Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 11 October 2021

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Forward Look

  • The Executive has agreed that from 31 October the legal requirement to maintain social distancing in hospitality settings will move to guidance, nightclubs will be permitted to reopen, and the restriction on indoor dancing will be lifted. A voluntary vaccine passport certificate for the hospitality sector will also be developed.

  • Brexit Minister Lord Frost has told the Conservative Party Conference that he expects the European Commission to formally respond to the UK Government’s calls for renegotiation of the Northern Ireland Protocol by next Wednesday. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP has reiterated that the DUP could potentially quit power-sharing and trigger an Assembly election if “substantial progress” is not made.

  • The Irish Budget 2022 will be announced to the Dáil on Tuesday. The Irish Government is also to increase corporation tax from 12.5% to 15% for firms with a turnover of more than €750 million.

  • The Irish Government has launched a €165 billion National Development Plan for 2021-30, with a focus on attracting all-island investment through the North West City Region and the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor initiative.

  • Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA has made a bid for £55 million in departmental funding to mitigate against the removal of the £20 weekly uplift in universal credit. An additional £180 million received from the Treasury in September has yet to be allocated to Executive departments.

  • Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA has encouraged businesses and trade bodies to submit rental information ahead of a major revaluation of non-domestic rates in Northern Ireland.

  • The Ulster Unionist Party Conference will take place today and Saturday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in south Belfast. There will be speeches from Party Leader Doug Beattie MLA; Health Minister Robin Swann MLA; Conservative MP, Tom Tugendhat; and Deputy Leader of the Welsh Labour Party, Carolyn Harris MP.

  • Former First Minister Arlene Foster has formally resigned as an MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Her replacement, former DUP Press Officer Deborah Erskine, will be co-opted to the Assembly next week.

  • The TUV has announced its intention to run a candidate in every constituency in Northern Ireland in preparation for an early Assembly election.

  • The Assembly’s Bills Office has said that 28 January would likely be the cut-off point to have Committee Stages for Bills if they are to pass in this Assembly mandate.

  • On Monday, The Executive Office and Communities Minister will take part in Question Time. The Economy Minister will face questions on Tuesday.

  • On Wednesday, the Executive Office Committee will receive a briefing from the First and deputy First Ministers on the work of their department. The Economy Committee will receive a briefing from departmental officials on the Skills Strategy and from Bill sponsor John O’Dowd MLA on the Small-Scale Green Energy Bill. The Finance Committee will consider a written briefing from the department ahead of the October Monitoring Round.

  • On Thursday, the Health Committee will continue its consideration of the Organ Donation Bill, while the Communities Committee will receive briefings on the Charities Bill.

  • The Sunday Independent is to launch a Northern Ireland edition from Sunday 17 October.

  • Belfast Film Festival launched its 2021 programme this week with highlights including the Irish Premiere of Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Belfast’, Alison Millar’s documentary on the life of Lyra McKee and ‘Here Before’ by Belfast-born filmmaker Stacey Gregg. The festival will run between 4-13 November. To view the full programme: LINK

  • The Londonderry Chamber will host its North West Annual Energy Conference at the City Hotel, Londonderry on 11 November. Tickets and registration: LINK.

  • NILGA will host the Annual Local Government Conference on Wednesday 24 November at the Clandeboye Lodge Hotel, Bangor and online.

Other Stories this week

  • The Truth Recovery Panel into Mother and Baby Homes and Magdalene Laundries has called for the Executive to conduct a full statutory public inquiry and to establish immediate redress payments for survivors.

  • The Adoption and Children Bill has passed its Second Stage in the Assembly. It will now go to Committee Stage for scrutiny.

  • The Department of Health has announced that 130 community pharmacies will join the next phase of the Covid-19 vaccination programme delivering the Moderna vaccine.

  • An Irish Times-Ipsos opinion poll has shown that Sinn Féin has the support of 32% of voters in the Republic of Ireland, ahead of Fine Gael (22%) and Fianna Fáil (20%).

  • Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA is to provide housing associations with £15 million for schemes to deal with the increasing costs of building materials.

  • Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP has announced a £500 million package of measures to support the over-50s and workers coming off furlough.

  • Nóirín Hegarty has been appointed editor of The Times and Sunday Times Ireland.

  • The Banbridge Chronicle will cease publishing at the end of the month after 151 years.

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