Former DUP minister Paul Frew said the powers were 'extensive, sweeping and draconian'.
Coronavirus Act 2020Mr Swann told assembly members that if the order was not extended: "We will not be able to legislate to protect public health in the event of a worsening of the pandemic."Mr Swann also criticised some MLAs who were against the extension and said they were "seeking to deliberately misinform and distort the truth".
The health minister said he welcomed the debate about the regulations and said during the pandemic, ministers had agreed a "collective response".But Mr Swann, who shares a constituency with Mr Frew, responded sharply. He said: "[I] fear of how many people we would have had in our hospitals and how many people would not actually be walking the streets of Northern Ireland today in regards to some of the positions the member may have taken should he have been in this position."
The act being debated was a legal tool to bring in restrictions, but without an executive in place it could be ineffective.
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