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. 233
Public Health
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 14) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021
Made at 3.45 p.m. on 13th August 2021
Laid before the Assembly at 5.00 p.m. on 13th August 2021
Coming into operation 16th August 2021

The Department of Health, 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.
Formerly the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety; see 2016 c. 5 (N.I.), s. 1(5)
1967 c. 36 (N.I.). Part 1A was inserted by section 48 of, and Schedule 18 to, the Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7)
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 and commencement
1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 14) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021.
(2) These Regulations come into operation on 16th August 2021.

Amendment of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021
2. The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 are amended in accordance with these Regulations.
S.R. 2021 No. 93 as amended by S.R. 2021 Nos. 97, 109, 117, 130, 141, 151, 172, 197, 199, 201, 217, 220 and 224
3. In regulation 1(2), omit the definitions of “bubble” and of “educational activity”.
4. In the heading to regulation 4 (Restrictions on theatres, concert halls and other indoor venues), after “Restrictions on theatres, concert halls” insert “, conference and exhibition venues”.
5. (1) In regulation 4(1)(b) omit “and”;
(2) in regulation 4(1)(c) for the full stop at the end substitute “; and”; and
(3) after regulation 4(1)(c) insert—

“(d) venues used for the purposes of a conference or exhibition.”.

6. In regulation 4(2)(b), after “provide allocated seating for visitors to the venue” insert “unless attending an exhibition”.
7. In regulation 4(2)(c), after “other than to enter or exit the premises, access a seat” insert “, access an exhibition stand or exhibit,”.
8. In regulation 4(3), for “If intoxicating liquor may be consumed at premises to which this regulation applies” substitute “If food or drink (whether or not including intoxicating liquor) may be consumed at premises to which this regulation applies”.
9. In regulation 4(3)(b) before “permit orders for food” insert “in a venue where intoxicating liquor is sold or provided,”
10. For regulation 4(5) substitute—

“(5) In this regulation “visitors” does not include staff of the venue, performers at the venue or organisers, speakers or presenters at a conference or exhibition at the venue.”.

11. Omit regulation 4(3)(a).
12. After regulation 4(5) insert—

“(6) Sub-paragraph (3)(b) shall not apply in relation to food ordered by visitors selecting their food from a buffet or carvery.”.

13. Omit regulation 5(1)(d) and regulation 5(1)(da).
14. In regulation 10(3), omit “or outdoor” at both places where it occurs.
15. Omit regulation 12(1)(b) and regulation 12(2).
16. In regulation 17(2A)(a), after “regulation 4 (Restrictions on theatres, concert halls” insert “, conference and exhibition venues”.
17. In regulation 17(3)(b), omit “a bubble” and “in accordance with regulation 5(1)(d)”.
18. Omit regulation 17(3)(c).
19. Omit regulation 19 (Linked Households).
20. In schedule 1, omit paragraph 1(2).
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health at 3.45 pm on 13th August 2021
(L.S.)
Dr Lourda Geoghegan
A senior officer of the Department of Health

EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 by—
(a) permitting conferences and exhibitions with certain restrictions;
(b) removing the limit on persons who may be seated at a table to consume food and drink;
(c) removing the restriction on outdoor house parties, outdoor raves or outdoor gatherings at a private dwelling; other laws may still place restrictions on such events;
(d) removing references to bubbles; and
(e) making some technical changes.
No regulatory impact assessment has been prepared for these Regulations.