The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (2021 Consolidation) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2021 No. 121

Public Health

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (2021 Consolidation) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Made

11th May 2021

Coming into operation

at 4.00 a.m. on 12th May 2021

The Department of Health(1) makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 25B and 25F(2) of the Public Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1967(2).

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 and shall come into operation 4.00 a.m. on 12th May 2021.

(2) In these Regulations, “the principal Regulations” means the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021(3).

Amendment of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

2.  The principal Regulations are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to7.

Amendment to Regulation 27

3.  In regulation 27(7)(d) (amount of fixed penalty) after “where the person is” insert the word “reasonably”.

Amendment to Schedule 1

4.  In Schedule 1 (Red list countries), at the appropriate places in alphabetical order, insert “The Maldives”, “Nepal” and “Turkey”.

Amendments to Schedule 4

5.  In Part 1 of Schedule 4 (Persons who are exempt)—

(a) in paragraph 1, for “Part 2” substitute “Part 1”;

(b) in the table, after entry 9 insert the following entry—

9A. Transit passenger (Republic of Ireland)

Not exempt

Not exempt

Exempt, conditions apply

Not exempt

Not exempt

6.  In Part 2 (Definitions of persons who are exempt, conditions, limitations of exemption and savings), after paragraph 21 insert—

9A. Transit passenger (Republic of Ireland)

21A.   A person P who, on arrival in Northern Ireland, alighted from the conveyance by which they arrived in Northern Ireland for the sole purpose of continuing a journey directly to the Republic of Ireland.

Condition for exemption from requirement to book and undertake tests

21B.— (1) Where P is a person described in paragraph 21A, P is not required to comply with regulation 8 where P is able to provide evidence to demonstrate to the satisfaction of an immigration officer that they intend to immediately travel directly to the Republic of Ireland.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), such evidence may include:

(i) evidence of residency in the Republic of Ireland;

(ii) evidence of a hotel reservation for the day of arrival; or

(iii) evidence of immediate direct onward travel plans to the Republic of Ireland.”

Amendment to Schedule 8

7.  In paragraph 1of Schedule 8 (Prohibition on arrival of aircraft and vessels), at the appropriate places in alphabetical order, insert “The Maldives” and “Turkey”.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health on 11th May 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, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (“the principal Regulations”).

Regulation 27 is amended to provide, in relation to a particular managed isolation offence, that an authorised person reasonably believes that such an offence was committed.

Schedule 1 (Red list countries) is amended to include The Maldives, Nepal and Turkey.

Schedule 4 (Persons who are exempt) is amended to include an additional exemption for transit passengers who arrive into Northern Ireland and immediately travel directly to the Republic of Ireland. Such passengers will not be required to comply with regulation 8 (requirement to book and undertake tests) if they are able to satisfy certain evidential requirements in relation to their residency and travel plans.

Schedule 8 (Prohibition on arrival of aircraft and vessels) is amended to include The Maldives and Turkey.

No 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. 2021 No. 99 as amended by S.R. 2021 No. 108