Northern Ireland's health minister extends his department's powers under the Coronavirus Act for six months
Robin Swann says a six-month extension will keep Northern Ireland aligned with the rest of the United Kingdom
In a statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly, Robin Swann said he had been advised the move was not "considered significant or controversial".Mr Swann said without the powers, Northern Ireland would be out of alignment with the rest of the UK in the event that health protection measures were needed in response to a new Covid-19 variant of concern.
Mr Swann said the decision had fallen to him in the "continuing absence of a functioning NI Executive".Mr Poots said his party's three ministers would write to Mr Swann to oppose the extension. "The problem is some of the powers that were used in the past, we believe, were excessive and it gives somebody the ability to use excessive powers."