Irish citizens attempting to get around travel restrictions

[cyprus2016]

I heard this yesterday on RTE (Republic of Ireland State Broadcaster), in an effort to get around the overseas travel ban, people in Ireland are booking dental check-up appointments with dentists in the Canary Islands and, importantly, insisting on a headed-notepaper type email confirmation. They then print it off, take it to Dublin airport and show it as proof that they are travelling abroad for 'essential medical reasons' and are allowed to board their flight.

Needless to say, very few appointments are kept once they arrive at their destination!

The Irish Garda are apparently investigating and at least one Tenerife dentist has said she will be happy to supply the names of those who failed to attend their check-up!

[EnjoyingTheSun]

You'd like to think that it isn't beyond the authorities to see through this.
Are the Canaries known as world leaders in dentistry?
Personally I'd arrange refunds and book them at a very good dentist in somewhere like Albania and say we've managed to save you airfare and dentistry charges, no need to thank us.

[Mowgli597]

‘Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said gardaí have "changed their approach" at airport checkpoints following reports that people were booking dental appointments in Tenerife to avoid being fined for non-essential travel. 

‘From this morning, we warn people that we do not regard a dentist's appointment as a reasonable excuse to travel and that they may be prosecuted if they carry on with their journey."

‘Speaking on the Late Late Show, he said the €500 fine was not the deterrent they thought it might be but "today we found that people have turned back rather than be prosecuted and risk imprisonment or a suspended sentence".’

Genuine question: are there similar restrictions going into U.K./English airports (I.e. fixed penalty fines)?

[Dalartokat]

‘Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said gardaí have "changed their approach" at airport checkpoints following reports that people were booking dental appointments in Tenerife to avoid being fined for non-essential travel. 

‘From this morning, we warn people that we do not regard a dentist's appointment as a reasonable excuse to travel and that they may be prosecuted if they carry on with their journey."

‘Speaking on the Late Late Show, he said the €500 fine was not the deterrent they thought it might be but "today we found that people have turned back rather than be prosecuted and risk imprisonment or a suspended sentence".’

Genuine question: are there similar restrictions going into U.K./English airports (I.e. fixed penalty fines)?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52544307

[Kanonier]

Looking at the teeth of the vast majority of the Irish population I would hazard a guess that none of them have ever visited a dentist.

Incoming!!