Government will consider any potential recommendation from the Chief Medical Officer to introduce COVID testing for passengers from China.
A number of countries have introduced new travel rules requiring travellers from the country to take a COVID test either pre-arrival or when they land.
The Department of Health told the Irish Mirror last week that there were “no plans” to introduce similar measures in Ireland.
The European Union officials are meeting today to discuss whether or not the measure should be introduced across the bloc.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that the decision was being watched closely but that Ireland will not be bound by the decision.
He explained that he is waiting for a recommendation from the Chief Medical Officer Dr Breda Smyth on whether Ireland should require travellers from China to require tests.
Minister Donnelly said that any advice would have to be discussed by Government.
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He said: “I'm waiting on a recommendation and I'm expecting a recommendation later on this evening or tomorrow from the Chief Medical Officer
“Six measures have been put together by the EU and they're being broadly supported. My expectation is that all six measures are going to be recommended.
“The one that's gaining most attention is around a requirement for pre-flight tests for passengers arriving in from China. We're not bound by that.
“I'm going to wait to see what the recommendation is from the Chief Medical Officer.
“But certainly, if the recommendation is that we would go with that, that's something I will bring to party leaders and Cabinet for discussion.”
France, Italy and Spain already require passengers arriving from China to take a pre-departure COVID test.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said last week that it was not recommending measures for travellers from China.
A European Commission spokesperson has now said that the “overwhelming majority of countries are in favour of pre-departure testing”.
