Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 29 March 2021

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Forward Look

  • First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill announced the limited reopening of Sure Start and youth services programmes. The Executive announced preparations are being made for a hotel quarantine system, and Northern Ireland will follow a “red list” approach when international travel resumes. The next Executive review of restrictions is set to take place on 15 April.

  • Economy Minister Diane Dodds MLA announced the extension of payments under the Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme (CRBSS), Part A and Part B, and the Large Hospitality and Tourism Business Support Scheme (LHTBSS) beyond 31 March.

  • The Assembly has risen for its Easter recess and is scheduled to return on Monday 12 April. Committees can meet at their Chair’s discretion.

  • Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA has announced plans to widen the current abuse of trust legislation, strengthening the law protecting vulnerable children, through an amendment to the Justice (Miscellaneous) Provisions Bill. Minister Long also confirmed up-skirting will be included as an offence in the bill.

  • John Pullinger CB has been appointed as the new Chair of the Electoral Commission. He is expected to take up the new role in May.

  • The SSE Arena in Belfast will open on 29 March for the mass administration of the Covid-19 vaccine. Over 300 community pharmacies will also be joining the vaccine effort.

  • Plans for a new Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor, aimed at strengthening economic ties between the two cities, were announced this week. Launched by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar TD and Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA this week, eight local councils on both sides of the border will lead on the project.

  • Voting to elect the next Speaker of the House of Lords will take place from 13 April until 15 April. Lord Alderdice, former Speaker of the NI Assembly, is a nominee.

  • Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA has announced plans to implement a one-way system on certain streets in Derry to make the city centre more pedestrian and trade friendly for an 18 month period. Proposals also include the creation of parklets to help boost local hospitality businesses.

  • Health Minister Robin Swann MLA and Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride have both warned against booking foreign holidays this summer, saying international travel is unlikely.

  • Ulster University is partnering with the University of Birmingham, and other stakeholders, to develop a £15million adult social care centre. Deirdre Heehan, Professor of Social Policy at Ulster University, will lead the NI Leadership Team.

  • Health Minister Robin Swann MLA has confirmed a public consultation will be held on policy proposals for a Statutory Duty of Candour. The consultation will open on 12 April and run for a 16 week period.

  • Westminster’s Department for International Trade announced the opening of four new trade and investment hubs across the UK, one of which will be opening in Belfast. The hubs are expected to host 550 members of staff by 2025.

  • Stormont departments are due to receive an extra £220m from the Treasury as a result of extra health spending announced for England.

  • The Dunlop Review, an independent report of UK Government Union Capability published this week has recommended the creation of a new ‘Secretary of State for Intergovernmental and Constitutional Affairs’ to protect the ‘constitutional integrity of the UK. To view the report, click here.

  • Environment Minister Edwin Poots MLA is considering a money-back scheme on drinks bottles to boost recycling. The department is also considering a fee-based scheme encouraging producers to design packaging that is easier to re-use and recycle.

Other Stories this week

  • The Functioning of Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, governing the behaviour and conduct of Stormont special advisers, has received Royal Assent and is now law.

  • The UK Government concluded that it is not going to publish William Shawcross’s commissioned report regarding compensation for UK victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism.

  • Wrightbus is to receive £11.2m from the UK Government to develop hydrogen-fuel technology.

  • Economy Minister Diane Dodds MLA announced that Co-Fund NI is receiving over £16m of additional funding to support SMEs in Northern Ireland. British Business Investments Regional Angels Programme has committed £10m and Invest NI has committed £6.1m.

  • NI think tank Pivotal PPF has produced a report on “retaining and regaining talent in Northern Ireland”, based on the pattern of educational migration, aimed at addressing the brain drain in NI. To read the report, click here.

  • Health Minister Robin Swann MLA announced that Air Ambulance Northern Ireland is to receive an extra £1m in funding.

  • A report produced by the ‘Independent Commission on the College of the Future’ has recommended that all adults in Northern Ireland should be offered the opportunity to study a Further Education qualification for free.

  • Mr Ronnie Hassard has been appointed to the Board of the Education Authority, in place of Sir Gerry Loughran.

  • The UK Government has published regulations granting NI Secretary of State Brandon Lewis MP powers to compel the Department of Health to fully implement abortion laws. The regulations come into force on 31 March.

  • Former Sinn Fein Special Advisor, Conor Heaney, is being co-opted onto the Derry City and Strabane District Council, replacing Foyleside councillor Mickey Cooper.

  • The Climate Change Bill, sponsored by the Green Party’s Clare Bailey MLA, has passed its First Stage in the Assembly. A date for its Second Stage is yet to be scheduled.

  • First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill have agreed to develop a cross-sectoral taskforce to tackle the root causes of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland.

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