Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 23 November 2020

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Forward Look

  • The Executive has agreed to a two-week period of strict Covid-19 lockdown measures from Friday 27 November. Non-essential retail, hospitality, close contact services, leisure and churches will be closed during this period.

  • The Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP will deliver the 2020 Spending Review alongside the Office For Budget Responsibility’s Latest Economic And Fiscal Forecast on Wednesday 25 September. See attached One Page Brief.

  • The Department of Health has confirmed that NI is initially in line for up to 4.35 million doses of two Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer and AstraZeneca and that both may be ready for use by the end of December.

  • First Minister Arlene Foster MLA has told the Assembly that the Executive has approved a recovery framework aimed at progressing a cohesive approach across government. This will complement the longer-term Programme for Government that is currently being developed and which should be in place by April 2021.

  • The bidding process in England to establish at least 10 new, innovative Freeports that will “boost the economy, create thousands of jobs and turbo-charge post-Brexit trade” has opened. Bids must be submitted by 5 February 2021 with decisions made in Spring.

  • The Communities Committee has launched its Call for Evidence in relation to the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill. Comments should be provided by Monday 14 December. Further information here.

  • The Executive Office Committee has written to Michael Gove MP requesting information on a number of Brexit issues including on the governance of the Withdrawal Agreement post-transition and the joint Consultative Working Group.

  • Sinn Féin will launch a document today on the economic benefits of Irish Unity. The focus will be on providing more jobs, better opportunities and better choices for workers and families.

  • The SDLP are to formally launch its New Ireland Commission in the coming weeks - a two-fold initiative that will look at the practical work of integrating the health service, the economy and all the different policy aspects, while also initiating engagement with people from the unionist tradition.

  • Question Time in the Assembly next week will be to the Economy, Communities, Finance and Education Ministers.

  • The Executive Office Committee will be briefed by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the Junior Ministers on Brexit issues on Wednesday 25 September.

  • The CIPR in association with Brown O’Connor will host a ‘NI Assembly – One Year On’ webinar on Thursday 26 November at 4pm. This will be moderated by Arlene O’Connor with political commentators David McCann, Allison Morris and Alex Kane on the panel. Please get in touch with us if you would like to attend.

Other Stories this week

  • Consideration of the Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill took place this week with Further Consideration Stage and Royal Assent expected in the New Year. A proposal by Rachel Woods MLA to amend access to legal aid for some victims of domestic abuse passed after a vote.

  • Economy Minister Diane Dodds MLA has announced that the contract for the delivery of Project Stratum which aims to bring next generation broadband services to premises across Northern Ireland currently unable to access speeds of 30 megabits per second or greater has been awarded to Fibrus Networks. Implementation of the new infrastructure is expected to commence immediately and will run until March 2024.

  • The UK government lost two more votes in the Lords over its Brexit bill. Peers voted to amend the Internal Market Bill and voted to curb ministers' powers to rewrite parts of the bill at a later stage.

  • Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA has confirmed £1.23million in additional support for City of Derry Airport.

  • A report by the Auditor General Kieran Donnelly has found that 1,500 vacancies in the local Civil Service have not been filled and sickness levels remain the highest in the UK.

  • Education Minister Peter Weir MLA launched a £5million fund to help educational settings support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.

  • Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín MLA has appointed Chris Welch and Pauline Leeson as Board Members of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive until 31 October 2025.

  • Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn MP has been reinstated to the party following his reaction to a report on Antisemitism. However, Sir Keir Starmer MP has decided against restoring the party whip.

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