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Sinn F\u00e9in Deputy First Minister Michelle O\u2019Neill has called for a legal ban on non-essential journeys across the island of Ireland.<\/p>\nSinn F\u00e9in Deputy First Minister Michelle O\u2019Neill has called for a legal ban on non-essential journeys across the island of Ireland.<\/p>\n
Ms O\u2019Neill said the measure should be accompanied by a ban on travel between the island and Britain.<\/p>\n
It comes as a further 16 Covid-19 deaths were recorded in Northern Ireland, with an additional 439 cases of the virus confirmed in the last 24-hour reporting period.<\/p>\n
Last night, Stormont ministers agreed to support health minister Robin Swann\u2019s recommendation to issue guidance against non-essential travel between Northern Ireland and Britain, and Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. However, a proposal for a travel ban was defeated.<\/p>\n
Mr Swann tweeted: \u201cMore work needed on option of legal travel ban, both legally and logistically \u2013 vital supplies to NI and essential travel need to be protected.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Ms O\u2019Neill expressed regret that ministers had not supported her party\u2019s proposal for a ban on travel from Britain at Monday night\u2019s executive meeting.<\/p>\n
She also called on Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin to work with the Stormont Executive on a joined-up approach to prohibiting non-essential journeys through the island.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe needed to have urgent and immediate action, Sinn F\u00e9in proposed that there\u2019d be an outright travel ban from Britain at the executive meeting last night and that didn\u2019t enjoy the support of the executive,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s very unfortunate, very disappointing, particularly given the threat that is now posed because of this new strain, this new virus.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms O\u2019Neill told media in Coalisland that the region was an \u201coutlier\u201d, given steps to ban travel in other European countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere we are on the island of Ireland, where one part of the island is shutdown to travel and then another part is not,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I just think that\u2019s not a good position for us to be in, we\u2019re in a very dangerous position.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms O\u2019Neill added: \u201cWe need an all-Ireland approach, there needs to be an all-Ireland travel ban. That\u2019s the best way we can respond to this crisis. That should have been the approach from the outset.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I would encourage the Taoiseach to work with us, I would encourage the Taoiseach to try to get to the point where the whole of the island is shut down to any inbound travelers in order to allow us to try to have the best chance to fight back against this new variant, which, as we know, spreads faster than the current form, we know spreads perhaps four times faster.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that the enormity of that means that we need urgent immediate action on an all-Ireland basis. This is not a political point. This is very much a practical point. This is about saving lives, this is about doing the right thing. This is about protecting the health service. This is far too serious for any kind of politicking in the middle of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms O\u2019Neill rejected the argument that bans were not appropriate given the likelihood of the variant already being on the island.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s like saying when the taps running, let it keep running, let it overflow, let it flood the bathroom,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Asked if she would support a ban on cross-border travel, Ms O\u2019Neill replied: \u201cWhen it comes to north\/south travel, my message to everybody is very, very clear \u2013 no-one should travel unless it\u2019s essential. No one should make any non-essential journeys.\u201d<\/p>\n