Ireland plans to replace its current system of travel quarantines with the European Union's proposed coordinated system as soon as it is ready, Reuters quoted Prime Minister Micheal Martin as saying on RTE television on Saturday.

The European Commission earlier this month proposed a common traffic light system for EU member states to coordinate border controls and remedy the current, confusing patchwork of coronavirus restrictions on travellers across Europe.

Ryanair, Ireland's dominant airline, on Friday called on Martin's government to commit to implementing the EU plan.