Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 19 April 2021

Updated Twitter Card 1.jpg

Forward Look

  • A host of relaxations to the Covid-19 regulations will begin taking effect from next week. These include the reopening of close contact services from April 23 and the reopening of licensed and unlicensed outdoor hospitality, gyms and swimming pools for individual use, non-essential retail and the removal of curfews on takeaways and off licenses on April 30. May 24 is the indicative date for the reopening of all indoor hospitality, the return of indoor group exercise with limited numbers and domestic gatherings indoors.

  • Ireland’s Department of Finance is to host a virtual seminar on International Taxation on Wednesday 21 April. Minister for Finance Pascal Donohoe TD will open the event. See more here: LINK.

  • Taoiseach Micheál Martin will update NI Chamber members on the current and future economic and policy issues impacting businesses on Thursday 22 April. To register: LINK.

  • Onsite training at further education colleges will resume for some close contact subjects from Friday 23 April. Guidance from the Department for Economy is available here: LINK.

  • Question Time will take place on Monday for the First and deputy First Ministers and Education Minister Peter Weir MLA. Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA will answer questions on Tuesday.

  • Northern Ireland Questions will take place in Parliament on Wednesday. The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee will hear evidence on Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol.

  • The Education Committee will receive an oral briefing from the Children’s Law Centre on Special Educational Needs Education on Wednesday. Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA will brief the Infrastructure Committee on Covid-19 and current issues and the Financial Services Union will present at the Economy Committee on bank branch closures also. Health Minister Robin Swann MLA will brief the Health Committee on Thursday.

  • The All Party Groups on Autism and Cancer will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

  • Robin Newton MLA is to bring forward legislation to outlaw puppy farming. Lucy’s Law, which makes it illegal to sell pups without a licence, has already been enacted in England and Scotland and is due to become law in Wales in October.

  • Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle has launched a consultation on a proposed Private Member’s Bill to include teachers in fair employment legislation. The deadline is June 10. To respond: LINK.

  • Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee is expected to publish a review of the 2009 Defamation Act. Plans are currently being finalised and the Department will outline an amendment bill by the end of this year.

  • Voting in the Seanad by-elections will close on Wednesday 21 April.

  • Westminster’s Treasury Select Committee will launch an inquiry into the Greensill Capital lobbying scandal and the appropriateness of HM Treasury’s response to lobbying next week.

  • The new Lord Speaker is to be announced on Wednesday 21 April and is expected to take office on Saturday 1 May.

  • The Department for Economy is seeking a new chairperson for Northern Ireland Screen. The successful applicant will begin a five-year term on July 1.

  • The European Commission will present a revision of the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) on Wednesday 21 April.

Other Stories this week

  • The Executive Office formally pledged to pay for the Trouble’s pension scheme through Stormont’s Department of Finance. The outlay over the next 20 years is estimated at £1.2bn.

  • UK Brexit Minister Lord Frost and EU Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic have met in Brussels to seek solutions to the Irish Sea Border.

  • The cross-party UK Trade and Business Commission held its first evidence session this week. Featuring NI MPs Claire Hanna, Stephen Farry and Paul Girvan and business representatives including NI Retail Consortium Director Aodhán Connolly, it will reconvene again later this month to examine the economic impact of food checks on the Irish Sea Border.

  • Figures from Ireland’s Central Statistics Office have given the first indication of the NI Protocol’s impact on trade. February saw a sharp increase in cross-border exports, jumping from €145m (£125.9m) to €283m (£245.9m), while trade between ROI and GB appears to be down.

  • Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA officially launched the JobStart employer incentive scheme at a cost of £20m.

  • Openreach announced a £100m investment in Northern Ireland to maintain and expand the ultrafast full-fibre broadband network. It will create 100 apprenticeship roles and connect a further 100,000 premises to the network.

  • Health Minister Robin Swann MLA laid out a Strategic Framework for Rebuilding Health and Social Care Services. See more: LINK.

  • Close contacts of confirmed Covid cases will now be asked to take a PCR test within 48 hours of identification, the Department of Health has announced. Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride said he fully anticipates a first delivery of the Moderna vaccine in May. Meanwhile, the Nightingale facility at Belfast City Hospital has been stood down and all Covid-19 patients are to be cared for at the Mater Hospital.

  • The Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Independent have launched surveys to identify the top law firms on the island of Ireland. The closing date for both is 21 May, with publication planned for November 7. To register: LINK.

  • RTÉ’s Laura Hogan has joined the Belfast news team temporarily as the broadcaster seeks a new Northern Correspondent. Applications close on Friday 23 April.

Upcoming key political and business events

Consultations