The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Regulations made by the Department of Health and laid before the Assembly under section 25Q (Emergency procedure) of the Public Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1967, for approval of the Assembly before the expiration of 28 days beginning with the day on which they are made.

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2021 No. 29

Public Health

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Made

at 2.00 p.m. on 9th February 2021

Laid before the Assembly

at 3.00 p.m. on 9th February 2021

Coming into operation in accordance with Regulation 1(2)

The Department of Health(1), makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 25C(1), (3)(c), (4)(d) and 25F(2) of the Public Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1967(2).

These Regulations are made in response to the serious and imminent threat to public health which is posed by the incidence and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Northern Ireland.

The Department of Health considers that the restrictions and requirements imposed by these Regulations are proportionate to what they seek to achieve, which is a public health response to that threat.

In accordance with section 25Q of that Act the Department of Health is of the opinion that, by reason of urgency, it is necessary to make these Regulations without a draft having been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021.

(2) These Regulations come into operation on 10th February 2021.

Amendment of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

2.  The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020(3) are amended in accordance with regulation 3.

3.—(1) In Regulation 4D(1), for “paragraphs (2) and (3)” substitute “paragraphs (2), (3) and (3A)”.

(2) After Regulation 4D(3) insert—

“(3A) A person may provide a close contact service when that service is driving instruction for the test of competence to drive a vehicle provided by, or on behalf of, The Police Service of Northern Ireland, The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust, or The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Board.”

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health at 2.00 pm on 9th February 2021

(L.S.)

Robin Swann

Minister of Health

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (“the principal regulations”).

Regulation 3 inserts paragraph (3A) into regulation 4D of the principle regulations to allow that a person may provide driving instruction when that service is provided by, or on behalf, The Police Service of Northern Ireland, The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust, or the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Board for the purpose of testing of competence to drive a vehicle.

No regulatory impact assessment has been prepared for these Regulations.

(1)

Formerly the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety; see 2016 c. 5 (N.I.), s. 1(5)

(2)

1967 c. 36 (N.I.). Part 1A was inserted by section 48 of, and Schedule 18 to, the Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7)

(3)

S.R. 2020 No.150 as amended by S.R. 2020 Nos. 170, 187, 195, 198, 202, 204, 210, 213, 224, 225, 232, 239, 250, 255, 256, 274, 287, 290, 323, 335, 343, 346, 352, 356 and 358 and S.R. 2021 Nos. 3, 18 and 27