Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 29th January, 2021.

I, STEPHEN DONNELLY , Minister for Health, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 5 and 31A (inserted by section 10 of the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 (No. 1 of 2020)) of the Health Act 1947 (No. 28 of 1947) and -

(a) having regard to the immediate, exceptional and manifest risk posed to human life and public health by the spread of Covid-19 and to the matters specified in subsection (2) of section 31A, and

(b) having consulted with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Minister for Justice, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications,

hereby make the following regulations:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Face Coverings in Certain Premises and Businesses) (Amendment) Regulations 2021.

(2) These Regulations shall come into operation on the 26^th day of January 2021.

2. The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Face Coverings in Certain Premises and Businesses) Regulations 2020 ( S.I. No. 296 of 2020 ) are amended -

(a) in Regulation 3, by the deletion of subparagraph (i) in the definition of “relevant premises”, and

(b) in the Schedule, by the insertion, in Part A, of the following:

“8. Post offices.

9. Credit unions.

10. Banks.”.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

25 January, 2021.

STEPHEN DONNELLY,

Minister for Health.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation)

These Regulations amend the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Face Coverings in Certain Premises and Businesses) Regulations 2020 ( S.I. No. 296 of 2020 ) to make it mandatory to wear face coverings in post offices, credit unions and banks.