Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021

In short

This law extends the operation of several existing COVID-19 related acts due to the ongoing public health emergency and the risks posed by the disease. It aims to continue measures and safeguards to mitigate the effects of the spread of COVID-19.

What it regulates

The continuation of specific provisions of the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020.
The continued operation of the Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Act 2020.
The extension of the Health (Amendment) Act 2020.
The ongoing operation of the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021.

Who it concerns

The general public, as it relates to public health measures and safeguards against Covid-19.
The Houses of the Oireachtas, as they can pass resolutions to further extend these acts.

Key points

The amendments to the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 will continue from February 10, 2022, until at least March 31, 2022.
The Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Act 2020 will continue from February 10, 2022, until at least March 31, 2022.
The Health (Amendment) Act 2020 will continue until at least March 31, 2022.
Part 2 of the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021 will continue until at least March 31, 2022.
Each House of the Oireachtas can pass a resolution before March 31, 2022, to extend these acts for a period not exceeding 3 months.

Legal text

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.

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s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2021 Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021 Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 46 of 2021 HEALTH AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (COVID-19) (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) ACT 2021 CONTENTS Section 1. Amendment of section 2 of Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 2. Amendment of section 17 of Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Act 2020 3. Amendment of section 6 of Health (Amendment) Act 2020 4. Amendment of section 1 of Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021 5. Short title and commencement Acts Referred to Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Act 2020 (No. 14) Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021 (No. 24) Health (Amendment) Act 2020 (No. 19) Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 (No. 1) Health Act 1947 (No. 28) Number 46 of 2021 HEALTH AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (COVID-19) (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) ACT 2021 An Act to provide for the continuation in operation for a further period, which may be extended in certain circumstances, of certain provisions of the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 , the Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Act 2020 , the Health (Amendment) Act 2020 and the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021 , in the public interest and having regard to the continuing manifest and grave risk to human life and public health posed by the spread of the disease known as Covid-19 (and variants of the virus that causes that disease) in order to mitigate, where practicable, the effects of the spread of that disease; and to provide for related matters. [21st December, 2021] WHEREAS a public health emergency has arisen and continues in the State by virtue of the spread of the disease known as Covid-19; WHEREAS the State, having regard to the need to preserve and protect public health, has introduced a range of extraordinary measures and safeguards to prevent, minimise, limit or reduce the risk of persons being infected with that disease; WHEREAS the continuation in operation of such measures and safeguards forms part, along with the programme of vaccination against that disease, of efforts on the part of the State to preserve and protect public health; WHEREAS, notwithstanding the fact that a programme of vaccinations for active immunisation to prevent the transmission of that disease has now been administered to a significant part of the population of the State, and the augmenting of that programme through the administration of additional vaccinations to certain categories of fully vaccinated persons, certain epidemiological indicators indicate a worsening profile of the disease in the State, with the future trajectory of that disease remaining uncertain, giving rise to an ongoing risk that the health system in the State may come under significant and sustained pressure and significant damage may be caused to the economy of the State; WHEREAS the administration of vaccinations to a significant part of the population has resulted in the easing of many of the measures and safeguards which were for the time being in force for the purposes of preventing, minimising, limiting or reducing further transmission of that disease, there is a continued need for a range of public health protective measures and safeguards; WHEREAS a resolution approving the continuation in operation of the amendments to the Health Act 1947 effected by Part 3 of the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 until the 9th day of February 2022 was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas on the 3rd day of November 2021 in accordance with section 2

(3)of that Act; WHEREAS a resolution approving the continuation in operation of the Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Act 2020 until the 9th day of February 2022 was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas on the 3rd day of November 2021 in accordance with section 17

(3)of that Act; WHEREAS a resolution approving the continuation in operation of the Health (Amendment) Act 2020 until the 9th day of February 2022 was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas on the 3rd day of November 2021 in accordance with section 6

(3)of that Act; WHEREAS a resolution approving the continuation in operation of the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021 until the 9th day of January 2022 was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas on the 6th day of October 2021 in accordance with section 1

(4)of that Act; WHEREAS the continuation in operation of such measures and safeguards forms part of efforts on the part of the State to preserve and protect public health including in response to unforeseen or sudden events related to the spread of the disease; WHEREAS the State remains, in significant respects, highly exposed to the effects of the spread of the disease, including such effects as may arise from the emergence of variants or other unforeseen epidemiological developments; AND WHEREAS as a consequence it is necessary for the State, for compelling reasons of public interest and for the common good, to continue for a further period the measures taken and the safeguards put in place to address the emergency and to defend and vindicate the rights of citizens to life and to bodily integrity: Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows: Amendment of section 2 of Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 1. Section 2 of the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 is amended— (a) in subsection

(3), by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (b): “(

b)Part 3, continue in operation for the period beginning on the 10th day of February 2022 and ending on the later of— (
i)the 31st day of March 2022, or (
ii)the date that is specified in a resolution passed by each House of the Oireachtas under subsection

(6).”, and (b) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection

(6): “

(6)Each House of the Oireachtas may, before the 31st day of March 2022, pass a resolution to continue in operation the amendments effected by Part 3 for such period, not exceeding 3 months, that ends on a date specified in the resolution.”. Amendment of section 17 of Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Act 2020 2. Section 17 of the Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Act 2020 is amended— (a) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection

(3): “

(3)This Act continues in operation for the period beginning on the 10th day of February 2022 and ending on the later of— (

a)the 31st day of March 2022, or (
b)the date that is specified in a resolution passed by each House of the Oireachtas under subsection

(4).”, and (b) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection

(4): “

(4)Each House of the Oireachtas may, before the 31st day of March 2022, pass a resolution to continue this Act in operation for such period, not exceeding 3 months, that ends on a date specified in the resolution.”. Amendment of section 6 of Health (Amendment) Act 2020 3. Section 6 of the Health (Amendment) Act 2020 is amended— (a) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection

(3): “

(3)This Act continues in operation for the period ending on the later of— (

a)the 31st day of March 2022, or (
b)the date that is specified in a resolution passed by each House of the Oireachtas under subsection

(4).”, and (b) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection

(4): “

(4)Each House of the Oireachtas may, before the 31st day of March 2022, pass a resolution to continue this Act in operation for such period, not exceeding 3 months, that ends on a date specified in the resolution.”. Amendment of section 1 of Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021 4. Section 1 of the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021 is amended— (a) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection

(3): “

(3)Part 2 shall continue in operation for the period ending on the later of— (

a)the 31st day of March 2022, or (
b)the date that is specified in a resolution passed by each House of the Oireachtas under subsection

(4).”, and (b) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection

(4): “

(4)Each House of the Oireachtas may, on or before the 31st day of March 2022, pass a resolution to continue Part 2 in operation for such period, not exceeding 3 months, that ends on a date specified in the resolution.”. Short title and commencement 5.

(1)This Act may be cited as the Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021.

(2)This Act, other than section 4 , shall come into operation on the 10th day of February 2022.

(3)Section 4 shall come into operation on the 10th day of January 2022. Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais

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