European Union Commissioner Mairead McGuinness has said that Ireland’s Covid-19 travel cert, which will plug into the EU’s Digital Covid Certificate, should be ready by 19 July.
Speaking at the launch of the Slovenian presidency of the EU in Brdo, Ms McGuinness said: "The whole purpose of the certificate is to allow us to enjoy free movement, because it’s one of the freedoms we took for granted until this pandemic hit and then we couldn’t move.
"My understanding is that Ireland will be ready on the 19 July, and I hope that is the case."
The Digital Covid Certificate went live today and so far 21 out of 27 countries are connected to the system.
There will be a grace period until 12 August for countries not ready to join today.
During this period, other states should accept national documents on condition they contain data required at a European level.
Ms McGuinness said: "Already if you’ve got your vaccines in Belgium you have the certificate, so I think all member states are very eager to get on this platform, because it will allow us to travel with freedom, but also certainty and security around public health.
"I do believe Ireland is working towards that date, and my own hope is that people who are vaccinated, or those who’ve had Covid unfortunately, or those with a negative test, can use the certificate to make sure their travel is eased, rather than currently, where it’s quite difficult to travel."
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Yesterday, the European Commissioner for Justice said that Ireland was the only EU member state not in a position to comply with the regulation at this stage.
Didier Reynders said this was due to the recent cyber attack on the Health Service Executive.
The Digital Covid Certificate - or Digital Green Certificate - is to be used as proof that travellers have been vaccinated against Covid-19; received a negative test result; or recovered from the disease.
