Minister for the Environment, Eamon Ryan of the Green Party has caused some diplomatic waves north of the border.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, Minister Ryan said Gardai can ask people travelling to the Republic of Ireland from Northern Ireland to return home.
“There is provision for someone coming down from the North, that they (gardai) can ask someone to turn back, and we’re looking to actually strengthen that (so) that we have the same fining capability in terms of traffic coming from whatever different direction.”
He added that the “objective” was to reduce the volume of traffic.
The Green Party minister made the revelation during Tuesdays announcement of new Covid-19 regulations along side the Fianna Fáil Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Minister Martin said officials representing the Stormont Executive and those in the south have discussed data sharing in terms of the passengers coming into Ireland.
Mr Martin said during the press conference that it has been a “challenge” as there are “political sensitivities” around it.
North-south Covid co-operation was strained after Mr Martin said it was his “understanding” that the authorities in the 6 counties were not testing for the new variant of Covid-19 reports the Belfast Telegraph.
However Minister Martin’s claim was disputed and described as misleading by the Department of Health.
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