Forward Look
Two major business groups – the CBI and Ibec – have written to the governments in both Dublin and Belfast to urge co-ordination in the recovery from coronavirus. They have said an economic reboot will need “the highest level of co-operation, co-ordination and joined-up thinking”.
The Northern Ireland Budget 2021 will be debated in the Assembly on Tuesday 5 May.
The Northern Ireland economy will shrink by 7.5% this year as a result of coronavirus, according to Danske Bank Chief Economist, Conor Lambe.
A Stormont consultation on the review of tariffs for the RHI scheme has suggested increasing subsidies again. Tariffs were cut to rein in costs but reductions left many legitimate users financially worse off.
The Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee has launched an inquiry into the UK Government’s proposals on dealing with the legacy of the past. Deadline to respond is 1 June.
The Prime Minister has promised to set out next week a plan on how schools and workplaces could safely reopen once lockdown restrictions were eased. Michelle O’Neill, deputy First Minister, told BBC’s The View that the Executive will communicate to the public their lockdown relaxation measures next week, by next Saturday 9 May at the latest.
The NI Assembly debated the Second Stage of the Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill this week. The Committee Stage of the bill has yet to be scheduled.
Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore from Northern Ireland is set to retire as a Supreme Court Justice in September 2020, after ten years at the Supreme Court.
Translink are considering whether to furlough some staff to cut costs during the pandemic, Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon MLA, told the Infrastructure Committee this week. Minister Mallon will also make a statement to the Assembly on Tuesday 5 May.
Journalist, Siobhán Fenton, has joined Sinn Féin as an adviser in Leinster House.
Former Shadow NI Secretary of State, Tony Lloyd MP, has stepped down from the role to take time out to recover from coronavirus. Louise Haigh MP, who had stepped into the role on an interim basis, has now been made permanent Shadow NI Secretary.
Former NI Secretary of State, Julian Smith MP, will give evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee on Thursday 7 May as part of its inquiry into the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ Agreement.
The Tourism Recovery Steering Group, which will lead the planning and preparations for the recovery of tourism in Northern Ireland, is due to meet for the first time next week.
A recruitment process has been launched for a Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner. The new role was a commitment in the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ Agreement.
Schools are likely to offer a mix of online and in-class learning when they return, but no date has been set yet according to Department of Education Permanent Secretary, Derek Baker. Mr Baker will brief the Education Committee again on Wednesday 6 May on his department’s coronavirus response.
Representatives from the Londonderry, Belfast, Newry, and Causeway Chambers of Commerce will brief the Economy Committee next Wednesday 6 May.
The Finance Committee will hear from the Head of the NI Civil Service, David Sterling, on Wednesday 6 May as part of its scrutiny of Jim Allister MLA’s Functioning of Government (Misc Provisions) Bill.
The Ad-Hoc Committee on the COVID-19 Response will meet on Thursday 7 May.