ALL ARRIVALS into Ireland, including those from the Common Travel Area with Britain, will require a negative Covid-19 test to enter the country, effective from Friday.
The move was decided by ministers on Tuesday in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.
Travellers, regardless of vaccination status, will need to show results from a lateral flow test taken up to 48 hours before arrival, or a PCR test taken up to 72 hours before arrival.
Furthermore, legislation allowing for the re-introduction of mandatory hotel quarantine for those who do not provide a certified negative test will be discussed on Thursday.
Hotel quarantine was a requirement for some travellers entering Ireland, but it stopped being operational on 25 September.
The Department of Transport is also in talks with airline and ferry companies to ensure checks of negative tests take place before people board flights and boats to the country.
The cabinet also agreed that both children and adults should minimise their social contacts in the weeks ahead to stop the spread of the virus, with children over nine years of age now being advices to wear face coverings on public transport and school buses.
