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The Department of Foreign Affairs has helped more than 8,000 Irish citizens return home safely from 126 countries during the Covid-19 pandemic, the minister has said.<\/p>\nThe Department of Foreign Affairs has helped more than 8,000 Irish citizens return home safely from 126 countries during the Covid-19 pandemic, the minister has said.<\/p>\n
Simon Coveney said that Ireland has also allocated over \u20ac140 million to the global Covid-19 response.<\/p>\n
Mr Coveney told the Oireachtas foreign affairs committee: \u201cThe outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has left no corner of the globe untouched and the council has addressed it frequently.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the early months of the pandemic, we (EU Foreign Affairs Council) focused on coordinating consular assistance to EU citizens.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe council also discussed how the EU could step up support for vulnerable countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cA coordinated Team Europe response package has provided over \u20ac35 billion to date.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was confirmed earlier this week that people travelling to Ireland from \u201cred\u201d listed regions will no longer have to restrict their movements once they receive a negative Covid-19 test after arriving in the country.<\/p>\n
The test must be taken five days after arrival in Ireland.<\/p>\n
The new travel rules are due to come into effect from midnight on November 29.<\/p>\n
It gives a glimmer of hope to families hoping to be reunited at Christmas, as it limits the number of days people have to spend in self-isolation.<\/p>\n
The government agreed the changes at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday in a bid to bring Ireland in line with the EU\u2019s traffic light system.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the Government said: \u201cFrom midnight November 29, arrivals from an EU red region will not be expected to restrict movements following receipt of a negative\/not-detected result from a Covid-19 PCR test taken a minimum of five days after arrival in Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n
It means if people receive a negative PCR test they will be free to move around rather than having to isolate their movement for 14 days.<\/p>\n
The Government said this provision will also be available to people arriving from orange regions who may not have availed of a pre-departure test.<\/p>\n
The Government has also given the green light to allow Covid-19 testing for passengers travelling through DAA airports in Dublin and Cork.<\/p>\n
Passengers will be able to avail of tests before and after their flight at private testing facilities.<\/p>\n
Tests are expected to cost between 100 euro and 200 euro.<\/p>\n