Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann has said the resignation of DUP First Minister Paul Givan had removed the opportunity for the Executive to discuss the removal of further Covid-19 restrictions in Northern Ireland.
Mr Swann said: "I'm not prepared to allow a failure of politics to get in the way of lifting now unnecessary restrictions. "I can confirm it was my intention to go to the Executive this week to advocate a significant removal of Covid restrictions. "I am now seeking that legal guidance on how I myself can replace the bulk of the remaining restrictions, if not all of them, with clear guidance and advice. "When we had an Executive, ministers always said we wouldn't retain restrictions for a day longer than necessary, so that same logic should still apply." Robin Swann said that removing remaining Covid restrictions did not mean a "free for all".
He said: "While we must move forward carefully, we can't stay locked in emergency restrictions forever. "We need to start getting normal back. "That means moving cautiously out of the legal phase of the Covid response. "I hope this will be a permanent decision. "I am persuaded that having reviewed the data and consulted with senior medics and scientists within my department, the time to take this step is this week." Mr Swann said the removal of remaining Covid restrictions had been complicated by not having an Executive in Northern Ireland.
He said: "The legal situation has been complicated by the actions of last week, the Covid regulations have always been collective Executive regulations. "And now we have no Executive. "So this is not necessarily straightforward. "But the people of Northern Ireland deserve a clear path ahead. "That's what I am continuing to