From next Thursday, May 28th, it will be obligatory for passengers arriving from overseas to complete a Covid-19 Public Health Passenger Locator Form.
Announcing the measure, Minister Simon Harris said that the form will be used to facilitate a system of follow-up checks to make sure that people who travel to the country are staying where they said they would.
From that date, there will be a legal requirement for passengers arriving in Ireland from overseas to complete a Public Health Passenger Locator Form.
‘will also ensure more accurate and expeditious contact tracing’
He said that the Form ‘will also ensure more accurate and expeditious contact tracing, should there be a confirmed case on a flight or ferry coming into Ireland’.
On arrival, passengers must submit the completed form to the authorities setting out their contact details and where they will self-isolate.
Completion of this form is now mandatory by law as prescribed under section 31(6)(a) of the Health Act 1947.
The Regulations introduce new offences punishable by a fine not exceeding €2,500 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or both, for the following:
- Failure to complete and give the form to a relevant person
- Providing information that to the person’s knowledge is false or misleading (whether on the form, when presenting the form or in subsequent follow-up checks)
- Failure to provide further information to a relevant person upon request (who suspects that the form has not been completed properly)
- Failure to update residence or contact details if they change within 14 days of arrival into the State.
Passengers transiting to another jurisdiction, certified international transport workers, air and maritime pilot/masters and crew, will not have to complete the form. Individuals from Northern Ireland will have to fill out a portion of the form.
Exemptions will apply for the following:
- Aircraft crew, including the pilot, who are in Ireland in the course of performing their duties.
- Diplomats.
- International transport workers who have a Green Lane Annex 3 Certificate or who are driving a heavy goods vehicle have a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence card, or whose driving licence displays code 95.
- Ship crew, including the master, who are in Ireland in the course of performing their duties.
