Government Says Foreign Holidays Unlikely This Year
Listen to this episode
Share this article
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan says it s unlikely that most people will be able to travel abroad for holidays this summer.
Speaking ahead of today s Cabinet meeting, where the government signed off on an extension of Level 5 restrictions until March, he warned that people should not book holidays as the vast majority of ordinary flights are not going to take place .
We spoke with travel expert Sarah Slattery and Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, president of the Irish Hotels Federation, about this.
Government Says Foreign Holidays Unlikely This Year
“Despite anticipated disruption to deliveries, which was announced on Friday 22 January, Ireland will receive a delivery of AstraZeneca vaccine within the expected range for February, although at the lower end of that range. Delivery in March is likely to be more impacted and considerably lower than what was originally stated by the company.
This comes as Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said stricter sanctions for people breaking the 5km lockdown rule will be considered by the Cabinet.
Since on-the-spot fines were introduced by gardaí two weeks ago for those deemed travelling with non-essential reasons, around 1,500 people have been fined.
Gardaí reminded the public yesterday that foreign holidays are “not deemed essential”.
Cabinet this afternoon decided to extend the current lockdown into spring and bring in additional restrictions for passengers coming into the country.
The extended restrictions aim to “crush” case numbers, reduce numbers of patients in hospital and ICU, enable a phased reopening of schools and to get more people vaccinated.
There are now new rules on travel – including that to and from Northern Ireland –quarantine and some hint to when schools may reopen, as well as whether we’re going to be able to go on holiday this year.
Travel
Don’t go booking your summer holidays just yet – Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said it may be the case that international travel may not be “possible” this summer or this Christmas.
Limerick s Live 95
Search By Live95 News Team via Getty Images A Limerick priest has called the resistance to progress works on a major road project a green coup .
People living in Moyross met virtually with the Transport Minister Eamon Ryan last Friday about the Coonagh-Knockalisheen Road , where its understood he told local residents that he hopes to consult with the Land Development Agency to create a new, better plan for the Northside.
The construction which is part of the Limerick Regeneration Programme was due to recommence works in September 2020, with 30 percent of the work already completed.
Fr. Pat Hogan who attended the virtual meeting last Friday believes the Minister has overstepped the mark.