Policy Proposals to inform the development of a new Public Health Bill for Northern Ireland

Overview

The Department of Health is seeking views on the policy proposals which will underpin the development of a new Public Health Bill for Northern Ireland.

This is the second consultation on Public Health legislation and seeks your views on specific policy proposals that will underpin the provisions to be included in a new Public Health Bill.

The first consultation in September 2015 asked basic questions about current Public Health law, the Public Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1967. The outcome of that consultation enabled a Final Report to be published in March 2016, which set out key recommendations for legislative reform and the shaping of future public health protection law in Northern Ireland, leading to this current consultation.

This consultation sets out the proposals which will underpin a new health protection legislative framework for Northern Ireland and which are based on the recommendations of the Review of the 1967 Act and learning from recent public health emergencies.

The overarching principle of the draft Bill is to protect the population against various forms of infection and contamination including biological, chemical and radiological in addition to infectious diseases, which is the focus of the 1967 Act.  The all hazards approach will enable broader surveillance, supporting more timely and effective intervention, controlling the spread of infection and contamination generally and if needs be, in an emergency.

The Department welcomes any comments or views on the proposals set out in the consultation document.  We are keen to hear from those who have an interest in health protection, especially those with a professional interest.