Northern Ireland Executive advises against travel between GB and Republic

Northern Ireland’s executive has warned against all but essential travel between Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland after an outright ban was voted down.

A Sinn Fein proposal for a temporary travel ban was defeated during an emergency virtual executive meeting, but it was agreed people arriving in Northern Ireland will be advised to self-isolate for 10 days.

The meeting was called late on Monday night after health minister Robin Swann circulated proposals in response to the emergence of the Covid-19 variant.

The DUP, Ulster Unionists and Alliance opposed the Sinn Fein proposal, while the SDLP supported it.

After the ban was rejected, ministers then agreed Mr Swann’s recommendations without the need for a formal vote.

The paper tabled by the health minister also called for further preparatory work to examine legal issues around the introduction of any travel ban.

Mr Swann drew up the proposals following consultation with Northern Ireland’s attorney general on the issue of travel restrictions.

After the meeting, Mr Swann tweeted: “Pleased that Exec has agreed my paper tonight, including immediate guidance against all but essential travel between NI and GB/RoI, with all new arrivals here asked to self-isolate for 10 days.

“More work needed on option of legal travel ban, both legally and logistically – vital supplies to NI and essential travel need to be protected.”

Ahead of the executive convening, Sinn Fein finance minister Conor Murphy wrote to Mr Swann expressing “dismay and astonishment” that he was not moving immediately to instigate a ban on travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Mr Murphy called on Mr Swann to reconsider the position he had set out in his paper.

Ministers have been debating the possibility of amending the 1967 Public Health Act to introduce short-term travel restrictions.

While Sinn Fein supports the move, the DUP said that UK internal travel is already banned from tier 4 areas in England, so there is no need for added Stormont legislation to enforce that.

Earlier on Monday, Arlene Foster said the new strain of coronavirus had probably already arrived and warned of serious ramifications if supply chains were endangered by restricting travel.

“It is a very simplistic thing to say, ‘let’s close Northern Ireland off,’” the first minister said.

“That has ramifications, and as first minister, I have to take all those into account as well.

“I have always tried to be proportionate and balanced in everything that I have done through this crisis, and I am going to continue to do that.”

On Monday evening, Sinn Fein deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill tweeted: “We are facing a very grave situation.

“There is no time to loose (sic) in agreeing a travel ban from Britain. Belfast and Dublin must act together to keep everyone on this island safe.”

Her party leader Mary Lou McDonald tweeted an identical message.

Northern Ireland is to face a six-week lockdown from 26 December, which will be reviewed after four weeks.