Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 31 August 2020

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Forward Look

  • The new NI Assembly Standards Commissioner is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

  • Former South Antrim MP Danny Kinahan has been appointed the first Veterans Commissioner. He will step down from his role as Councillor on Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council before taking up this position.

  • The Irish Government are expected to propose a male and female for the vacant role of EU Commissioner following Phil Hogan’s resignation. Potential candidates include Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Coveney TD, Mairead McGuinness MEP and David O’Sullivan, a former high ranking official in the Commission. 

  • Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA has said she expects to take applications for the Troubles Pension in the next five to six months.

  • MLA allowances have been amended by the Assembly Commission to bring the salaries of their staff into line with those who work in the Assembly. This could potentially cost £4.2 million per year.

  • The StopCovidNI app is to be extended to children and young people from next month.

  • International Trade Secretary Liz Truss MP has launched 11 new trade advisory groups as part of a major new business engagement drive. Representatives from NI include Rose Mary Stalker, Invest NI; Kieran Kennedy, O’Neills; Wesley Aston, UFU; and David Lavery CB, The Law Society of NI.

  • A new group of employees in the North West have established the Cross Border Workers Coalition to tackle remote working tax rules facing Republic of Ireland residents who work in Northern Ireland.

  • Victims Commissioner Judith Thompson will leave her post next week. She has called on the UK Government to reconsider its latest plans for dealing with troubles cases.

  • Deirdre O’Shaughnessy is to take over as News Editor at the Irish Examiner.

  • CCEA has launched a consultation on examinations for Summer 2021. This proposes a reduction in the number of exams that pupils will be required to take, as well as a number of adaptations to qualifications to ensure they can be delivered safely and meet current public health requirements. Further information here.

  • NI Oral Questions in the House of Commons will take place on Wednesday 2 September.

  • The NI Affairs Committee will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday 2 September. It will receive oral evidence on the new proposals for addressing legacy by the UK Government.

  • The Education Committee will meet on Wednesday 2 September. They are expected to hear from NIC-ICTU on the school restarts.

  • The Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee will meet on Thursday 3 September. They will receive evidence from the NI Business Brexit Working Group.

  • The Justice Committee will meet on Thursday 3 September. They will be briefed on the Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill.

  • Belfast City Hall and the MAC will be lit up in the colours of Poland on Monday night to mark the 40th anniversary of Solidarity.

  • 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.

Other Stories this week

  • Figures released by the Department of Health show that 311,000 people in NI are waiting for a first appointment with a consultant.

  • Sir Ed Davey MP has been elected leader of the Lib Dems. He defeated fellow MP Layla Moran.

  • Education Minister Peter Weir announced an additional £42 million to help support the safe reopening of schools.

  • Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín appointed Kenneth Clayton, Alan Law, Shane McCurdy and Peter Moore as members to the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee.

  • Lord Justice Stephens has been appointed to the Supreme Court. He will replace Lord Kerr who retires at the end of September.

Consultations