Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 21 September

Forward Look

  • The Government’s Internal Market Bill passed its Second Reading this week by 340 votes to 263. The Prime Minister has reached an agreement with Conservative MPs who had been unhappy with the Bill and agreed to amend it to give MPs a vote before he could use the powers in it that would breach international law, avoiding a possible backbench rebellion next week in the Commons. Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA and Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA have both separately raised concerns about the Bill’s impact on devolution this week in conjunction with their respective counterparts in Scotland and Wales.

  • The NI Executive has agreed that ‘wet’ pubs will be permitted to open on Wednesday 23 September. Pubs will be required to adhere to new regulations to reopen and serve customers. Health Minister Robin Swann MLA has also placed new local restrictions on the postcode area of BT60, which includes the towns of Armagh, Markethill, and Keady. These restrictions will be effective from 5pm this afternoon. 

  • Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA is to take responsibility for providing financial support to the haulage, coach and taxi industries, sectors which have so far been excluded from existing Covid-19 support schemes.

  • Ulster Bank Chief Economist Richard Ramsey has warned that NI’s unemployment rate could reach as high as 10% before the job market begins to recover.

  • Question Time to the Health and Infrastructure Ministers will take place on Monday 21 September, and to the DAERA and Justice Ministers on Tuesday 22 September.

  • Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA will brief the Infrastructure Committee on Covid-19 and other current issues on Wednesday 23 September.

  • Economy Minister Diane Dodds MLA will brief the Economy Committee on Covid-19 and the economic response on Wednesday 23 September.

  • The Finance Committee will hear evidence from the Department of Finance on Wednesday 23 September on public sector reform in NI.

  • The DAERA Committee will receive oral evidence from the department on its EU Exit preparations on Thursday 24 September.

  • The Health Committee will hear evidence as part of its inquiry into Covid-19 and care homes on Thursday 24 September.

  • A number of APG meetings are being held virtually next week. Early Education and Childcare will meet on Monday 21 September; Mental Health will meet on Tuesday 22; Sports and Physical Recreation, and Construction will meet on Wednesday 23; and Climate Action, and Fair Banking and Finance will meet on Friday 25.

  • The NI Affairs Committee will receive evidence on its inquiry into Brexit and the NI Protocol on Wednesday 23 September from Dr Katy Hayward, Dr Graham Gudgin, former UK Government SpAd Raoul Ruparel, and Anton Spisak from the Tony Blair Institute.

  • John Penrose MP is to lead a review considering how the UK’s competition regime can be enhanced in the context of Covid-19 and the end of the transition period. Mr Penrose will produce a short, independent report on the UK Government’s policy late this year.

  • The Labour Party has replaced its annual conference with an online programme of events from 19-22 September. Sinn Féin will be hosting a virtual fringe event on Sunday 20 September, titled ‘Protecting the Good Friday Agreement’. Speakers include John Finucane MP and former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott MP.

  • 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 annual Belfast Homecoming conference will take place virtually on Thursday 1 and Friday 2 October. To register and for more information, please visit this link.

  • Fintech Envoy for Northern Ireland, Andrew Jenkins will take part in a webinar hosted by Invest NI exploring the different components of Northern Ireland’s unique fintech eco-system, and incentives available for Australian and New Zealand technology companies seeking to expand. Further information can be found here. 

Other Stories this week

  • Democratic Party Presidential candidate Joe Biden and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have both said this week that any future US-UK free trade deal is “contingent” on respect for the Good Friday Agreement.

  • BBC NI reported this week that broadband provider Fibrus is set to be awarded the £165m Project Stratum contract to improve rural internet connectivity in Northern Ireland.

  • The North-South Electricity Interconnector has been granted planning permission by Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA. The project will create a 400kv overhead electricity line running through Armagh, Tyrone, Monaghan, Cavan, and Meath. The Minister also announced a £2.8m funding investment package towards the development of six greenway projects.

  • Nicole Mannion has left her role as Brexit Director of the Irish Embassy in London to take up a new role as Deputy Head of Mission at the Delegation of the EU to the UK.

  • The All-Party Group on Lung Health met for the first time on Monday, selecting Pam Cameron MLA as its Chair and Paula Bradshaw MLA as Vice-Chair.

  • Former Head of the NI Civil Service David Sterling has been appointed the new Chair of the Chief Executives Forum.

  • Sinn Féin senator Elisha McCallion has been appointed Seanad spokesperson on Higher Education and Health.

  • Figures released by NISRA show that the NI economy saw an almost 18% fall in services output between April and July this year, and a further 15% fall in output in the production sector.

  • Newry representative Helena Young has been appointed the new Alliance Party Chairperson.

Consultations