IRELAND IS set to lift all restrictions on passengers from the UK with an announcement expected this week.
According to British outlet The Telegraph, the Irish government will this week announce an end to 14-day quarantine, passenger locator forms and negative tests for all passengers coming from the United Kingdom, whether they be holidaymakers or Irish citizens visiting home.
With many of Britain's huge Irish communities having now gone over a year without seeing their friends and family in Ireland, these reports have brought huge hope to people at home and in the UK.
Irish people travelling to Britain have never had to quarantine or prove a negative test result due to the two countries being in the Common Travel Area, however Ireland has remained much more cautious and currently requires quarantine, a passenger locator form and a negative PCR test.
Families could soon be reuniting as Ireland reportedly plans to scrap restrictions for UK visitorsThe Telegraph reports that the Irish government plans to lift restrictions for British tourists "to kickstart summer travel", and passengers will simply require a passport, driving license or other photo ID to enter Ireland.
Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland, told the newspaper they are aware that there is "significant demand from British and other overseas visitors to return to Ireland as soon as possible".
He added: "We are excited about the news that the government will make an announcement this week regarding summer travel, a move which would not only rekindle the close relations between our countries but also protect thousands of jobs and livelihoods across the travel sector."
Ireland is beginning to open its economy slowly and cautiously: while England has reopened for outdoor dining for close to two months, and indoor dining and drinking returned last week, Ireland is yet to open outdoor dining, and indoor dining will not return until July, with time limits and other restrictions to be strictly adhered to.
See More: Common Travel Area, Holidays, Ireland, Travel, UK
