Northern Ireland

Hundreds gather in Belfast to protest against new Public Health Bill

Concerns about possible measures like mandatory vaccination have been raised

12th October 2024 Presseye.com Protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall against the NI Public Health Bill. . The ‘Stop the NI Health Bill’ Campaign says the Bill, if it becomes law, “threatens medical freedom with forced exams, quarantine, and vaccinations.” The campaign also says the legislation extends emergency powers, allowing authorities to impose severe restrictions without consent. Mandatory Credit -Presseye
Protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall on Saturday against the NI Public Health Bill. (Presseye/Presseye)
By Suzanne McGonagle

Hundreds of people have gathered in Belfast city centre to protest against a new Public Health Bill for Northern Ireland.

Crowds gathered at City Hall on Saturday amid concerns raised over the new health legislation from Stormont, particularly around vaccines.

12th October 2024 Presseye.com Protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall against the NI Public Health Bill. . The ‘Stop the NI Health Bill’ Campaign says the Bill, if it becomes law, “threatens medical freedom with forced exams, quarantine, and vaccinations.” The campaign also says the legislation extends emergency powers, allowing authorities to impose severe restrictions without consent. Mandatory Credit -Presseye
Hundreds of people gathered at Belfast City Hall. PICTURE: PRESSEYE

Many of those attending the rally carried placards, which read ‘this bill is not about health’, ‘scrap the bill’ and ‘protect your rights’.

Concerns have been raised that the Assembly is planning to introduce mandatory vaccinations and forced quarantine as part of any new legislation.

A campaign group, ‘Stop The NI Health Bill’ has been formed to oppose the proposals.

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Campaigners claim the bill could pave the way for unacceptably coercive measures in the future.

The rally in Belfast comes just weeks after health minister Mike Nesbitt said he did not support the introduction of “mandatory vaccination” as part of the new legislation to contain severe threats to public health.

A public consultation on the bill was due to end last month, but Mr Nesbitt extended it until October 14 over “confusion” about what it could mean.

The planned bill would replace the 1967 Public Health Act, “ensuring Northern Ireland can respond to a wider range of severe threats to public health”.

In one section of the consultation, the public are asked if authorities should be able to impose certain restrictions in the event of a threat to public health.

This includes the possibilities of “requiring a person to submit to medical examination,” “be removed to a hospital or other suitable establishment” or “require a person to be vaccinated”.

In addition to infectious diseases, the new bill would also cover infection and contamination from biological, chemical and radiological sources.

Updating the legislation to cover all hazards would bring Northern Ireland’s legislation into line with the rest of the UK.

12th October 2024 Presseye.com Protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall against the NI Public Health Bill. . The ‘Stop the NI Health Bill’ Campaign says the Bill, if it becomes law, “threatens medical freedom with forced exams, quarantine, and vaccinations.” The campaign also says the legislation extends emergency powers, allowing authorities to impose severe restrictions without consent. Mandatory Credit -Presseye
The ‘Stop the NI Health Bill’ campaign says the bill, if it becomes law, 'threatens medical freedom with forced exams, quarantine, and vaccinations'. PICTURE: PRESSEYE

But on Saturday, hundreds joined the ‘Stop The NI Health Bill’ campaigners in Belfast to protest the proposed legislation.

Organisers of the protest said the bill “undermines human rights, limits personal choice and bypasses true public consultation”.

They claim that the legislation “threatens your medical freedom with forced exams, quarantine, and vaccinations”.

12th October 2024 Presseye.com Protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall against the NI Public Health Bill. . The ‘Stop the NI Health Bill’ Campaign says the Bill, if it becomes law, “threatens medical freedom with forced exams, quarantine, and vaccinations.” The campaign also says the legislation extends emergency powers, allowing authorities to impose severe restrictions without consent. Mandatory Credit -Presseye
The protest saw hundreds of people gather at Belfast City Hall. PICTURE: PRESSEYE

They also say it “extends emergency powers, allowing authorities to impose severe restrictions without consent” adding that it “undermines human rights, limits personal choice, and bypasses true public consultation”.

The Department of Health told the BBC this week that Northern Ireland “needs to replace outdated public health legislation that is more than 55 years old”.

“We need legislation that covers infection and contamination from biological, chemical and radiological sources and brings us into line with the rest of the UK,” a spokesperson said.

“Any draft legislation emerging from the consultation will go through the Northern Ireland Assembly’s normal scrutiny processes, including a detailed review by the Health Committee and an Assembly debate followed by votes of the full Assembly.

“A public consultation is supposed to stimulate public debate.”