Keelings chartered a Ryanair flight to bring almost 200 seasonal workers over from Bulgaria

Ireland’s chief medical officer has said that chartering flights to bring workers into Ireland is “not consistent with public health advice” after a Dublin fruit business flew in nearly 200 labourers from Bulgaria.

Tony Holohan said yesterday that he did not wish to comment on individual cases after it was confirmed that Keelings had chartered a plane from Sofia to bring 189 fruit pickers to Dublin.

Keelings said it was “essential” that the company had enough workers to pick crops quickly as they ripen, “or we risk shortages in the market”.

A statement from the government said that it was “aware” of the flight, and added that seasonal workers “are critical to the agricultural sector”.

However, asked directly yesterday if he was comfortable with the