Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 10 May 2021

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Forward Look

  • The DUP Leadership election will take place next Friday at 11am, with only party members who are MLAs and MPs able to vote. Edwin Poots MLA and Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP are in the running for Party Leader, with Paula Bradley MLA, Gregory Campbell MP and Paul Frew MLA contesting the Deputy Leader position.

  • Mr. Poots’ DUP leadership manifesto states that, if elected, he will separate the jobs of Leader and First Minister, lead a campaign against the NI Protocol and form a new Ministerial team. The Belfast Telegraph reports that Paul Givan MLA would be appointed First Minister, Paul Frew MLA Economy Minister and Mervyn Storey MLA Education Minister under his leadership.

  • The Queen’s Speech will take place on Tuesday following the State Opening of Parliament. The Times reports that a statutory ban on Troubles’ prosecutions for Northern Ireland veterans and paramilitary organisations will be announced in the Speech.

  • The Executive will conduct a formal review of Covid-19 restrictions next Thursday as part of its third consideration of the Pathway to Recovery document. The indicative date of 24 May given for the reopening of indoor hospitality, tourist attractions and indoor mixing is expected to be considered.

  • Sinn Féin Foyle MLAs, Martina Anderson and Karen Mullan, have announced they will not stand for re-election at next year’s Assembly election.

  • The UK and Irish Governments have agreed to hold a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference next month for the first time since 2019, with discussions to be held on the Northern Ireland Protocol.

  • Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA has launched a public consultation on proposals for the establishment of a Victims of Crime Commissioner for Northern Ireland and a new three-year draft Victim and Witness Strategy. The Consultation deadline is 29 July 2021. LINK

  • The Economy Committee has heard from Department officials that the High Street Stimulus Scheme is expected to rollout in August 2021, with applicants receiving a £100 pre-paid card which can be spent in all businesses with ‘bricks and mortar’ premises in Northern Ireland this financial year.

  • Belfast Chamber of Commerce have launched their 2021 Business Awards with online entry open until 3 September 2021. The Gala Awards Night will take place on 22 October 2021.

  • The UK Government has announced it will publish its Levelling Up White Paper later this year. This will set out the Government’s proposed policy interventions to recover and grow the economy in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

  • The SDLP has announced the first panel of its New Ireland Commission comprising of civic, faith, community and business leaders. The Commission’s Expert Reference Panel will discuss constitutional change across Ireland. Its inaugural meeting took place on Thursday 6 May.

  • Vicki Hawthorne has been appointed Political Correspondent for UTV.

  • The Centre for Cross Border Studies’ Annual Conference will take place on Friday 24 September and will focus on the conditions for post-Brexit cooperation.

  • Question Time will take place for the Communities Minister and the Economy Minister on Monday. The Education Minister will face questions on Tuesday.

  • Economy Minister Diane Dodds MLA will brief the Economy Committee on Wednesday on the Economic Recovery Action Plan. The Finance Committee will also meet to receive oral evidence from the Scottish Fiscal Commission on a Fiscal Council for Northern Ireland.

  • The Education Committee will receive an oral briefing on Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) from Department officials on Wednesday. Department officials will also brief the Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday on the A5 and York Street Interchange.

  • On Thursday, Health Minister Robin Swann MLA will brief the Health Committee. The Committee will also receive a briefing from the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People and the interim Mental Health Champion. The Agriculture Committee will receive an oral briefing from the RaISe on the Climate Change Bill on Thursday.

Other Stories this week

  • The Conservatives have won the Hartlepool by-election, taking the long-held Labour Westminster seat with a majority of 6,940 votes.

  • Lord Justice Treacy has been appointed as Lord Justice of Appeal Commissioner to the NI Judicial Appointments Commission.

  • Health Minister Robin Swann MLA has announced the establishment of a Social Care Fair Work Forum to support and develop NI’s workforce. The body will be tasked with developing proposals to improve terms and conditions and career prospects for social care staff.

  • Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots MLA has told the Assembly he intends to launch a judicial review against the Northern Ireland Protocol.

  • Economy Minister Diane Dodds MLA has launched the Covid-19 Process and Organisational Improvement Grant (POIG) dedicated to helping businesses accelerate the benefits of business technology. The application deadline is Friday 21 May. LINK

  • Irish Minister for Rural Development Heather Humphreys TD has announced an extra €5.5 million in funding for the regeneration of Ulster Canal, following a previous €6 million commitment from the Taoiseach’s Shared Island Fund.

  • The Irish Government has agreed to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol sales from 1 January 2022.

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 11 May, State Opening of Parliament

  • 27 May, FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards

  • 1 June, Belfast City Council Meeting

  • 10-11 June, BelTech 2021

  • 1-2 July, EmTech Europe, MIT Technology Review

  • 24 September, Annual Conference, Centre for Cross Border Studies

  • 22 October, 2021 Business Awards, Belfast Chamber of Commerce

Consultations