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Stormont’s executive ministers are holding an emergency meeting late at night amid a dispute over whether a travel ban to Britain should be introduced.
The meeting was called on short notice Monday in response to a document that Health Minister Robin Swann had distributed to his ministerial colleagues ahead of a meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
It is understood that Mr Swann recommended issuing a guide advising against non-essential travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and Northern Ireland and the Republic, in response to the new variant of Covid-19.
The minister has also warned that anyone arriving in the region self-isolate for ten days.
It is also understood that Mr. Swann asked for more preparatory work to examine the legal issues surrounding the introduction of a formal travel ban.
He drafted the document after consulting with the Northern Ireland Attorney General on the issue of travel restrictions.
Sinn Féin Finance Minister Conor Murphy is understood to have written to Swann expressing “dismay and amazement” that he is not immediately moving to instigate a travel ban between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Murphy asked Swann to reconsider the position he has stated in his document.
Ministers have debated the possibility of amending the 1967 Public Health Act to introduce short-term travel restrictions.
While Sinn Féin supports the measure, the DUP insists that internal UK travel is already banned in Level 4 areas in England, so there’s no need to add Stormont legislation to enforce that.
Earlier, DUP Prime Minister Arlene Foster warned of serious ramifications if a travel ban was introduced.
Ms Foster said the new strain of coronavirus has likely already arrived and warned that supply chains could be in jeopardy by restricting travel.
“It’s a very simplistic thing to say ‘let’s close Northern Ireland’,” he said.
“That has ramifications and as Prime Minister I have to take them into account as well.
“I have always tried to be proportionate and balanced in everything I have done through this crisis and I will continue to do so.”
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