Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 7 December 2020

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Forward Look

  • BBC News NI reported this week that the first Covid-19 vaccinations could take place from as early as Wednesday 9 December. Care home residents and workers will be the first to receive the vaccine. Patricia Donnelly, the Department of Health’s Covid vaccination lead, informed the Health Committee that mass vaccination will begin by Summer 2021.

  • The Executive has agreed that non-essential retail, close contact services, gyms for individual training, churches, hotels, and food-led bars will reopen on Friday 11 December. A hospitality curfew of 11pm will be in place. ‘Wet pubs’ will remain closed.

  • Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA reiterated the Executive’s commitment this week to publish a Programme for Government by April 2021.

  • On Monday, oral questions to the DAERA and Communities Ministers will take place. On Tuesday, oral questions to the Economy and Education Ministers and the Assembly Commission will take place.

  • Further Consideration Stage of the Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill will take place on Monday 7 December. On Tuesday 8 December, the Assembly will debate an Economy Committee motion on the macro economic outlook and how best to rebuild from the pandemic.

  • On Wednesday, Education Minister Peter Weir will give evidence to the Education Committee on restart issues and curriculum delivery. The Executive Office Committee will also receive evidence from departmental officials on participation in future EU funding programmes.

  • The NI Affairs Select Committee will hear from DAERA Permanent Secretary Denis McMahon and other departmental officials as part of its inquiry into Brexit and the NI Protocol on Wednesday 9 December.

  • The UK Government introduced legislation this week which would repeal the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, giving the Prime Minister the power to call a General Election by royal prerogative.

  • Three new Private Members’ Bill have been introduced to the Assembly this week. The SDLP is proposing a period poverty bill to ensure free access to sanitary products in schools, colleges and universities; Sinn Féin has introduced a bill which would ban fracking in Northern Ireland; and the Greens have introduced a bill which would ensure victims and survivors of domestic abuse receive paid leave.

  • The Government is set to reintroduce the Internal Market Bill on Monday. The Finance Bill will also be introduced next week. There is concern from the EU that this bill will contain clauses which breach international law and the NI Protocol.

Other Stories this week

  • Former Utility Regulator Chief Executive Jenny Pyper has been appointed the interim Head of the NI Civil Service on an initial eight-month basis.

  • The collapse of high street giants Debenhams and the Arcadia Group this week threatens more than 1600 jobs in Northern Ireland.

  • Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA announced changes to the Procurement Board this week, ensuring that Northern Ireland’s annual £3bn spent on public procurement is fully maximised.

  • Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA has announced £66m for Translink to deliver 145 zero and low emission hydrogen buses.

  • A range of support measures, delivered by the Victims and Survivors Service, was launched this week to support survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse.

  • Economy Minister Diane Dodds MLA has announced a new £10m Covid support scheme for the newly self-employed.

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