Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 24 August 2020

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Forward Look

  • Health Minister Robin Swann MLA has announced a series of new restrictions to clamp down on community transmission of Covid-19. Only 15 people are now permitted to gather outside, down from 30 people, and the number of people meeting in an indoor dwelling has been reduced to 6 people from no more than 2 households. The Minister also said there will be “focused PSNI enforcement” in Covid hotspot areas going forward.

  • The Head of the NI Civil Service is expected to be announced around the middle of next month, according to the Irish News.

  • Fianna Fáil is in the process of restructuring its communications and research office and is seeking to recruit a new Head of Communications and Research. The party is also recruiting a new Press Officer and Policy Researcher.

  • Ireland’s Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary TD has resigned after attending a large event, only a day after the government introduced strict new Covid-19 restrictions.

  • Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín MLA is extending legislation to protect vulnerable people and relieve winter pressures during the pandemic.

  • Ulster University has appointed Professor Paul Bartholomew as its new Vice-Chancellor.  

  • Department for Infrastructure officials may have to take control of a decision on a controversial proposed development of a new Asda superstore on the outskirts of Newtownabbey. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has voted to defer consideration of the application. Retail NI is opposed to the proposals.  

  • The SDLP is to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year with a programme of events which “commemorate the progress that it has delivered but which will look firmly to the future, focusing on transforming the lives of people across Ireland”.

  • The Executive Office Committee is expected to meet next week to hear evidence from the First and deputy First Ministers over the ongoing impasse in the roll-out of the victims and survivors pension scheme.

  • The Economy Committee will meet next Wednesday 26 August to receive a Departmental briefing as well as a briefing from further education colleges and training providers.

  • The All-Party Group on Cancer will hold its AGM via Zoom on Tuesday 15 September. The meeting will also hear an update on the NI Cancer Strategy from Department of Health officials.

  • Third sector membership body CO3 is holding its virtual Leadership Conference on 24 and 25 September. Keynote speakers include former US Ambassador to the UN and key adviser to President Barack Obama, Samantha Power. To register, please visit this link.

  • The IoD NI has revealed the finalists for the Northern Ireland Director of the Year Awards. A scaled-down ceremony will be held at the Merchant Hotel on Friday 11 September.

  • Ulster University’s Economic Policy Centre is seeking to appoint a new chair and two further independent members to its sponsor board.

Other Stories this week

  • Education Minister Peter Weir MLA announced this week that A-Level, AS Level, and GCSE students receiving grades this month will now be awarded the higher of the grades submitted by their school or college, or the grade calculated by exam board CCEA.  

  • New restrictions have also been imposed in the Republic of Ireland to reduce the spread of Covid-19. People are being encouraged to work from home where possible, crowds for outdoor events have been reduced from 200 to 15, and new powers have been granted to Gardaí to intervene where they believe social distancing rules are not being complied with.  

  • Northern Ireland’s new Attorney General, Brenda King, has formally been sworn in at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast this week. Ms King was previously First Legislative Counsel in the NI Executive.  

  • RTÉ has announced that Claire Byrne is to be the new presenter of RTÉ Radio 1’s mid-morning ‘Today’ programme.

  • Aerospace firm Bombardier has said a further 95 jobs are at risk of redundancy at its NI operations.

  • Health Secretary Matt Hancock MP has confirmed that Public Health England will be replaced by a new body focused on preparing for external threats like pandemics. PHE has been criticised by the government for its coronavirus response.

  • The body in charge of organising the maintenance of the Palace of Westminster has rejected the Prime Minister’s suggestion of temporarily moving parliament to York while repair work is carried out.

Consultations