A protest against ‘vaccine passports’ is being held at Belfast City Hall later today(Saturday).
The rally is the latest in a number of protests in the city centre against the measure which was the focus of a heated debate in the Assembly on Monday.
Earlier on Monday a protest addressing the same issue was held at Stormont. During the rally, DUP MLA Paul Frew, an outspoken critic of the scheme, accepted a petition from the protesters and briefly addressed the crowd at the steps of Stormont.
Later, during the Assembly debate, there was an exchange between Mr Frew and SDLP Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon over the issue. The DUP MLA said the scheme amounted to “discrimination”, but Ms Mallon said language like “vaccination coercion or discrimination” was inaccurate as people can use proof of a lateral flow test result instead of proof of vaccination.
The official guidance from the Department of Health states: “It should be noted that the Covid certification scheme, as agreed by the Executive, is not a vaccine passport scheme. It requires proof of either full vaccination status; or a negative Lateral Flow test result in the previous 48 hours; or proof of recovery from a positive PCR test in the previous 30-180 days.”
The regulations were passed at the Assembly on Tuesday morning by 59 votes to 24. The scheme was introduced late last month with a two-week grace period to allow businesses to adjust to the new requirements. The DUP had been critical of the fact it was introduced prior to an Assembly debate and the scrutiny of MLAs.
MLAs were told that mandatory Covid certification is for the “overall protection of the people of Northern Ireland”.
A rally at City Hall earlier this month attaracted several hundred people with many carrying anti-Covid certification placards and banners.
Those in attendance were told that the event was not a protest against vaccines, but rather opposing the certification regulations which were introduced on Monday.
A social media flier for today’s 2pm event states ‘Enough is enough. Say No to Vax Passports’.
