Covid Certs for Irish citizens outside jurisdiction

Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith previously raised concerns with Minister for Health

The Government has decided to create a specific portal to enable Irish citizens vaccinated outside of the EU to obtain a Covid certificate valid in Ireland and across the EU.

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan and Monaghan, Brendan Smith has been informed of the move, having previously raised with the Minister the case of some Irish residents living in border areas who had encountered problems trying to obtain an EU Digital Covid Certificate.

In response to Deputy Brendan Smith’s Parliamentary Question, the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, stated the EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation (2021/953) allows Member States the option to issue vaccination certificates to EU citizens and family members vaccinated in third countries.

Such persons do not have a right to receive a Digital COVID Certificate and it is up to each individual member state to decide if and how to provide such certificates.

But, the Minister continued in response: “Following the successful rollout of the initial implementation phase of the EU Digital COVID Certificate in Ireland, the Government has decided to create a specific portal to enable Irish citizens vaccinated outside of the EU, with vaccines authorised for use in Ireland, to obtain a COVID certificate valid in Ireland and across the EU.

“This portal is currently being advanced on a cross departmental basis involving technical and process development, and resource management. It is expected that an announcement on the launch of this portal will be made shortly.

The minister added that under the EU regulation persons are entitled to request a Digital COVID Certificate stating they have received a single dose of vaccination in an EU Member State. “Such requests can be made through the helpline.”