UK / Ireland Travel Bubble

A significant amount of business, educational and social interaction took place across the Irish Sea on a daily basis prior to the respective lock downs in the UK and Ireland. Food and other goods cross the Irish Sea in both directions on a daily basis. Ryanair and Aer Lingus ran many routes between the UK and Ireland with both serving Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. Many families are now separated with people unable to move between the 2 countries.

Australia and New Zealand are looking at some form of "travel bubble" to reflect their connectivity and I would suggest that something similar for the UK and Ireland would be appropriate to allow families to reunite as the respective lockdowns ease. It would also allow those in the service sector to move freely between the different areas of their business interest as restrictions ease.

The reintroduction of the Common Travel Area post Brexit reflects the strength of these ties and the significance of free movement between the UK and Ireland from a personal and business perspective.

Why the contribution is important

The personal effect of the lockdown on people as well as the impact of the impact on business is significant.

Finding a way for both countries to allow freer movement to what for many is their biggest markets from a business point of view and to allow families some access to each other from a personal point of view will undoubtedly benefit both countries in due course.

by yamoe on May 05, 2020 at 01:28PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 3.5
Based on: 6 votes

Comments

  • Posted by KnightWhoSaysNi May 05, 2020 at 15:06

    I agree. In addition, many of us have holidays booked to destinations where if WE are the ones to cancel, then we lose out, but if the government forbids travel (say to the Med), we dont.

    The benefit here is that that money will then be spent on these islands boosting GDP.
  • Posted by kennethmac2000 May 05, 2020 at 21:57

    Agree with this, although the 4 parts of the UK, Ireland and the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey would presumably need to have broadly similar public health approaches, so that everyone could trust each other not to be an infection seed risk.
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