The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 18) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Made: at 12.05 p.m. on 28th October 2021

Laid before the Assembly: at 1.05 p.m. on 28th October 2021

Coming into operation: at noon on 31st October 2021

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. 18) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021.

• (2) These regulations come into operation at noon on 31st October 2021.

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

2

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021[^f00003] are amended in accordance with Regulations 3 to 17.

3

In Regulation 1(2) omit—

• (a) the definition of “drink”,

• (b) the definition of “household”, and

• (c) the definition of “shop”.

4

Omit Regulation 3.

5

Omit Regulation 4(2)(c) and 4(2)(d).

6

In Regulation 4(2)(e) omit “and which determines the maximum number of persons who may be accommodated in each part of the venue”.

7

Omit Regulation 4(2)(g), 4(2)(j), 4(3) and 4(4).

8

In Regulation 5(1) omit “paragraph (3) or”.

9

In Regulation 5(1)(e) omit “and the duty in regulation 17 (Requirement in relation to social distancing)”.

10

Omit Regulation 5(1)(f)

11

In Regulation 5(1)(h) omit—

and which determines— (i) the maximum number of persons who may be seated in each part of the premises;

12

At the end of Regulation 5(1)(j) omit the semi-colon and insert a full-stop.

13

Omit Regulation 5(1)(k), 5(1)(m) and 5(1)(n).

14

Omit Regulation 5(3)(b)(iv).

15

In Regulation 15A paragraph “(5)” is renumbered “(4)”.

16

Omit Regulation 17.

17

Omit Schedule 1.

Signed

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health at 12.05 pm on 28th October 2021

Sir Michael McBride — Chief Medical Officer

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 to remove the requirement to be seated in a hospitality venue to consume food or drink, remove the legal requirement to maintain social distancing in a hospitality venue, permit dancing in all venues and permit the reopening of nightclubs. It also removes the requirement for a ticket to be purchased in advance for an outdoor event.

A minor amendment is made to regulation 15A to correct the numbering.

No regulatory impact assessment has been prepared for these Regulations.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: Formerly the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety; see 2016 c. 5 (N.I.), s. 1(5)

[^f00002]: 1967 c. 36 (N.I.). Part 1A was inserted by section 48 of, and Schedule 18 to, the Coronavirus Act 2020 (c.7)

[^f00003]: S.R 2021 No. 93 as amended by S.R. 2021 Nos. 97, 109, 117, 130, 141, 151, 172, 197, 199, 201, 217, 220, 224, 233, 251, 276 and 283