Minister Mallon confirms revised travel restrictions for Rathlin Island

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has put in place revised travel restrictions for the Rathlin Ferry to support the Rathlin Island community during the COVID19 recovery period.

From Sunday, the ferry operator will provide for essential travel only in line with the Health Protection Coronavirus Regulations and subsequent amendments.  At this stage, tourists are not permitted to travel to the island on the ferry under any circumstances.

Minister Mallon said:

“The decision to maintain restrictions on the ferry is not one which I have taken lightly, but one that I am taking with the health and well-being of the islanders in mind and in consultation with them.

 “I know that in normal circumstances Rathlin Island would be a major tourist attraction at this time of year, however it is vitally important that for now tourists do not visit the island.

 “We are now in an extraordinary time and we must continue to listen to the advice and guidance given on essential travel, social distancing and helping shield those who may be most vulnerable to the virus. The advice is clear, we all must do it to get through it.  I know this is an incredibly difficult time, but we must each play our part in keeping ourselves and others safe, and continuing to slow the transmission of COVID-19.”

Notes to editors: 

1. Restrictions on movement

1) During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a reasonable excuse includes the need—

(a) to obtain basic necessities, including food and medical supplies for those in the same household (including any pets or animals in the household) or for vulnerable persons and supplies for the essential upkeep, maintenance and functioning of the household, or the household of a vulnerable person, or [F1to obtain or deposit money] , including from any business listed in Part 3 of Schedule 2;

(b) to take exercise either alone or with other members of their household;

(c) to seek medical assistance, including to access any of the services referred to in paragraph 37 or 38 of Schedule 2;

(d) to provide care or assistance, including relevant personal care within the meaning of paragraph 7(3B) of Schedule 2 to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 F2, to a vulnerable person, or to  provide emergency assistance;

(e) to donate blood

(f) to travel for the purposes of work or to provide voluntary or charitable services, where it is not reasonably possible for that person to work, or to provide those services, from the place where they are living;

(g) to attend a funeral of—

(i) a member of the person's household,

(ii) a close family member, or

(iii) if no-one within sub-paragraphs (i) or (ii) is attending, a friend;

[F3 to visit a burial ground to pay respects to a member of the person’s household, family member or friend;]

(h) to fulfil a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions, or to participate in legal proceedings;

(i) to access critical public services, including—

(i) childcare or educational facilities (where these are still available to a child in relation to whom that person is the parent, or has parental responsibility for, or care of the child);

(ii) social care services;

(iii) services provided by the Department for Communities;

(iv) services provided to victims (such as victims of crime);

[F4 (v) services provided by a district council or other public body, including household waste or recycling centres;]

(j) in relation to children who do not live in the same household as their parents, or one of their parents, to continue existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children, and for the purposes of this paragraph, “parent” includes a person who is not a parent of the child, but who has parental responsibility for, or who has care of the child;

(k) in the case of a minister of religion or worship leader, to go to their place of worship;

(l) to move house where reasonably necessary;

(m) to avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm.

[F5 (n) to attend a place of worship for an act of private worship, or to attend an act of worship which is being broadcast or to attend or participate in a marriage ceremony, in accordance with regulation 4(6)(d);

(o) to take part in an outdoor activity;

(p) to take part in an outdoor gathering, in accordance with regulation 6A.]

[F6 (q) to attend an outdoor film or live music concert or theatre performance.]

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the place where a person is living includes the premises where they live together with any garden, yard, passage, stair, garage, outhouse or other appurtenance of such premises.

(4) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any person who is homeless.

[F7(5) A person who leaves the place where they are living does not do so with reasonable excuse under paragraph (2)(b) unless any associated travel that is not in itself exercise is reasonable, having regard to all the circumstances including the nature of the exercise to be taken.]

2. Second home owners will only be permitted to travel to carry out essential repairs.
3. Free travel on the Rathlin Island ferry service is available to NHS staff and care workers.
4. Further information can be found on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 and subsequent amendments
5. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office at: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk.
6. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
7. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure

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