Expats with a home in Ireland should be exempt from hotel quarantine when travelling for compassionate reasons, politicians from France and Italy have said.
The call comes amid increasing pressure from EU countries for Ireland to drop aspects of its quarantine scheme for citizens from the bloc.
A trio of French and Italian parliamentarians argued in a letter to Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney that the cost of hotel quarantine was placing an “undue burden” on citizens who need to travel for emergency reasons.
The letter is co-signed by French National Assembly member Alexandre Holroyd and Italian parliament members Massimo Ungaro and Laura Garavini.
They said they wanted to be the “voice of distress” for Irish citizens living around the world.
Irish citizens "may be compelled to travel for essential reasons, such as the funeral of a loved one, and find themselves unable to return to their own residence in view of the financial constraints associated with the quarantine regime," they said in the letter, seen by the Irish Times.
Ireland’s hotel quarantine system has suffered a number of legal challenges in recent weeks from citizens who complained of the need to quarantine even though they were fully vaccinated.
Ireland last week agreed to changes that mean travellers who are inoculated with European-approved vaccines will be allowed to quarantine at home.
However, the move was a disappointment for expats in some countries who use alternative vaccines such as the China-made Sinopharm and Russia's Sputnik V.
The UAE, Bahrain, Hungary and Indonesia are among countries that use Sinopharm and Sputnik V as part of their vaccine drives.
Mr Ungaro called for the extension of home quarantine to unvaccinated travellers who are travelling in an emergency.
He said the €1,875 (£1,614) cost of staying in a hotel was creating “huge financial distress”.
The European Commission last week questioned why some travellers from some EU countries were required to spend quarantine in a hotel and others were not.
“The Commission is looking into these measures as there are some concerns in relation to the general principles of EU law, particularly proportionality and non-discrimination,” EU Commission spokesman Christian Wigand said.
“We are in contact with the Irish authorities and will ask them for clarifications on this matter and the criteria used to determine the designated countries.”
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Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
What are the influencer academy modules?
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The Gandhi Murder
- 71 - Years since the death of MK Gandhi, also christened India's Father of the Nation
- 34 - Nationalities featured in the film The Gandhi Murder
- 7 - million dollars, the film's budget
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
List of officials:
Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle and Richie Richardson.
Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumara Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Michael Gough, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.
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Scores
Wales 74-24 Tonga
England 35-15 Japan
Italy 7-26 Australia
The biog
Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns
Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Food of choice: Sushi
Favourite colour: Orange
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Fixtures
Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms
Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles
Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon
Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon
Results
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Al Baher, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Talento Puma, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,950m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Stakes Listed (TB) Dh500,000 1,950m; Winner: Mark Of Approval, Patrick Cosgrave, Mahmood Hussain.
4pm: Conditions (TB) Dh125,000 1,400m; Winner: Dead-heat Raakez, Jim Crowley, Nicholas Bachalard/Attribution, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.30pm: Jebel Ali Sprint (TB) Dh500,000 1,000m; Winner: AlKaraama, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,200m; Winner: Wafy, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
