Tourism Ireland also welcomes the commitment to extend the Digital Covid Certificate to vaccinated visitors from other areas – including Great Britain and North America in due course.

The office here says the famed Irish welcome will be well and truly warmed up and ready for the return of the Kiwi traveller when the time is right.

For the first time in many months, we can look to the future with optimism,’ says Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland.

‘We know from our research there is significant pent-up demand among travellers in our overseas markets to return to the island of Ireland when it is possible to do so.

‘However, we also know that there will be significant competition in the marketplace; every destination across the globe has experienced the impact of Covid-19 and will be seeking their share of the recovery. Our kick-start campaigns will punch through the noise and create a desire to visit when the time is right.’