Public Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1967

[F1 25D Restrictions on power to make regulations under section 25C N.I.

(1) Regulations under section 25C may not include provision imposing a restriction or requirement by virtue of subsection (3)(c) of that section unless the Department considers, when making the regulations, that the restriction or requirement is proportionate to what is sought to be achieved by imposing it.

(2) Regulations under section 25C may not include provision enabling the imposition of a restriction or requirement by virtue of subsection (3)(c) of that section unless the regulations provide that a decision to impose such a restriction or requirement may only be taken if the person taking it considers, when taking the decision, that the restriction or requirement is proportionate to what is sought to be achieved by imposing it.

(3) Regulations under section 25C may not include provision imposing a special restriction or requirement mentioned in section 25C(6)(a), (b), (c) or (d).

(4) Regulations under section 25C may not include provision enabling the imposition of a special restriction or requirement unless—

(a) the regulations are made in response to a serious and imminent threat to public health, or

(b) imposition of the restriction or requirement is expressed to be contingent on there being such a threat at the time when it is imposed.

(5) For the purposes of this section—

(a) regulations “enable the imposition of a restriction or requirement” if the restriction or requirement is imposed by virtue of a decision taken under the regulations by the Department, the Regional Agency or another person;

(b) regulations “impose a restriction or requirement” if the restriction or requirement is imposed without any such decision.]

F1 Pt. 1A inserted (temp.) (25.3.2020) by virtue of Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7), s. 87(1), Sch. 18 (with ss. 89, 90)