It appears that locally SDLP leader Colm Eastwood is calling for so called Covid Passports to be mandatory for entry into certain venues here in Northern Ireland?
Before I go on please note that I am not an Anti Vaxer or a Covid Denier. I have a Auto Immune Disorder so am particularity at risk from Covid. I have had both doses of the vaccine and wouldn't even know where to start on those idiots who think that it doesn't exist. The evidence is there and is overwhelming.
But. here's the thing.
If those imbeciles up at Stormont do bring in something making a Passport mandatory to be effective it will have to be made law. Law is the only thing that is enforceable. A policy or a mandate or whatever is not.
The only people that can enforce the law are the Police.
I would assume that this Passport would have to have some sort of individual photograph on it. Otherwise it would be pointless. Anybody could use someone's passport and there would be no way of proving it was or wasn't you? Unless the individual was asked to give an other form of pictorial ID along with the Passport? It's all pretty unclear right now.
Herein is a huge problem The only people that can legally ask to see your ID are the Police. Even then that is only in certain circumstances.
A member of the door staff at a Restaurant e.g. has no right whatsoever to demand your ID. They would be breaking the law by even asking for it, not you.
So are they now going to change the law that a civilian will be able to demand to see another civilian's ID?
And if you refuse the only course of action for them would be to call the Police?
There are other confusions surrounding this e.g. whether or not it's Private of Public property you would be trying to enter. No one can be trespassed from Public property or from Private property that is open to the Public.
You might be thinking but staff in places like Off Licensees can ask for ID. Well actually they can't. In a case like that if the staff think you are under age or have presented false ID they should call the Police as you would be suspected of breaking the Law. They get away with it as most members of the public are unaware of what they should do in a situation like that.
Whether or not, generally, a Passport is a good idea is neither here nor there.
It's totally unworkable and in it's present state would be a looming disaster.
