Health Minister calls for Covid passport scheme
By David Young and Rebecca Black, PA
Stormont's Health Minister has called for the phased introduction of mandatory vaccine passports in Northern Ireland.
Robin Swann's proposal comes after escalating pressures on the region's beleaguered health system saw ambulances diverted away from a main hospital for two periods within 24 hours.
The powersharing administration currently recommends that nightclubs and other entertainment venues use Covid status checks on entry, but it has stopped short of making it a legal requirement.
The issue has sharply divided the five-party coalition in Belfast, with the SDLP and Alliance having called for a mandatory certification system as a way to make venues safer and drive up vaccination uptake rates.
The two main parties in the Executive - the DUP and Sinn Fein - have resisted calls for compulsory passports, instead expressing a preference for a "partnership approach'' with the hospitality industry.
While DUP minister Edwin Poots made clear on Monday that he remained opposed to such a legal move, Sinn Fein deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill signalled her party would follow the health advice on the issue and would "take whatever steps are necessary'' to avoid another lockdown.
That suggests the DUP could find itself isolated at Wednesday's meeting if it continues to oppose compulsory passports.
Ulster Unionist minister Mr Swann said he believed the time was now right for mandatory certification to be introduced.
"I think now is the time for the phased introduction of Covid certification in Northern Ireland,'' he told a Stormont news conference on Monday.
Mr Swann said he would bring a proposal to the Executive on Wednesday when he said ministers could discuss the timing of the move and what settings it should be initially applied to.
"Our view as a Department of Health is that we should be using all the tools that are in our options to use,'' he added.
Mr Swann said he would like to see the mandatory system being rolled out as soon as the legal regulations were in place - a process he said would take between two to three weeks.
He acknowledged there would be a need for engagement with the hospitality sector in the interim.
Earlier, Mr Poots said he was not in favour of compulsory certification.
"I don't support that at all,'' he told BBC Radio Ulster on Monday morning.
"Over 90% of people are vaccinated and we need to continue to encourage the remainder to get vaccinated, but forcing them is not going to work.
"And I don't think that creating a two-tier system for so many things is something that I would be prepared to accept.''
Shortly after Mr Swann's announcement, Ms O'Neill tweeted: "The executive will meet again on Wednesday with a focus on the huge pressures in the health service.
"We will continue to be guided by the health advice to take whatever steps are necessary to protect the public and avoid another lock down scenario.''