Robin Swann: Republic’s authorities must close international traveller loophole

Health minister Robin Swann has asked his counterpart in the Republic to consider new laws to help track people arriving from overseas.

Right now, international travellers arriving in the Republic must complete a ‘passenger locator form’ if they cross the border into Northern Ireland.

But, in a leaked letter to the Irish health minister which has been seen by the News Letter, Mr Swann warned that if people don’t fill out the form there is “no way of tracing them” once they cross the border.

He said this presented a “serious impediment” to enforcing or monitoring the quarantine restrictions on travellers from “high risk” countries.

The minister said the “logical solution” would be to ensure everyone arriving anywhere on the island of Ireland provides “data which is accessible for compliance checks” to authorities on both sides of the border.

Mr Swann said “new legislation and data sharing arrangements” could be required for that to happen.

Concerns were raised about international travel at the Stormont health committee earlier this week.

UUP committee member Alan Chambers said: “It is absolutely essential that the authorities in the Republic of Ireland share information with our own Health Department about international travellers arriving in the Republic. This is a loophole that I have been highlighting within the Health Committee for some time. It’s to everybody’s benefit to get this resolved as soon as possible so it’s good to see that once again Robin Swann is being proactive on an issue.”

Alliance committee member Paula Bradshaw said: “We would have concerns, particularly, around cross-border travel given the fact that so many people are travelling through Dublin airport.”

She suggested people arriving in Dublin should be asked if they intend to cross the border and, if so, their details should be shared for contact tracing purposes with the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland.

In a statement, the Irish health department said it is considering an “electronic passenger locator form” with “consideration is being given to how to further enhance cooperation north-south in regards to overseas travel, including in regards to additional information-sharing”,