Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2020 No. 247

Public Health

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Travel from Denmark) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Made

10th November 2020

Coming into operation in accordance with Regulation 1

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, Travel from Denmark) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020.

(2) These Regulations shall come into operation at the time and on the date that the Regulations are made.

(3) In these Regulations-

"operator" means-

(a)

in relation to a commercially operated conveyance, the person who has management of the conveyance when it arrives in Northern Ireland;

(b)

in relation to any other conveyance, the individual in control of the conveyance when it arrives in Northern Ireland;

"passenger" means a person carried in or on a conveyance other than a member of the conveyance's crew.

(4) In the definition of "operator" in paragraph (3)-

(a) "arrives" means-

(i) in relation to an aircraft, lands;

(ii) in relation to a vessel, moors at a port;

(b) "conveyance" means aircraft or vessel.

Prohibition on the arrival of aircraft travelling directly from Denmark

2.-(1) Subject to paragraph (2), this regulation applies to an aircraft whose last point of departure was in Denmark ("a relevant aircraft").

(2) This regulation does not apply to-

(a) a commercially operated aircraft carrying no passengers;

(b) an aircraft operated by or in support of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.

(3) An operator must not cause or permit a relevant aircraft to land in Northern Ireland unless landing in Northern Ireland is reasonably necessary to secure the safety of the aircraft or the health and safety of any person aboard it.

Prohibition on the arrival of vessels travelling directly from Denmark

3.-(1) Subject to paragraph (2), this regulation applies to a vessel whose last point of departure was a port in Denmark ("a relevant vessel").

(2) This regulation does not apply to-

(a) a commercially operated vessel carrying no passengers;

(b) a vessel operated by or in support of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.

(3) An operator must not cause or permit a relevant vessel to moor at a port in Northern Ireland unless mooring at a port in Northern Ireland is reasonably necessary to secure the safety of the vessel or the health and safety of any person aboard it.

(4) In this regulation, "port" has the meaning given in section 313(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995(3).

Offences and penalties

4.-(1) An operator commits an offence if they contravene-

(a) regulation 2(3), or

(b) regulation 3(3).

(2) An offence under this regulation is punishable on summary conviction by a fine.

Transitional provision

5.  These Regulations do not apply in respect of any flight or voyage that commenced before 2.00 p.m. on 10th November 2020.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health at 2.00 pm on 10th November 2020

(L.S.)

Dr Naresh Chada

A senior officer of the Department of Health

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations prohibit the arrival in Northern Ireland of vessels and aircraft travelling directly from Denmark.

Regulation 2 prohibits the arrival in Northern Ireland of certain aircraft which depart from Denmark.

Regulation 3 prohibits the arrival in Northern Ireland of certain vessels which depart from Denmark.

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)

1995 c. 21. Section 313(1) defines "port" as including place