Arrival of Indian variant in Northern Ireland highlights Dublin's refusal to share passenger locator forms says DUP

Mrs. Cameron, who is also the deputy chair of the Stormont health committee, said in order to stay on top of the spread of the virus, the authorities on both sides of the border must be able to track people visiting the island from countries deemed high risk in terms of Covid-19.

"Nearly fifteen months into this pandemic it beggars belief that the Irish Government still is not sharing important information on international travellers with the Northern Ireland Executive," said Mrs. Cameron.

"We hear a lot of talk about collaboration on vaccine roll-out and other areas, but the sharing of this information is also of critical importance if our focus is on saving lives.

"If we are to properly monitor the arrival of people from high risk countries then information on travellers must be shared within the Common Travel Area."

Mrs. Cameron called on the Irish authorities to share the information "without delay".

"We have made huge progress in recent months and the reduction of cases in the community and in our hospitals gives real cause for hope," said the DUP MLA for South Antrim.

"Progress must not be set back because of a refusal to share vital information.

"The authorities in Dublin need to step forward and share this without delay. It should also be accompanied by an explanation as to why such practical co-operation has been withheld for so long," she said.

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