhaps too soon to be booking your holidays but it’s also too soon to be ruling them out as well because we haven’t had that report yet.”

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill was similarly non-commital on whether people will be able to fly overseas for their holidays this summer.

“People are desperate for something to look forward to, I understand that and I feel that myself,” she said.

“It’s really understandable that people would be very disappointed by what was said yesterday.

“I think it is just about trying to be honest with the public around so much uncertainty around what is going to happen over the next number of months. It’s still difficult to predict whether or not there will be travel come the summer period.

“We hope to be able to give clarity when we can, unfortunately it is just too far out at this stage to give people 100% guarantees because you can’t do that in a pandemic.”

The chief executive of the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance (NITA), meanwhile, called for “clarity” from Stormont once the travel task force publishes its report next month.

The organisation’s chief executive Joanne Stuart said in a statement: “It is important that the NI Executive provide clarity on the way forward once the report has been published.”