Irish hauliers travelling on direct routes from Ireland to France will no longer require proof of a negative Covid-19 test, after the French government amended current legislation with immediate effect.
The Department of Transport has said the move comes in light of the "very low" coronavirus positivity rates among drivers of commercial vehicles.
It said it is also in line with European Union Green Lane recommendations.
The department said that from 28 January, up to the end of yesterday, of 5,743 antigen tests carried out on drivers, 14 tests came back as Covid-positive - a positivity rate of 0.24%.
Drivers travelling from Britain to France, however, or from Britain to the Netherlands, will still require proof of negative Covid-19 test.
Therefore, any hauliers travelling indirectly from Ireland to France or the Netherlands via the UK landbridge must still have proof of a negative test result.
Proof of a negative test result is also still required for travel to Germany.
The department has said that drivers intending on travelling on such routes can avail of a test in Ireland at a number of test sites, as well as in Britain.
Ireland will continue its policy of exempting essential transport workers who do not show symptoms of the virus from quarantine requirements when entering the country.
The department said it encourages all other EU states to adopt this policy, as it is important for the movement of medical supplies and other essentials into the country.
