{"id":23215,"date":"2021-09-23T16:28:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-23T20:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23215"},"modified":"2021-09-25T10:31:05","modified_gmt":"2021-09-25T14:31:05","slug":"oneill-open-to-the-use-of-vaccine-passports-in-the-north","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23215","title":{"rendered":"O’Neill Open To The Use Of Vaccine Passports In The North"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Michelle O’Neill (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Michelle O\u2019Neill has said she is \u201cvery open\u201d to the adoption of vaccine passports in Northern Ireland if evidence shows they could help in suppressing Covid-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stormont\u2019s deputy First Minister said she retained human rights concerns around the use of vaccine certification but suggested they may be required for the \u201cgreater good\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Minister Paul Givan said he continued to have concerns about requiring people to prove vaccination in order to gain entry to hospitality venues, noting that thousands of unvaccinated people would be denied access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stormont officials have been examining policy issues around using vaccine certification in the North and assessing the logistical requirements of rolling out such a system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The SDLP has said the time has now come for its adoption north of the border to help drive up vaccination rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The concept is set to feature at a special Stormont Executive meeting next week when ministers discuss potential mitigations that could allow them to drop social distancing requirements for indoor hospitality venues in the North.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have expressed concerns and I still have those concerns, however if it\u2019s for the greater good, if it helps us keep the virus suppressed and assists us just in terms of our recovery, then I\u2019m very open to that,\u201d Ms O\u2019Neill told a Stormont press conference after Thursday\u2019s Executive meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve asked health (department) to make a firm recommendation in terms of this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re getting ready in terms logistically (of) being able to roll such a thing out if we decide to go there. So it\u2019s very much on the table and I\u2019m very open minded in terms of using it, if it\u2019s the right thing to do and it gets us the desired outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Givan said such a scheme would have \u201cimplications around equality of access for our citizens\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI also want to get the evidence as to how would this work and would it achieve the desired outcome in terms of reducing the levels of transmission?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Givan said that the authorities in England has decided against vaccine certification and said the policy in the Irish Republic was set to end next month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo I would want to get the evidence base in order to inform a decision that we would need to take,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think all of us need to get that technical capacity, we need to get the evidence as to whether or not it would work to achieve the outcome of reducing transmission and then we need to weigh up those issues around equality of access for our citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n

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