France is considering requiring rapid Covid-19 tests from Irish truck drivers operating on a logistics route that has become key since Britain's exit from the European Union, the Minister for Transport said on Sunday.
Large numbers of Irish trucks have begun transporting goods via ferries to France in recent weeks to avoid delays in the more traditional route to continental Europe via Britain, which withdrew from EU trading rules on January 1st.
The new measures would be targeted at a more infectious variant of the coronavirus first discovered in England but that has become widespread in Ireland.
PCR test
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan told RTÉ that France was considering demanding a PCR Covid-19 test, which can take several days, from most Irish travellers. Ireland is demanding similar tests from all arriving passengers.
France is also considering demanding a much quicker antigen test, which can give results in minutes, from Irish truck drivers.
“If the French government comes back with that requirement, we would have to manage that and make sure we can do it in a way that doesn't disrupt supply chains,” Mr Ryan told RTÉ radio. “That would be demanding, but I am confident we will be able to do it.”
A demand from France for Covid-19 tests from British drivers caused significant delays and trade disruption in December.
France on Friday announced that people traveling from non-EU countries to France would be required to present a negative PCR Covid-19 test, but that an antigen test would be sufficient from British truck drivers.
Ireland is a member of the European Union, but not of the Schengen free travel area.
