Northern Ireland

DUP criticise plans to extend Covid powers in Northern Ireland

Health Minister Robin Swann: Picture by Hugh Russell.
Health Minister Robin Swann: Picture by Hugh Russell. Health Minister Robin Swann: Picture by Hugh Russell.

HEALTH Minister Robin Swann is to extend his power to introduce Covid-19 measures for six months.

Mr Swann has said the step was a precaution in case a new strain of the virus suddenly takes hold.

Current arrangements under the Coronavirus Act 2020 had been due to expire today.

In a written statement to the assembly, Mr Swann said that in the ongoing absence of an executive “it has again fallen to me as health minister to decide whether to extend these powers for a further period”.

Having received legal advice, he said the extension was not considered “significant or controversial” as in theory it would only allow the introduction of pre-existing measures.

“I have no plans and certainly no desire to introduce any further restrictions. I am extremely hopeful that the question will not arise, given the trajectory of the pandemic, the success of our vaccination campaign and the effective Covid-19 treatments now available through the health service,” he said.

Mr Swann said Northern Ireland would be out of alignment with the rest of the UK if the powers were allowed to lapse.

“The chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser have advised that the risk of such a new variant emerging cannot be excluded. I therefore believe allowing these powers to expire could bind the hands of future ministers and the next executive.”

Department of Health officials have now been asked to draft the necessary order to make sure the legislation can take effect after the assembly’s approval.

DUP Environment Minister, Edwin Poots, told the BBC his party would be writing to Mr Swann to oppose the move.

“I do think that it’s a controversial issue in that every previous extension that took place had to have the assembly support for it,” he told the BBC’s Stephen Nolan programme.

“In the absence of the assembly I think that he should have executive ministers’ support and I don’t believe that’s the case. Most of us, certainly in our party, don’t believe this extension is necessary.”

Mr Poots said previous Covid restrictions had been “excessive,” and it was not right to unilaterally extend them.

Earlier this week, Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Ian Young, welcomed news from the World Health Organization that the end of the pandemic was approaching.

Adding a note of caution, he said 200 patients were still in Northern Ireland hospitals with Covid and that up to one in 70 people were still being infected every week.