Sinn Féin spokesperson for health Liz Kimmins has said that the Department of Health’s public health proposals and consultation are not fit for purpose.
Referring to Sinn Féin’s response to the public consultation, Kimmins said:
“There is a need to ensure that public health legislation is up to date and fit for purpose.
“However, any proposals from the Health Department for a new Public Health Bill must be consistent with people’s human rights and equality requirements.
“The absence of both an Equality Impact Assessment and a Human Rights Impact Assessment from this consultation document is a serious and unacceptable omission.
“The Department of Health’s proposals and the consultation are not fit for purpose and Sinn Féin does not support the approach being pursued by the Minister for Health.”