Ryanair, Ireland’s largest airline, has today (10^th June) welcomed EU Commission confirmation that Ireland has moved to a “ready” state for the implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate, allowing Irish citizens who have been vaccinated to travel freely this summer.

This week, the EU Commission confirmed that Ireland had moved from an “in-test” state to “ready” to implement the EU Digital Covid Cert system but Ireland is still lagging behind Germany, Spain, Poland, Croatia and many more countries across the EU who have already started to issue vaccinated citizens with  EU Digital Covid Certs, which facilitate the resumption of intra-EU summer travel. Irish Citizens who have been vaccinated must be given a firm date for when they can access their EU Digital Covid Certs before the go live date of 1^st July.

As a small island on the periphery of Europe, it is crucial that Ireland restores connectivity and opens for travel to/from the EU. The Irish economy heavily relies on tourism and it is also of critical importance that incoming families and tourists from locations such as Spain, Germany and Poland can travel to Ireland this summer, safe in the knowledge that their EU Digital Covid Certs will be accepted upon arrival.

Ryanair calls on Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to announce what date vaccinated Irish citizens can access the EU Digital Covid Cert system which allows them to travel freely to/from the EU this summer.

A Ryanair spokesperson said:

“The successful issue of the new EU Digital Covid Certificates will give a much needed boost to the tourism industry. Eleven EU countries are already issuing EU Digital Covid Certs which will allow their citizens travel freely this summer. Ireland is as usual lagging behind, so it’s urgent that Transport Minister Eamon Ryan confirms a date before 1^st July when vaccinated Irish citizens can access their Digital Covid Cert for travel this summer.”