Europe’s biggest airline has mounted a challenge against Ireland’s 14-day quarantine policy, with outspoken Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary dismissing the government’s position as “unconstitutional”.
The news comes shortly after Dublin reintroduced mandatory self-isolation measures for travellers arriving from a spate of European countries on 21 July, and discouraged citizens from non-essential travel outside the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
While the mainland UK, France, and Spain all made the “no-go” list, popular travel destinations including Italy, Greece and Hungary were excluded from the provisions.
In its bid to have the restrictions overturned, Ryanair alleges that the requirements are unlawful, infringe disproportionately on individual rights and are detrimental to its business.
Adding that the measures are mandatory in nature and have the same effect as regulations, the company says the recommendations should have been approved by the houses of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament).
Accordingly, it alleges that the policy is incompatible with the provisions of the 1970 and 2020 Health Acts, the European Convention of Human Rights and the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. The lawsuit, which has been joined by Aer Lingus’ parent company IAG, will return before the court in mid-August.
Together with IAG and EasyJet, the airline launched a similar legal action last month in Britain. The case was subsequently dropped after the British government moved to scrap its 14-day quarantine rule.
