Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 19 October 2020

BOC-TwitterCardSet2_-03.jpg

Forward Look

  • The NI Executive has imposed new Coronavirus restrictions to curb the rise in cases. From 6pm this evening, hospitality businesses will only be allowed to offer takeaway and delivery services for four weeks. Schools will close from Monday 19 October until Monday 2 November, off licences and supermarkets will stop selling alcohol at 8pm, and people are instructed to work from home unless unable to do so. These restrictions will last for an initial four weeks.

  • The Executive has announced a £35m scheme of grants to support businesses forced to close over the next four weeks. Depending on their size, businesses will receive between £1600 and £3200 in grants for every two weeks that they are closed.

  • The Irish Government has banned all household visits, excluding childcare and on compassionate grounds, and moved border counties Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan to level four restrictions, the second highest level.

  • EU leaders are set to call for Brexit trade talks to continue beyond the end of this week, a deadline initially suggested by the Prime Minister. No 10 has said he will decide the “next steps” later today. The EU-UK Joint Committee will meet on Monday 19 October. NI Executive representatives have been invited to take part.

  • First Minister Arlene Foster MLA told the Assembly that the Executive’s next investment strategy - how the Executive focuses its available capital resources to address social and economic value – will be developed in parallel with the Programme for Government and it is intended it will be brought forward during the 2021-22 year.

  • Five working groups have been established by the Department for the Economy as part of work to develop a new energy strategy for Northern Ireland. An expert panel on the future of energy has also been established to advise on the development and first implementation phase.

  • Health Minister Robin Swann MLA has announced his intention to introduce a new Adoption and Children Bill later this year to reform and modernise the legislative framework for adoption.

  • Question Time for the Education Minister and Finance Minister will take place on Monday 19 October. The Health and Infrastructure Ministers will take questions on Tuesday 20 October.

  • Representatives from the Education Authority will give evidence to the Education Committee on governance issues relating to SEN statementing on Wednesday 21 October.

  • Representatives from NILGA and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council will give evidence to the Economy Committee on the role of local government in tourism strategies on Wednesday 21 October.

  • The Finance Minister will brief the Finance Committee on the impact of the Chancellor’s decision to cancel the UK Budget on the Assembly Budget for 2021/22 on Wednesday 21 October.

  • The Communities Committee will receive a briefing by the IFA on Thursday 22 October on the impact of Covid-19 on local football.  

  • A number of NI Assembly APGs are due to meet virtually next week – Lung Health on Monday 19 October; Children and Young People, and Preventing Loneliness on Tuesday 20 October; Mental Health on Wednesday 21 October; and Parental Participation in Education.

  • The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee is due to meet in private session on Wednesday 21 October.

  • Belfast Film Festival and its sister festival DOCS Ireland will run throughout November and will unveil a series of premieres including the world premiere of a new documentary, Martin McGuinness: I Fought, I made Peace, I made Politics. Further information and the full programme of events can be found: LINK

Other Stories this week

  • Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA has said she is recommending approval for the redevelopment of Casement Park. Minister Mallon has also announced that changes to legislation to exempt private vehicles of historic interest from annual MOT testing are now in effect.

  • A poll by the Belfast Telegraph and LucidTalk has found that SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MP is Northern Ireland’s most popular political leader while deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA is the least popular.

  • The Irish Government also unveiled its 2021 budget on Tuesday, worth a record €17.75bn. Assuming there will be a no-deal Brexit and no vaccine for Covid-19, VAT for hospitality has been reduced to 9% until December 2021, a recovery fund of €3.4bn has been established focusing on key areas like job support and infrastructure, and the Shared Island Initiative will receive €500m over five years to strengthen north-south co-operation.

  • A new NI Assembly APG on Further and Higher Education has been established. Foyle MLAs Karen Mullan and Gary Middleton have been appointed the group’s Chair and Deputy Chair respectively.

Upcoming key political and business events

Consultations