Forward Look
Dr Jayne Brady MBE has been appointed the new Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. An announcement on when Dr Brady will take up her post will be made shortly.
Lagan Valley MLA Paul Givan has been selected by DUP Leader Edwin Poots MLA as First Minister and is expected to replace Arlene Foster MLA from Monday. Mrs Foster’s resignation will trigger a seven-day period where Sinn Féin must again nominate a deputy First Minister. If appointments are not agreed within seven days, the Secretary of State is legally required to call an Assembly election.
In a reshuffle of the DUP’s Stormont Ministerial team, Party Leader Edwin Poots MLA has appointed Paul Frew MLA as Economy Minister, Michelle McIlveen as Education Minister and Gary Middleton MLA as Junior Minister. They are expected to replace Diane Dodds MLA, Peter Weir MLA, and Gordon Lyons MLA respectively from Monday. Mr. Poots will remain as Agriculture Minister.
The NI Executive has agreed an indicative date of 21 June for the resumption of live music in venues across Northern Ireland. Subject to approval on 17 June, 10 people from 2 households can meet indoors, and 15 people from any number of households can meet in a private garden, also from 21 June.
Following a meeting of the EU-UK Joint Committee, the UK Government has not ruled out unilaterally extending the ‘grace period’ on the ban of chilled meats entering NI from GB, set to end on 30 June. European Commission Vice President Maros Šefčovič has said that EU-UK relations are at a “crossroads”, with the UK’s lead Brexit Minister Lord Frost due to brief the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on the NI Protocol on Wednesday.
Emma Little-Pengelly has announced she will not seek consideration for a Special Adviser role in the DUP once First Minister Arlene Foster MLA steps down.
At the G7 Summit this week, US President Joe Biden has warned Prime Minister Boris Johnson MP to not let issues related to the Northern Ireland Protocol affect the peace process, the President’s National Security Advisor has said.
Mervyn Storey MLA has been appointed Chair of the Justice Committee, replacing Paul Givan MLA, with Jonathan Buckley MLA replacing Michelle McIlveen MLA as Chair of the Infrastructure Committee. Gordon Lyons MLA replaces Pam Cameron MLA as Vice-Chair of the Health Committee, with Mrs. Cameron the new Chair of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee. DUP Deputy Leader Paula Bradley MLA remains Chair of the Communities Committee.
Question Time will take place for the Executive Office and the Health Minister on Monday. The Infrastructure Minister and the Assembly Commission are up for questions on Tuesday. Northern Ireland Questions in Westminster will take place on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the Concurrent Committee of the Executive Office, Finance and Economy Committees will receive a briefing from the Interim Head of the Civil Service on Covid Recovery, followed by a Departmental briefing on the High Street Task Force. The Infrastructure Committee will receive a Briefing from RaISe in relation to the Committee’s inquiry into the Decarbonisation of Road Transport in Northern Ireland. The AERA Committee will receive oral evidence from NI Environment Link and Climate NI on the Climate Change Bill.
On Thursday, the Health Committee will receive oral evidence on the Severe Fetal Abortion (Amendment) Bill and will conduct deliberations on the Health and Social Care Bill. The Public Accounts Committee will receive a briefing from the Department for the Economy and Ulster University on the University’s Greater Belfast Development Project.
The prestigious technology conference EmTech Europe will take place in Belfast from 1-2 July, and is to be the first in-person business conference to take place in the UK and Ireland since the beginning of the pandemic. To register: LINK
Invest NI’s Access to Finance Conference will take place from 24-25 June. Delivered alongside InterTradeIreland and the British Business Bank, the virtual conference explores the practicalities of raising finance for a business. To register: LINK
The Independent Fiscal Commission for Northern Ireland will publish their final report on fiscal powers in Northern Ireland in May 2022. To view the Commission’s new website: LINK
The Londonderry Chamber of Commerce have launched the "Growth North West” initiative in collaboration with Invest NI, Derry City and Strabane District Council and others, providing businesses with the skillset, information and advice needed to enter new, international markets. To register: LINK
The new GB News channel will launch on Sunday.
Other Stories this week
Former rugby international and solicitor Trevor Ringland has been appointed as the UK’s first special envoy to the United States on Northern Ireland.
Health Minister Robin Swann MLA has said that Northern Ireland is “not yet at the point” where a date can be set for the end of social distancing, the use of face coverings or other public health measures.
Jayne McCormack has been appointed BBC News NI Political Correspondent.
Mike Nesbitt MLA’s Private Member’s Bill to reform Northern Ireland’s defamation laws had its First Reading this week. The Speaker Alex Maskey MLA has ruled that Paul Givan MLA will be permitted to transfer his Private Member’s Bill, the Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill to another MLA, Belfast Live reports. The Bill is currently at Committee Stage.
Gordon Dunne MLA is to step down from the Assembly for health reasons.
The Consideration Stage of the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill took place this week. Passed amendments to the Bill include the removal of restrictions of bar opening times over Easter and the permitting of alcohol sales at cinemas. The Further Consideration Stage has not yet been scheduled.
The interval between doses of Covid-19 vaccines in Northern Ireland is to be reduced to a maximum of eight weeks, the Health Minister has announced. This comes as 80 cases of the Delta variant have been identified in Northern Ireland this week.
The SDLP have selected Lillian Seenoi-Barr as the new Foyleside Councillor on the Derry City and Strabane District Council, replacing Mary Durkan.
Upcoming key political and business events
24 June, Annual General Meeting, Belfast Chamber
1-2 July, EmTech Europe virtual Conference, MIT Technology Review
3 July, Northern Ireland Assembly Summer Recess begins
24 September, Annual Conference, Centre for Cross Border Studies
8 October, President’s Annual Dinner, Londonderry Chamber of Commerce
22 October, 2021 Business Awards, Belfast Chamber of Commerce
Consultations
Consultation on a review of the Northern Ireland Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan Department for the Economy. Deadline 25 June 2021.
Consultation on the Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No. 7) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 Department for Infrastructure. Deadline 25 June 2021.
Consultation on Legal Aid for Mediation in Non-Family Civil Cases Department of Justice. Deadline 29 June 2021.
Consultation on policy options for the new Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland Department for the Economy. Deadline 30 June 2021.
Consultation on proposal to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Deadline 8 July 2021.
Consultation on pre-school education admissions criteria Department of Education. Deadline 12 July 2021.
Consultation on the new housing supply strategy call for evidence Department for Communities. Deadline 16 July 2021.
Consultation on proposed changes to the carrier bag levy Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Deadline 27 July 2021.
Consultation on improving the experience of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system Department of Justice. Deadline 29 July 2021.
Consultation on a Statutory Duty of Candour and Being Open Framework Department of Health. Deadline 2 August 2021.
Consultation on Skills for a 10X Economy Department for the Economy. Deadline 19 August 2021.
Consultation for the Introduction of Standard Legal Aid Fees Department of Justice. Deadline 24 September 2021.