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Official Report (Hansard) Tuesday 22 September 2020 Volume 130, No 7 Session 2020-2021 Contents Assembly Business………………………………………………………………………………………1 Executive Committee Business The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 ..... 1 Oral Answers to Questions Justice ................................................................................................................................................ 26 Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs ....................................................................................... 35 Question for Urgent Oral Answer Health ................................................................................................................................................ 44 Executive Committee Business The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Continued) ........................................................................................................................................ 48 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 ................................................................................................................................................... 50 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 ..................................................................................................................... 50 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020...................................................................................................................................... 50 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 ..................................................................................................................... 50 Private Members' Business United Kingdom Internal Market Bill .................................................................................................. 51 Adjournment COVID-19: Craigavon Area Hospital Outbreak ................................................................................. 71 Assembly Members Aiken, Steve (South Antrim) Kearney, Declan (South Antrim) Allen, Andy (East Belfast) Kelly, Ms Catherine (West Tyrone) Allister, Jim (North Antrim) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Anderson, Ms Martina (Foyle) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Archibald, Dr Caoimhe (East Londonderry) Kimmins, Ms Liz (Newry and Armagh) Armstrong, Ms Kellie (Strangford) Long, Mrs Naomi (East Belfast) Bailey, Ms Clare (South Belfast) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Barton, Mrs Rosemary (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Lynch, Seán (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Beattie, Doug (Upper Bann) Lyons, Gordon (East Antrim) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Blair, John (South Antrim) McAleer, Declan (West Tyrone) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Bradley, Maurice (East Londonderry) McCrossan, Daniel (West Tyrone) Bradley, Ms Paula (North Belfast) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Bradley, Ms Sinéad (South Down) McGrath, Colin (South Down) Bradshaw, Ms Paula (South Belfast) McGuigan, Philip (North Antrim) Buchanan, Keith (Mid Ulster) McHugh, Maolíosa (West Tyrone) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Buckley, Jonathan (Upper Bann) McLaughlin, Ms Sinead (Foyle) Bunting, Ms Joanne (East Belfast) McNulty, Justin (Newry and Armagh) Butler, Robbie (Lagan Valley) Mallon, Ms Nichola (North Belfast) Cameron, Mrs Pam (South Antrim) Maskey, Alex (Speaker) Carroll, Gerry (West Belfast) Middleton, Gary (Foyle) Catney, Pat (Lagan Valley) Muir, Andrew (North Down) Chambers, Alan (North Down) Mullan, Ms Karen (Foyle) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) Murphy, Conor (Newry and Armagh) Dickson, Stewart (East Antrim) Nesbitt, Mike (Strangford) Dillon, Ms Linda (Mid Ulster) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Dodds, Mrs Diane (Upper Bann) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Dolan, Ms Jemma (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) O'Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Dunne, Gordon (North Down) O'Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Durkan, Mark (Foyle) O'Toole, Matthew (South Belfast) Easton, Alex (North Down) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Ennis, Ms Sinéad (South Down) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Flynn, Ms Órlaithí (West Belfast) Rogan, Ms Emma (South Down) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Sheehan, Pat (West Belfast) Frew, Paul (North Antrim) Sheerin, Ms Emma (Mid Ulster) Gildernew, Colm (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Stalford, Christopher (South Belfast) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) Stewart, John (East Antrim) Hargey, Ms Deirdre (South Belfast) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Harvey, Harry (Strangford) Sugden, Ms Claire (East Londonderry) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Swann, Robin (North Antrim) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Weir, Peter (Strangford) Hunter, Ms Cara (East Londonderry) Wells, Jim (South Down) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Woods, Miss Rachel (North Down) Northern Ireland Assembly Tuesday 22 September 2020 The Assembly met at 10.30 am (Mr Deputy Speaker [Mr McGlone] in the Chair). Members observed two minutes' silence. Assembly Business Executive Committee Business Mr McGrath: On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Last week, the Speaker made his views known about press conferences and The Health Protection (Coronavirus, information being made known in press Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations conferences rather than to the House. That was (Northern Ireland) 2020 on the back of a Business Committee meeting where the views of many Members were Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr McGlone): The next articulated that, because of the nature and items of business are motions to approve a total complexity of the rules that are being of five statutory rules, all of which relate to the introduced and the lack of clarity in the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) information that is being given, we stated that Regulations. There will be a single debate on all the House would be the best place to make five motions. I will repeat that: a single debate announcements about them. Has there been on all five motions. I will ask the Clerk to read any further action or response from the the first motion, and I will then call on the Speaker's announcement to the First Minister Minister to move it. The Minister will commence and deputy First Minister last week? the debate on all the motions. When all who wish to speak have done so, I shall put the Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr McGlone): While the Question on the first motion. The second Member's point is perhaps not a point of order, motion will then be read into the record, and I it would be a matter of good practice and will call on the Minister to move it. The Question professionalism for the Assembly. I do not have will then be put on that motion. That process anything to report on that, but I will get it will be repeated for each of the remaining checked out, because it is to be expected as statutory rules. If that is clear, I shall proceed. good practice. Thank you for raising it. Mr Swann (The Minister of Health): I beg to move That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved. Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr McGlone): The Business Committee has agreed that there should be no time limit on this debate. I call the Minister to open the debate on the motions. Mr Swann: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. As you said, there are five motions before the Assembly, and, with your permission, I will address each of them in my opening remarks. I will begin by outlining for Members the changes that have been brought about by these regulations, so I will begin with the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020. At the 1 Tuesday 22 September 2020 conclusion of the fifth review of the need for the Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern restrictions and requirements in the health Ireland) 2020, which were made at the same protection regulations, the Executive agreed time. They require members of the public, that a fresh set of regulations should be made subject to limited exceptions, to wear a face for the purpose of retaining those restrictions covering on public transport. The regulations and requirements that were considered still to are required to be reviewed within six months, be necessary and clarifying powers for the which is by January 2021, and are due to expire imposition of new restrictions should the need after 12 months, which takes us to July 2021. arise. The subsequent amendment (No. 2) regulations were then made on 23 July. They In the light of the evolving evidence and revoked and replaced the Health Protection proposals to relax restrictions in relation to (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations indoor interactions and the pausing of shielding, (Northern Ireland) 2020, including all previous the Executive subsequently agreed to introduce amendments that were made to them. The the use of face coverings in indoor settings regulations required the closure of certain where interactions with individuals from other businesses, services and premises listed in the households take place. The Health Protection schedule, except for limited permitted use. The (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) regulations imposed restrictions on gatherings, (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) both indoor and outdoor,