Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 10 August 2020

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Forward Look

  • Health Minister, Robin Swann MLA has apologised to families of patients at Muckamore Abbey Hospital and has stated he is to open an inquiry into the institutional abuse that occurred at the mental health hospital. This follows the Department of Health’s review into the leadership and governance of Muckamore Abbey Hospital which found there were missed opportunities to stop the abuse of vulnerable patients.

  • UK Cabinet Minister, Michael Gove MP, will meet with First Minister Arlene Foster MLA and business leaders today in Belfast to promote the Northern Ireland Protocol.

  • Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon MLA, opened the recruitment process for nine non-executive members of Belfast Harbour Commission. Appointments will be effective from 1 April 2021.

  • Communities Minister, Carál Ni Chuilín MLA, announced plans to reconvene the Partnership Panel, the body set up to strengthen relationships between the Executive and local government.

  • The Communities Committee have issued a Call for Evidence regarding the Pension Schemes Bill. The Bill is to ensure greater protection for those saving into a Master Trust scheme. Closing date for submissions is Wednesday 9 September.

  • The All-Party Group on Early Education and Childcare will meet on Thursday 13 August.

  • Following the North South Ministerial Council meeting last Friday, a feasibility study is to be carried out into a new high-speed rail line between Belfast-Dublin-Cork.

  • Belfast City Council and the Departments of Infrastructure and Communities have given their backing to the ‘Bolder Vision’ document, a joint study which outlines a blueprint for the transformation of Belfast by 2035. The next stage of the process will be to publish an action plan which will be issued for public consultation later this year.

  • Gerry Carroll MLA has initiated a consultation for his proposed Non-Executive Trade Union Freedom Bill. The Bill will seek to change the rules around the notice periods and ballots which Trade Unions give before taking lawful industrial action.

  • The Ulster Business Top 100 Edition will be published on Monday 10 August.

  • Belfast City Council will sit remotely on Monday 10 August.

  • Allstate NI, EY and Herbert Smith Freehills have partnered to host ‘Your Child, Their Future’, a virtual parents information evening to highlight possible career paths for the next generation and ways parents can help steer their children to alternative careers on Tuesday 11 August. To register click HERE.

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Other Stories this week

  • Communities Minister, Carál Ni Chuilín MLA announced an additional £3.2m in funding for local Councils to aid them in supporting the community and voluntary sector.

  • Sir Philip Barton has been named as the Permanent Under-Secretary for the newly merged Department of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

  • Douglas Ross MP has been elected as the leader of the Scottish Conservative Party. He succeeds Jackson Carlaw.

  • Media regulator, OFCOM published its ‘Media Nations 2020’ report this week. See attached for a breakdown of how Northern Ireland consumes media.

  • Experian Market IQ published its ‘United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland M&A Review’. The report showed Deal Makers in Northern Ireland largely paused in the first half of 2020 due to Covid-19, with 58 transactions recorded, a 65% decline compared to 165 recorded in the same period in 2019. The total value of deals involving a NI business was £52m, compared to 2019’s H1 at £294m. This represents the lowest half year value in more than a decade.

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Consultations