Five passengers with fake Covid-19 results stopped at Dublin Airport

A total of 95 people had no test to show officials while five were carrying false test results.

The figures were revealed to the Oireachtas Transport Committee after new rules requiring everyone entering Ireland from abroad to present a negative test came into force on Sunday.

The majority of those reported were travelling from Britain on Irish airlines and were predominately Irish citizens, the Deputy Secretary General at the Department of Justice Oonagh Buckley revealed.

However, compliance was said to be generally high as around 80,000 passengers arrived into the airport between Sunday and late Tuesday evening.

“In that mix, we checked more than 10pc of passengers at all times but in fact, on many flights, we checked 100pc of passengers,” she said.

“We referred in those three days only 100 people to An Garda Síochána.”

Failing to provide a negative test can lead to €4,000 fine or one month’s imprisonment – with sanctions increasing for repeat offences.

Passengers without tests are also required to immediately self-isolate and take a test within 36 hours.

According to Newstalk, Ms Buckley said the Border Management Unit (BMU), which conducts immigration duties, had significantly increased Covid test spot-checks in recent days.

She said the main checks on tests are supposed to be carried out at the point of departure, in line with EU policy.