Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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576. To ask the Minister for Health if the attention of his Department has been drawn to the fact that there are persons who received second doses of a Covid-19 vaccine in other EU member states and third-countries who are unable to obtain Covid certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54100/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The EU Digital COVID Certificate is a document which is issued to help facilitate enable the safe and free international movement of people across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation individual Member States are responsible for issuing EU Digital COVID Certificates for medical events, in this case vaccination, that took place in their jurisdiction.

Individuals who received their second dose in another Member State, are advised to apply to the country where they received their second dose for a vaccination certificate. Individuals not able to access a certificate in the Member State where they received a vaccine can contact the Embassy in that country for support and representation.

The EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation additionally allows for Digital COVID Certificates to be provided to Union citizens vaccinated in a third country provided that the Member State has been provided with reliable proof of vaccination.

Ireland launched an online portal to receive applications from individuals vaccinated in third countries for Irish passport holders vaccinated in Northern Ireland from 28th September and this was extended to Great Britain on 15th October. The further development of the portal to accept applications for Irish passport holders vaccinated in other third countries is underway, with cross-departmental support, and is expected to be available in November.

This portal will accept applications from individuals vaccinated in a third country, outside of the EU Member States and countries which have been awarded an equivalence decision, who are 18 years of age and older, hold a valid Irish passport, and a reliable proof of vaccination for a vaccine type currently authorised for use in Ireland.