Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 4 October 2021

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Forward Look

  • The first changes from new legislation to reform liquor licensing laws here will come into effect today. Some of the provisions include drinking-up time increasing to one hour, removal of restrictions on late opening on Sunday, pubs and hotels can apply to open to 2:00am up to 104 nights per year and smaller pubs will be able to open to 1:00am up to 104 nights annually.

  • DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donalson MP has called for unionist parties to work together ahead of next May’s Assembly Election to stop Sinn Féin becoming the largest party. Leader of the UUP, Doug Beattie MLA, has ruled this out.

  • It has been reported by the Belfast Telegraph that the Government could trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol as early as next week. It comes as the EU is expected to formally lay out their proposals to find solutions to the working of the Protocol.

  • The First and deputy First Minister have launched a public appointment competition for a new Commissioner for Victims and Survivors.

  • Alliance has called for a review of Northern Irelands 100 quangos. Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA has insisted that progress has been made on cutting the number of arm-length bodies as the terms of reference for a review have been agreed.

  • Belfast City Council is seeking feedback on their Social Value Procurement Policy. Their first virtual consultation event will take place on 5 October. Register: HERE.

  • The roll out of the Covid-19 vaccine boosters to Northern Ireland’s care homes is underway, the Health Minister has confirmed. The wider booster dose programme will begin in October for those eligible.

  • Health Minister Robin Swann MLA has published the terms of reference and the appointment of the expert personnel panel for the public inquiry into allegations of abuse at Muckamore Abbey Hospital in Antrim. It was also confirmed that the setting up date for the inquiry will be 11 October.

  • The Department for the Economy is to request an additional £21 million in case there is an overspend of the £145 million budget for the High Street Voucher Scheme. It comes after it was revealed over 400,000 applications have been completed for the scheme.

  • The Department of Health is inviting the public to participate in upcoming virtual consultation events for a new 10-year Cancer Strategy for Northern Ireland. The consultation will close on 20 October.

  • Penguin Books Ireland have announced that the Political Correspondent for the Irish Examiner, Aoife Grace Moore, is to publish a definitive book on the rise of Sinn Fein. Interviews and research for the book will occur over the next year.

  • On Monday, the Infrastructure and Justice Ministers will take part in Question Time. The Agriculture Minister will face questions on Tuesday.

  • On Tuesday the second stage of the Adoption and Children Bill will take place.

  • On Wednesday, the Economy Committee will receive briefings from the Skills Strategic Advisory Group and the Department on the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill. The Infrastructure Committee will receive a Departmental briefing on the Budget. The Commission for Victims and Survivors will brief the Executive Office Committee.

  • On Thursday, the Health Committee will deliberate on the Severe Fetal Impairment (Amendment) Bill. The Justice Committee will receive Oral Evidence on the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme, while the Communities Committee will receive briefings on the Charities Bill and the Supporting People Policy.

  • The Londonderry Chamber of Commerce will host its 63rd Annual Presidents dinner next Friday at the Everglades Hotel, Derry. The keynote speaker will be the Europe Editor of RTE, Tony Conelly.

  • The UUP will host its Annual Conference next Friday and Saturday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in South Belfast.

Other Stories this week

  • New Labour Leadership rule changes, proposed by Keir Starmer MP, passed at the Labour Conference in Brighton. The new rules will give MPs more sway over leadership elections.

  • Northern Ireland’s Unionist parties issued a Joint Unionist Declaration in opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol. It can be read and viewed: HERE.

  • The Climate Change (No. 2) Bill, the Small-Scale Green Energy Bill and the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Bill all passed their second stages. They will now go to Committee Stage for scrutiny.

  • Chair of the Fiscal Commission, Paul Johnson, has said that the Executive could have up to £600 million to spend if it brought some policies into line with other parts of the UK.

  • Education Minister Michelle McIlveen MLA has announced the independent panel which will undertake the review of education. Biographies of the panellists can be found: HERE.

  • Health Minister Robin Swann MLA has launched a new £40 million Laboratory Management System to improve the delivery of Clinical diagnostic services for key areas of healthcare.

  • Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA announced a review of strategic planning policy on oil and gas development. The review will include the consideration of fracking.

  • New Sinn Foyle MLAs have taken up role on Assembly Committees. Padraig Delargey MLA has joined the Infrastructure Committee, while Ciara Ferguson MLA has joined the Communities Committee.

  • Louise Cullen is to be the new Environment Correspondent for the BBC from next week.

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