{"id":22708,"date":"2021-08-12T12:13:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-12T16:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=22708"},"modified":"2021-08-13T11:15:48","modified_gmt":"2021-08-13T15:15:48","slug":"oneill-pledges-to-keep-an-open-mind-on-vaccine-passports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=22708","title":{"rendered":"O’Neill Pledges To Keep ‘An Open Mind’ On Vaccine ‘Passports’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Michelle O\u2019Neill has pledged to keep an open mind on using vaccine access passports within the North, but reiterated her concerns about such a system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Government has introduced rules in the Republic to bar anyone from eating and drinking in indoor hospitality venues unless they can prove they have been vaccinated or have Covid immunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The policy has been cited as a contributory factor in encouraging more young people to come forward for jabs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stormont officials are examining policy issues around using a vaccine certification system in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sinn F\u00e9in deputy First Minister Ms O\u2019Neill insisted ministers had yet to reach a formal position on the concept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the issue of these domestic certs for access I have issue with those things,\u201d she told reporters in Coalisland, Co Tyrone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s fact to say that the Executive hasn\u2019t taken a policy position on that as yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHowever, the discussions today at the Executive was that health (department) need to look at, if we did get into that point, what would a system like that look like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd then we can come back to the policy decision as to whether or not you would use such a system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would be worried in terms of it being a discriminatory system, you know there\u2019s a whole lot of human rights concerns and other things that goes with that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHowever, I\u2019ll keep an open mind and I\u2019ll have the discussion but, for now, health just needs to be prepared for, if we did go there, what would it look like and how would it operate?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DUP First Minister Paul Givan has also previously voiced concern about domestic vaccine passports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last month, Mr Givan said ministers would need to be \u201ccautious\u201d about such a policy, saying it could lead to the exclusion of some people.<\/p>\n

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