Azerbaijan Away - Saturday 9th October 2021

Doesn’t matter if you’re vaccinated in EU. Can come from anywhere into Ireland without quarantine

But if someone didn’t know; it would look like from that headline we’d be locked up upon return. 

Govt have taken the decision to exempt anyone from testing/quarantine if they are fully vaccinated. That won’t change in the next month. The only issue that could arise is that some country you were transiting through closed the border to Azeri flights but that’s not likely at all.

Checked Passport, and Passenger locator, he saw that I had my printed vaccine cert in the sleeve of my passport but didn't check it 

If Azerbaijan gets added as a designated country here then your exempt from MHQ as you mention because your vaccinated but your not exempt from testing and home quarantine. You'd be expected to have a test before you come home, quarantine at home when you get back and get a negative test to exit quarantine after 5 days

Look at the section on have you been to a designated country part,

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/77952-government-advice-on-international-travel/#travel-restrictions-for-passengers-arriving-into-ireland-from-outside-eu-iceland-liechtenstein-norway-switzerland

Like I said its just something to watch out for, they may not add it to the list here and I don't expect them to either seeing as they didn't do anything with the last set of recommendations, but its just something to be mindful of seeing as the list can change at short notice, it's up to each country to do what they want with the EU recommendation. I just know for myself if it gets added to the list I can't go, work doesn't allow travel to designated countries given the requirements on return.

Looking at booking somewhere, any idea what area would be best hotel wise ?

Interesting, thanks very much. Not going to chance Az though but going to Luxembourg could well be a runner for me. Only thing I'm afraid of is running into some jobsworth at either airport who will insist on checking everything with a fine tooth comb. 

Are the e-gates at passport control option again btw? 

Yup as I posted above up to each member state what they do with that.

For Ireland that's either list it as a designated country or leave it as is. Ireland hasn't made any changes from the last EU list change so remains to be seen if we make a change now.

If it goes to designated state, if your fully vaccinated on return into Ireland you'll need a PCR test pre departure, 5 days self quarantine so long as a PCR on day 5 comes back negative 

Currently though Ireland only has 7 countries on the designated list whereas the EU list technically only lists 13 countries outside of the bloc as "safe".

I'd doubt anything changes here especially with Azerbaijans cases on a downward trend now but one to watch nonetheless 

All depends on what changes if any are made to the designated list here

If no change then once you've your covid cert that's all you need coming home