Irish High Court rules government Covid-19 travel advice is legal

A Ryanair plane takes off from Manchester Airport, June 21, 2020.

DUBLIN: Ireland’s High Court ruled today that the government’s advice against non-essential travel to most countries due to the risk of Covid-19 infection was legal, dismissing a case brought by low-cost airline Ryanair.

Ireland has some of the strictest Covid-19 travel advice in Europe, advising against non-essential travel to all but four countries – Cyprus, Finland, Latvia and Liechtenstein. Those four countries however have restrictions on incoming passengers from Ireland.

Passengers from all countries – other than those four – coming into Ireland are advised to restrict their movements for 14 days.

Ryanair described the Irish government measures as “nonsensical” and questioned their legality in a High Court case that rival Aer Lingus also participated in.

“The government acted lawfully in providing travel advice and public health advice in respect of the coronavirus pandemic on a non-statutory basis,” the ruling by Justice Garrett Simons said.

“The advice to avoid non-essential travel and to restrict movements on entry to the State is just that: advice,” the ruling said.