[ad_1]
The Stormont Health Minister will consult with the Northern Ireland Attorney General on the legality of the travel ban from Great Britain.
Sinn Féin proposed such a ban to combat the possible spread of a new, more contagious variant of Covid-19 during a remote meeting of the Northern Ireland Executive last night.
No decision was made, and Health Minister Robin Swann asked to seek legal clarity and update the Executive today.
Meanwhile, the Executive has advised people not to travel to Northern Ireland from the Level 4 areas of Great Britain, where the new variant of the coronavirus has been detected.
It has also changed the regulations that cover family bubbles during Christmas. The original five-day period, December 23-27, has been shortened to one day.
Much of the discussion at last night’s meeting centered on a travel ban proposal.
A section of the Public Health (Northern Ireland) Act 1967 states that there is a provision to “prohibit or regulate the arrival or departure of means of transport and the entry or exit of persons or things”.
Read more: Latest Covid-19 Stories
Section 25B of the act is titled “Health Protection Regulations – International Travel, etc.” but it is understood that the Department of Health was informed that it confers the authority to impose a national travel ban from Great Britain.
Sinn Féin lobbied for a ban with immediate effect, but the Health Department was unclear on the legal position.
Robin Swann has been asked to consult with Attorney General Brenda King and brief the Executive with proposals on next steps. Another meeting could take place today.
Sinn Féin’s travel ban proposal stands in stark contrast to Sen. Lynn Boylan of the Dublin-based party’s position in The Week in Politics yesterday.
She said that instead of a ban on flights from Britain, people entering the country should be monitored and there should be proper follow-up and contact testing.
Scotland’s Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday that cross-border travel to and from England will be banned during the holiday period, and that police patrols at the border will be doubled.
Wales has banned travel in and out of the country unless essential, and its citizens cannot travel to enter areas of England under the new Tier 4 restrictions.
[ad_2]