Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 14 September

Forward Look

  • The UK Government introduced the Internal Markets Bill in Parliament which will make provisions for the trade of goods and services within the UK if no deal is reached between the UK and EU by 15 October. The Bill gives Ministers power to ‘disapply or modify’ exit declarations on goods travelling from NI to GB and the effects of Article 10 which covers the application of EU state aid rules. There are also clauses within the Bill which would allow Ministers to amend the list of goods with unfettered access under the NI protocol. UK Treasury Solicitor and Permanent Secretary of the Government Legal Department, Jonathan Jones, resigned due to the changes which are in breach of international law. The second reading of the Bill will scheduled for Monday 14 September.

  • The NI Affairs Selected Committee has opened a new inquiry into Brexit and the NI Protocol. Deadline for evidence submissions is 31 December 2020. Secretary of State for NI, Brandon Lewis MP will give evidence to the Committee on Wednesday 16 September.

  • The First and deputy First Ministers announced an indicative date of 21 September for non-food serving bars to reopen. Restrictions were also announced for those living in Belfast City, Ballymena, and postcodes BT28, BT29 and BT43 limiting people visiting other residential properties.

  • Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak MP will deliver the Autumn Budget on Tuesday 6 October.

  • Irish Finance Minister, Pascal Donohoe will deliver the Budget to the Dáil on Thursday 8 October.

  • The Head of the NI Civil Service is expected to be announced on Monday 14 September.

  • Health Minister, Robin Swann MLA will bring forward a new Adult Safeguarding Bill to the Assembly. The Bill will help protect care home residents and other vulnerable people. The Bill follows the first report from an independent review into HSCB’s response to the failings of care at Dunmurray Manor Care Home.

  • The NI Affairs Select Committee has opened an inquiry into cross-border co-operation between the UK and Ireland on policing and criminal justice. Deadline for submissions of evidence is Friday 2 October.

  • Health Minister, Robin Swann MLA has announced a public inquiry will be launched into the abuse scandal at Muckamore Abbey Hospital under the Inquiry Act 2005.

  • First and deputy First Minsters and the Economy Minister will partake in Question Time in the Assembly on Monday 14 September.

  • The Finance and Education Ministers will take questions from the Assembly on Tuesday 15 September.

  • The All-Party Group on Cancer is to meet on Tuesday 15 September.

  • The Health Committee will hear a departmental brief on Brexit on Thursday 17 September.

  • The Partnership Panel, a body established to strengthen relationships between the Executive and local government, will meet for the first time since 2016 on Wednesday 16 September.

  • QUB’s Policy and Engagement Department will host ‘Negotiating Brexit: September Brexit Clinic at Queen's’ on Wednesday 23 September. Prof David Phinnemore, Prof Dagmar Schiek, Prof Katy Hayward and Dr Viviane Gravey will discuss the latest round of trade talks and the implications for NI at the online event.

  • Secretary of State for International Trade, Liz Truss MP announced the membership of the Board of Trade. Members included Brandon Lewis MP but excluded NI politicians and business leaders.

  • A fintech research project is to be published later this year by Whitecap Consulting looking at where the competitive advantages lie within the sector in NI.

  • 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

  • Mairead McGuiness MEP has been appointed as the EU Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union. Her appointment follows the resignation of EU Commissioner for Trade, Phil Hogan.

  • Dr Melissa McCullough has been confirmed as the Assembly Commissioner for Standards.

  • The All-Party Group on Addiction and Dual-Diagnosis met for the first time on Wednesday, selecting Cara Hunter MLA as Chair and Órlaithí Flynn MLA as Vice-Chair.

  • Ryan Smith has been appointed as Editor of Belfast Live.

Consultations