Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 14 December 2020

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Forward Look

  • The UK Government published its latest Command Paper detailing how the NI Protocol will be implemented from 2021 onwards. The paper outlines plans to ensure unfettered access for NI business to the UK Market; clear guidance stating no tariffs on internal UK Trade; and implementations to support trade from GB to NI. To read the paper: LINK

  • Prime Minister Boris Johnson MP and EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen have set a deadline of Sunday for negotiations to conclude on a trade deal after the Brexit transition period. The EU Commission President said that the UK and EU’s views on remaining issues remain ‘far apart’ following dinner with the Prime Minister on Wednesday.

  • The EU and the UK have agreed a ‘trusted trader scheme’ that will mean exemptions from tariffs for up to 98% of goods flowing between Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021. The other 2% would potentially avail of rebates from any tariffs, according to RTÉ’s Tony Connelly.

  • The UK Government has guaranteed £400m in new money in a ‘New Deal for Northern Ireland’ as part of the NI Protocol. This financial package is aimed at supporting business operations following the Brexit transition period.

  • Retail, leisure, close contact services and hospitality which serves food are all to open today following the two-week lockdown.

  • The Department of Health will lead all Covid-19 legislation moving forward. It was reported in the Sunday Life that Junior Ministers, Declan Kearney MLA and Gordon Lyons MLA had been assisting the Health Department with Covid-19 legislation, but are now required to focus on the Brexit transition and its implications for Northern Ireland.

  • The First and Deputy First Minsters, and Finance Minister, Conor Murphy MLA will take part in Question Time on Monday. The Health and Infrastructure Ministers will take questions on Tuesday.

  • Economy Minister Diane Dodds MLA will brief the Economy Committee on support for business during the pandemic on Wednesday 16 December. The NI Human Rights Commissioner, Les Allamby will brief The Executive Office Committee on the NI Protocol.

  • The Health Committee will be briefed by Department Officials on Brexit and Subordinate Legislation on Thursday 17 December.

  • Justice Minister, Naomi Long MLA has postponed the Further Consideration stage of the Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill due to issues surrounding an amendment which could cause significant financial pressure on The Executive due to Legal Aid. The Further Consideration stage will now be heard in the Assembly on Tuesday 15 December.

  • The Assembly is to rise for Christmas recess on Friday 18 December. The first sitting of 2021 is expected to be Monday 18 January.

  • The Justice Minister also launched a public consultation on giving domestic abuse survivors strengthened legal protections. Deadline for submissions is Friday 11 February. To respond: LINK

  • DAERA Minister, Edwin Poots MLA has launched a public consultation on Climate Change Legislation. Deadline for submissions is Monday 1 February. To respond: LINK

  • Communities Minister, Carál Ni Chuilín MLA announced the second phase of the Covid-19 Charities Fund, with £11.7m made available to the third sector from 6 January 2021. The Minister has also allocated £6.5m funding for the most vulnerable over the festive period.

Other Stories this week

  • The Communities Minister and the DAERA Minister announced a further £1.4m in funding for local Councils to sustain town centres.

  • Justice Minister, Naomi Long MLA has introduced Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHR) in NI. The DHR is a multi-agency review of the circumstances in which the death of a person aged 16 or over has, or appears to have, resulted from violence, abuse or neglect in a domestic setting. Three Chairs have been appointed to the DHR panel; Nina Noddings, Jan Melia and Anne Marks.

  • Adrian McCreesh has been named as the new Chief Executive of Mid Ulster Council. Mr McCreesh was previously the Council's Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Business and Communities.

  • Chartered Accountant Dawn McLaughlin has been appointed as the President of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce for 2021, with Aidan O’Kane of Allstate named as Vice-President. Dawn replaces Redmond McFadden who took up the role in December 2019.

Upcoming key political and business events

Consultations