People cannot avail of "free" Covid testing from the Health Service Executive before going on holidays, Minister of State Ossian Smyth has confirmed.
"The State is not going to test you for free before you go away on holiday," he told RTÉ's Saturday with Katie Hannon.
He said people will have to rely on private testing for their European Digital Covid Certificate (DCC). Ireland "will be ready" to join the new certification system on 19 July, he added.
The Green Party TD also confirmed that antigen testing would not be accepted by Irish authorities for those arriving from abroad - "only PCR tests".
Sinn Féin's spokesperson on transport Darren O'Rourke said PCR tests could cost up to €150 per person and this has "real implications for the cost of a family holiday" if people have to avail of them both going out and returning to Ireland.
Minister Smyth said he accepted it "would be costly" for international travel but that "vaccinations are free". People who are fully vaccinated will be able to travel without a PCR test under the new EU system.
However, children aged between 7 and 18 who have not been vaccinated must have a negative PCR test, according to the Government's proposed travel regulations, due to come into effect from 19 July.
Mr Smyth said it was possible that antigen testing - which is much cheaper than PCR tests - could be examined for children of vaccinated parents.
"I will talk to the Transport Minister about this. I can see that PCR tests for children would add considerably to the cost of a family holiday [but that] is the policy at the moment."
The Minister of State for eGovernment also said that the country will be in a "stronger" position because of the high numbers being vaccinated when international travel is allowed in July.
Mr Smyth said every single week Ireland is "more secure", with 300,000 doses administered last week and it set to continue at that rate.
He also said the Government is aware of the continuing risks of Covid-19 as it prepares for a further reopening. "Many times where this virus has reoccurred when it was least expected."
The minister said the State will be looking at vaccinating children as part of the national vaccination programme, if it is the safe thing to do.
He added that there is still a risk of death and hospitalisation for those under the age of 25.
CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland Adrian Cummins said the association is to proceed with a legal challenge following the Government decision that will see restaurants resume indoor dining five weeks later than hotels.
He said the move has divided the hospitality industry into two parts.
He said they are waiting for the minister to sign the statutory instrument to allow hotels to open and once that is done they will go to court to challenge "the piece of legislation around the discriminatory and unjust nature of it".
He said while hotels can serve food from 2 June, restaurants, cafes and pubs have to wait five weeks.
This is happening during the summer season and every day counts in the restaurant business, Mr Cummins added.
"At a time when we are short of cash....the big challenge is to keep businesses afloat."
He also said Government pandemic supports must be retained for the sector until next year.
"As we reopen international travel it is going to take months, if not years to get back to the level of tourism that benefits rural and regional Ireland and Dublin."
He said the capital city had "collapsed" with regard to economic activity.
