Tony Blair today criticised the EU s short-lived move to override the Brexit deal on Northern Ireland under its vaccine export controls as a very foolish move that jeopardised the peace process.
The former prime minister, a vocal supporter of the UK remaining in the bloc, said Brussels action in triggering Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol to control the movement of coronavirus jabs was unacceptable .
The EU backtracked on the move, imposed unilaterally as it faces shortfalls on vaccine supplies, after facing universal criticism from London, Dublin and Belfast.
Asked if the move was irresponsible, the Labour grandee told Sky s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: Yes, it was a very foolish thing to do and fortunately they withdrew it very quickly.
Covid-19: Northern Ireland s major milestones
By Amy Stewart
image copyrightPA Media
When a lockdown was announced in March, in a bid to limit the spread of coronavirus, most of us thought it would be a few weeks of hunkering down - sticking together but staying apart.
Christmas restrictions may not have been on our radars.
But somewhere along the way, the reality kicked in that Covid-19 was here for the long haul - but hopefully not forever, with the approval of two vaccines in the UK.
But how did we get here? We take a look at the major milestones in Northern Ireland s response to Covid-19.
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The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved for use within the United Kingdom and the first doses will be administered in Northern Ireland from January 4.
“The approval by the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency paves the way for a significant acceleration of Northern Ireland’s vaccination programme,” Northern Ireland’s Department of Health said in a statement on December 30, the day the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine was approved in the UK.
“But the Minister has also warned that the coming weeks will be among the most challenging yet in the pandemic, with our health service under immense pressure.
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Covid-19: NI records highest ever daily coronavirus cases
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image captionThe health minister says deployment of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is expected next week
The Department of Health in Northern Ireland has reported a record number of positive coronavirus cases within the past 24 hours.
A further 2,143 people have tested positive - the highest daily total since testing began. Six people have died with the virus.
The chief medical officer said the figures were extremely troubling .
The figures came after Health Minister Robin Swann welcomed the approval of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which will lead to a huge expansion in the UK s immunisation campaign.