The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (2021 Consolidation) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2021 No. 284

Public Health

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (2021 Consolidation) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Made

14th October 2021

Coming into operation

at 4.00 a. m. on 15th October 2021

The Department of Health(1) makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 25B and 25F 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) (2021 Consolidation) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021.

(2) These Regulations come into operation at 4.00 a.m. on 15th October 2021.

(3) An amendment made by these Regulations does not apply in relation to a person arriving in Northern Ireland before the coming into operation of the provision containing the amendment.

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

Amendment of the principal Regulations

2.  The principal Regulations are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 5.

Requirement to undertake workforce tests

3.  In Regulation 9A(2) (Requirement to undertake workforce tests)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (m) substitute “.” with “,”;

(b) after sub-paragraph (m) insert—

“(n) paragraph 73 (seasonal poultry worker).”.

Passenger Information

4.  In Schedule 3 (Passenger Information)—

(a) in paragraph 3, omit sub-paragraph (b);

(b) in paragraph 6, omit sub-paragraph (d).

Persons who are exempt

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

(a) in Part 1 (Persons who are exempt), in the table—

(i) for entry 45 substitute the following entry—

“45 Seasonal Poultry Worker

Not exempt

Not exempt

Exempt

Partial exemption (work condition)

Not exempt”

(ii) after entry 45 insert the following entry—

“46. Performing Arts Professional

Not exempt

Not exempt

Not exempt

Partial exemption (work condition)

Not exempt”

(b) In Part 2 (Definitions of persons who are exempt, conditions, limitations of exemption and savings)—

(i) for paragraph 7(3), substitute—

“Where F is a member of the family forming part of the household of a person described in paragraph 1(a), (b) or (h), F is not required to comply with regulation 10.”;

(ii)

after paragraph 73 insert—

46. A performing arts professional

74.— (1) A performing arts professional working in connection with a performing arts event.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph—

(a) “domestic performing arts professional” means a performing arts professional who is habitually resident in the United Kingdom and has returned to Northern Ireland, having travelled to or transited through a non-red list country at any time in the period beginning with the 10th day before the date of their arrival in Northern Ireland in order to work in connection with a performing arts event;

(b) “international performing arts professional” means a performing arts professional who is not habitually resident in the United Kingdom and travels to Northern Ireland in order to work in connection with a performing arts event after departing from or transiting through a non-red list country at any time in the period beginning with the 10th day before the date of their arrival in Northern Ireland;

(c) “performing arts activity” means—

(i) a dramatic production, including a performance of a play, opera, musical or other dramatic piece,

(ii) a reading or recitation,

(iii) a performance of live music,

(iv) a recording of a performance of live music which is—

(aa) broadcast, at the time of the performance or later, to the general public, or

(bb) released, at the time of the performance or later, to the paying public (by digital or other means),

(v) a music video production,

(vi) a performance of dance, or

(vii) an event that combines more than one of the activities set out at sub-paragraphs (i) to (vi);

(d) “performing arts event”, in relation to a performing arts professional, means an event—

(i) at which a performing arts activity takes place, and

(ii) for which the performing arts professional is paid;

(e) “performing arts professional” means an individual who—

(i) is a domestic performing arts professional or an international performing arts professional,

(ii) derives a living from the performing arts, and

(iii) holds a certificate issued in accordance with “Travelling or returning to NI for work as a performing arts professional during COVID-19” published by the Arts Council Northern Ireland on 12th October 2021(4).”.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health on 14th October 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, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (“the principal Regulations”).

Regulation 3 amends Regulation 9A of the principal Regulations to include seasonal poultry workers in the requirement to undertake workforce tests.

Regulation 4 amends Schedule 3 to the principal Regulations to remove the requirement for the passenger’s seat number to be recorded on the passenger locator form.

Regulation 5 amends Schedule 4 to the principal Regulations to fix a typographical error at paragraph 7(3); and introduces a new exemption in relation to performing arts professionals who can claim an exemption from self-isolation while undertaking the exempt activity.

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 Nos. 108, 121, 132, 154, 189, 213, 214, 218, 225, 230, 241, 262, 278 and 282

(4)

A digital copy of this guidance can be found at http://artscouncil-ni.org/news/travelling-or-returning-to-ni-for-work-as-a-performing-arts-professional. A hard copy is available at the following address: Exemptions (Investment Centre), Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Linen Hill House, 23 Linenhall Street, Lisburn BT28 1FJ.