Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 1st January, 2021.

I, STEPHEN DONNELLY, Minister for Health, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 5 and 31A (inserted by section 10 of the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 (No. 1 of 2020)) of the Health Act 1947 (No. 28 of 1947) and -

(a) having regard to the immediate, exceptional and manifest risk posed to human life and public health by the spread of Covid-19 and to the matters specified in subsection (2) of section 31A, and

(b) having consulted with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Transport,

hereby make the following regulations:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Amendment of Definition of Face Covering) Regulations 2020.

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on the 18th day of December 2020.

3. Regulation 3 of the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Face Coverings on Public Transport) Regulations 2020 ( S.I. No. 244 of 2020 ) is amended by the substitution of the following definition for the definition of “face covering”:

“ ‘face covering’ means a covering of any type which when worn by a person covers, without leaving a visible gap, the person’s nose and mouth;”.

4. Regulation 3 of the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Face Coverings in Certain Premises and Businesses) Regulations 2020 ( S.I. No. 296 of 2020 ) is amended by the substitution of the following definition for the definition of “face covering”:

“ ‘face covering’ means a covering of any type which when worn by a person covers, without leaving a visible gap, the person’s nose and mouth;”.

5. Regulation 3 of the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Face Coverings in Small Public Service Vehicles and Certain Premises) Regulations 2020 ( S.I. No. 569 of 2020 ) is amended by the substitution of the following definition for the definition of “face covering”:

“ ‘face covering’ means a covering of any type which when worn by a person covers, without leaving a visible gap, the person’s nose and mouth;”.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

17 December, 2020.

STEPHEN DONNELLY,

Minister for Health.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations amend the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Face Coverings on Public Transport) Regulations 2020 ( S.I. No. 244 of 2020 ), the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Face Coverings in Certain Premises and Businesses) Regulations 2020 ( S.I. No. 296 of 2020 ) and the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Face Coverings in Small Public Service Vehicles and Certain Premises) Regulations 2020 ( S.I. No. 569 of 2020 ) to provide for an updated definition of a face covering.