LEO VARADKAR has confirmed that vaccine passports, to prove that you've been immunised against Covid-19, will indeed be introduced in Ireland.
The news, which the was announced by the Tánaiste in the Dáil, will be seen as a major boost for anyone hoping for a holiday abroad this year.
He said that passengers will be given a document with a QR code on it, which will prove they've been vaccinated against coronavirus and allow them to travel freely without having to quarantine or self-isolate.
"I see the advantage in people being able to prove they've had the vaccine and/or that they've tested negative," Varadkar said.
"I know that we have an immunisation document ready that people will get with a QR code on it to show that they have been immunised.
Covid-19 vaccine passport (artist's impression)"And I know in other countries, like Israel for example, they're using that to say that if you have it, you don't have to self-isolate and the same applies to travel, opening now between Cyprus and Greece, but we're just not at that point yet in Europe. We're just not.
"The science doesn't yet say that being vaccinated is enough to say that you don't get the virus and pass it on, but I do hope that we will get there."
The idea of requiring proof of Covid-19 vaccinations surfaced last summer, as a way of kick-starting international travel again without further spreading the virus around the world.
While many hailed the idea as a significant step towards reopening society, it must be said that the passports haven't been popular with everyone.
Ryanair, for one, have consistently said they won't require passengers to provide proof of a vaccine, arguing that doing so for people travelling to destinations around Europe is pointless because they could easily make the same journey in a car where no vaccine passport is required.
