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(Adds Ryanair comment)
DUBLIN, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Ireland's High Court ruled on
Friday that the government's advice against non-essential travel
to most countries due to the risk of COVID-19 infection was
legal, dismissing a case brought by low-cost airline Ryanair
.
Ireland has some of the strictest COVID-19 travel advice in
Europe, advising against non-essential travel to all but four
countries - Cyprus, Finland, Latvia and Liechtenstein. Those
four countries however have restrictions on incoming passengers
from Ireland.
Passengers from all countries - other than those four -
coming into Ireland are advised to restrict their movements for
14 days. The government plans to replace the rules with the
European Union's proposed coordinated system when it is ready.
Ryanair had described the measures as "nonsensical" and
questioned their legality in a High Court case that rival Aer
Lingus also participated in.
"The government acted lawfully in providing travel advice
and public health advice in respect of the coronavirus pandemic
on a non-statutory basis," the ruling by Justice Garrett Simons
said.
"The advice to avoid non-essential travel and to restrict
movements on entry to the State is just that: advice," the
ruling said.
Ryanair launched a similar challenge against the British
government alongside Aer Lingus-owner IAG and easyJet
in June, and ended the action after London scrapped its
14-day quarantine rule for travellers coming from some of the
most popular tourist destinations.
Europe's largest low-cost carrier welcomed Friday's judgment
because it said it confirmed the travel restrictions are not
mandatory and it again urged the government to fully adopt the
EU travel rules due to be finalised this month.
"I think it does clarify issues today and we believe the
government should immediately adopt the European traffic light
system," Eddie Wilson, chief executive of Ryanair's main
airlines business, told national broadcaster RTE.
"They should get on with that because they've abandoned
aviation."
(Reporting by Conor Humphries and Padraic Halpin;
Editing by Alison Williams, Ana Nicolaci da Costa, Editing by
William Maclean)
