Forward Look
First Minister, Arlene Foster MLA, has announced that some measures contained in Step 2 of the COVID-19 Recovery Plan can begin from 8 June. This will included; hotels taking advanced bookings, outdoor marriages and civil partnerships with 10 people or less can take place, and outdoor sports courts will also reopen. The First Minister said that the Executive will meet on 4 June, and if the ‘R’ number is below 1, some non-essential retails units will be able to open on 8 June also. These will include; car showrooms, phone shops, furniture shops and electrical stores.
Finance Minister, Conor Murphy MLA, warned the Assembly that five Executive Departments could run out of money before July due to the expense of the COVID-19 response. He introduced a technical mechanism to the Assembly which will mean they will approve any future spending through a Vote on Account.
Health Minister, Robin Swann MLA, announced Covid patients in NI will be treated with the anti-viral medication, Remdesivir. International studies of the medication show that it can shorten recovery time of COVID-19 by around four days.
The Department of Finance stated that Domestic Rates Bills will be sent to households following a freeze during the first stages of the pandemic.
Ulster University have suspended face-face lectures for the next academic semester. Online classes and lecturers will take place until Christmas to ensure social distancing measures work. Queen’s University stated that it will combine face-to-face teaching in small groups and online lectures from September.
Economist, Paul MacFlynn of Nevin Economic Research Institute has told the Economy Committee that the NI Economy will face a second wave of unemployment when the Furlough Scheme ends. He said the level of unemployment will depend on public health guidance for sectors such as hospitality and tourism.
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson MP, has asked SAGE to review the two-metre social distancing rule in order to ease the reopening of shops and bars. He told the Commons Liaison Committee that he expects a response before 15 June. At a press briefing on Monday he said open air markets and car showrooms will open from Monday 1 June, with all other non-essential retail to open on 15 June in England.
DUP Alderman Frank McCoubrey is to become Lord Mayor of Belfast on Monday. Cllr Paul McCusker, SDLP, has been announced as the Deputy Lord Mayor of the incoming term.
From Monday 1 June, two plenary sessions a week will return to the Assembly.
The Budget (No.2) Bill will reach the Further Consideration and Final Stage at the Assembly on Tuesday 2 June.
Health Minister, Robin Swann MLA, and Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Ian Young, are to brief the Health Committee on Wednesday 3 June.
MPs are due to return in person to Parliament on Tuesday 2 June, following the UK Government removing the ability to vote remotely. Over 70 MPs, including the Chairs of most select committees, have written to Parliamentary officials, voicing concerns that in-person voting will break social distancing rules and make for unsafe working conditions.
The Economy Committee have launched a Call For Evidence into the UK Government’s Trade Bill 2019-2021. The Committee are asking people to send their views on the bill to committee.economy@niassembly.gov.uk. The Trade Bill can be found HERE
SONI will brief the Economy Committee on the Energy Strategy on Wednesday 3 June.
The 11th Annual ‘New York-New Belfast’ Conference will be held online on 12 June. Confirmed speakers include members of the US Congress, New York’s state legislature and City Council, those leading New York’s political and medical response to the virus, and NI Executive Ministers and local MPs. For more information and registration click HERE
A study to be published in the upcoming book, How Ireland Voted 2020, found that Sinn Féin were much more dominant on social media than the other two large parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael during the General Election. The Study found Sinn Feín engaged with voters much better, with 567,020 interactions on Facebook from 4 January to 7 February, where Fianna Fáil had 49,358 and Fine Gael had 55,152 over the same period.
Other Stories This Week
First Minister, Arlene Foster MLA, has told the Assembly than an internal audit will be carried out by the Finance Department into the data breach which revealed the names of more than 250 Historical Institutional Abuse victims. Following calls for Interim Victim Advocate, Brendan McAllister, to resign, the First Minister also told the Assembly that the process to appoint a permanent HIA Commissioner has begun.
The Executive Office Committee heard that airports and ports will have to be scaled up to meet EU Trading laws when the Brexit transition period ends. TEO Director of International Relations, Andrew McCormack told the Committee that preparations for Brexit need to be dealt with urgently following attentions being diverted due to Coronavirus.
Minister of State for Scotland, Douglas Ross MP, has resigned from the UK Cabinet following the Prime Minister’s Chief Advisor, Dominic Cummings, refusal to resign after he was revealed to have broken lockdown measures and travelled to his parent’s home in Durham. The Commons Liaison Committee heard evidence from the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson MP, who stated following Mr Cummings press conference on Monday, no further comment is needed on his actions and he would not be calling on Cabinet Secretary, Sir Mark Sedwill, for an inquiry.
The NI Fintech Envoy, Andrew Jenkins, briefed the Economy Committee on Wednesday on the huge potential for the sector in the coming years.
Councils have called for more funding to be given to small and micro-businesses to recover from COVID-19. Representatives from NILGA told the Economy Committee that Councils will be the first responders to local businesses during the next phase of Covid, and more support will be required from the Executive to ensure economic regrowth.
Agriculture Minister, Edwin Poots MLA, has announced £360K in funding for the aquaculture sector. The funding package is aimed at supporting aquaculture businesses who have experienced a drop in sales due to COVID-19.
Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey MLA, has appointed five new members to NI Local Government Officer’s Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC). Paul Francey, Joan McCaffrey, Antoinette McMillen, Michael Rafferty and John Tohill will sit on the Committee for a term of 4 years.
Consultations
Energy Strategy Micro Inquiry NI Assembly Economy Committee. Deadline 29 May
Addressing the Legacy of Northern Ireland’s past: The UK Government’s New Proposals NI Affairs Select Committee. Deadline 1 June.
Consultation on Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay Department for the Economy. TBC.