Farrell welcomes EU Green Certificate concept for safe return to air travel

Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal Alan Farrell has welcomed a proposal from the European Commission to allow for a safe return to travel.

Deputy Farrell said: “The proposed EU Green certificate will provide proof that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, has received a negative test result or recovered from COVID-19. It is proposed that it will be available, free of charge, in digital or paper format.

“The European Commission will build a gateway to ensure all certificates can be verified across the EU and will support Member States in the technical implementation of certificates, and it will include a QR code to ensure security and authenticity of the certificate.

“Member States would remain responsible for deciding which public health restrictions can be waived for travellers, but will have to apply such waivers in the same way to travellers holding a Digital Green Certificate.

“Supporting a safe return to travel later this year is imperative for the survival of our airline sector. Our connectivity on the island of Ireland and the routes that provide connectivity must be sustained, either through direct intervention by government, or through funding from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund already provided to one airline.

“The EU commission has already approved €120 million of funding toward Aegean Airlines, a move which I believe paves the way for Government to provide additional supports to our airlines and their employees.

“Dublin Airport contributes €10 billion to the overall Irish economy annually and is vital to our post-Covid recovery. The airline industry is a very significant job creator in my own constituency of Dublin Fingal also.

“This EU proposal would help to provide clarity and certainty for jobs within the sector and will hopefully help people return to the skies as soon as possible.

“It needs a united European approach to make it work and I would like to see the Irish government supporting it wholeheartedly. I was pleased to see Fine Gael MEPs back the proposal this week as it will be subject to European Parliament scrutiny”, concluded Deputy Farrell.

ENDS