People cannot avail of "free" Covid testing from the HSE 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). It is due to come into effect on 19 July and Ireland "will be ready", 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".
Darren O'Rourke, Sinn Féin's spokesperson on transport, said PCR tests could cost up to €150 per person and this has "real implications for the cost of a family holiday"