A PROFESSOR at Trinity College has claimed that it's "outrageous" to let American tourists come to Ireland, suggesting that it's a "surefire" way to increase Covid-19 cases in the country.
Biochemistry Professor Luke O'Neill said that allowing tourists of any kind to enter the country was dangerous, but particularly ones from the US, given America's significant coronavirus problems.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner, O'Neill said he was deeply concerned with the news that hundreds of American tourists were flying into Dublin every day.
"It's outrageous, isn't it? Here we have one of the most dangerous places in the world for Covid-19," Prof O'Neill said.
"The likes of Texas and Arizona the numbers are terrifying there, they're breaking records every day with the numbers going up there.
"Yet these people are coming into Ireland and I think it's disgraceful," he added.
O'Neill's complaints come just days after it was announced that tourists coming to Ireland are expected to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
However critics of the new travel guidelines - including O'Neill - have suggested that they're unclear, boosting the risk of a second wave of coronavirus cases.
Not only that, but many are angry that Ireland is letting tourists into the country while more-or-less refusing to permit their own citizens to take holidays abroad.
"Look at what is happening at the moment, it seems to be fairly chaotic. Even I don't know the full guidelines," O'Neill added.
"People in my lab want to go to the likes of Italy and other places but they can't at the moment because they will be put into quarantine, which is a good thing of course.
"Others are thinking they might go and they're hoping that maybe the list of green countries will be released soon.
"It does seem to be a bit confusing at the moment."
