Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 7 June 2021

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Forward Look

  • DUP Leader Edwin Poots MLA has appointed Joanne Bunting MLA as the Party’s Chief Whip and Jonathan Buckley MLA will be Mr Poots’ Chief of Staff. Trevor Clarke MLA and William Humphrey MLA have been appointed Assistant Chief Whips.

  • Deputy Party Leader Paula Bradley MLA and Michelle McIlveen MLA will take on official roles related to the welfare of elected representatives. Mr Poots has stated he will announce his ministerial team “when ready” but has said Arlene Foster MLA will lead as First Minister at the British-Irish Council meeting on Friday, indicating he will not announce his team before this date.

  • Lord Frost and Maros Šefčovič are meeting on Wednesday to discuss the NI Protocol.

  • Economy Minister Diane Dodds MLA has launched the ‘Trade and Investment for a 10X Economy: Priorities for Northern Ireland’s Inward investment, Trade and Exports’. The report outlines the priorities and ambitions that will shape NI’s approach to trade and investment: LINK.

  • The Department of Education has published a report and action plan titled ‘A Fair Start’, which examines the links between educational underachievement and socio-economic background. The report is part of the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ deal: LINK.

  • Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA launched a recruitment campaign to appoint five Non-Executive Members to the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company. The appointments will be effective from 1 October 2021, with terms ranging from three to five years.

  • Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA published a report titled ‘Planning for the Future of Transport – Time for Change’. The report outlines the Department’s priorities for the future of transport: LINK.

  • Economy Minister Diane Dodds MLA introduced a Bill to the Assembly legislating for statutory Parent Bereavement Leave and Pay, allowing those who have suffered the loss of a child statutory entitlement to two weeks’ leave and, in majority of cases, working parents will be entitled to a statutory payment.

  • Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA has announced £72.3m will be given in “top up grants” to businesses that were allowed to remain open but did not qualify for support during the most recent lockdown period.

  • The Pension Schemes Bill passed the Final Stage in the Assembly on Tuesday and is awaiting Royal Assent. Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong’s Private Members Integrated Education Bill passed the First Stage in the Assembly. The Second Stage is yet to be scheduled.

  • The Consideration Stage of the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill will take place on Tuesday.

  • On Monday, the Education and Economy Ministers will face the Assembly for Question Time. The Finance Minister is up for questions on Tuesday.

  • On Wednesday, the Infrastructure Committee will receive a briefing from RaISe regarding a Committee Inquiry into the Decarbonisation of Road Transport in NI. The Executive Office Committee will receive a briefing on departmental spending plans from departmental officials and receive Oral Evidence on Covid recovery from the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland. The Finance Committee will receive Oral Evidence from the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council. The Economy Committee will receive a briefing from Belfast Met and the Hospitality and Tourism Skills Network.

  • On Thursday, the DAERA Committee will hear Oral Evidence on the Climate Change Bill. The Communities Committee will receive briefings from CO3 and NICVA on post Covid-19 recovery. The Justice Committee will have an Oral Evidence session on Protection from Stalking Bill and the Damages (Return on Investment) Bill. The Health Committee will receive Oral Evidence on the SFIA Bill and will hold deliberations on the HSC Bill.

  • The British-Irish Council will meet in Fermanagh on Friday.

  • The UK Parliament returns from recess on Monday.

 Other Stories this week

  • Kate Nicholl officially took office as Lord Mayor of Belfast on Tuesday.

  • Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA launched the Small Capital Grants Programme. The £950,000 fund, delivered by Co-operation Ireland will provide support to the voluntary and community sectors for purchasing equipment to enhance and sustain the activities and services they offer.

  • Following a Covid recovery summit between Boris Johnson and the First Ministers of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, the UK government has said it is “open-minded” on extending the furlough scheme.

  • The Executive is due to receive legal advice on the DUP’s boycott of the North-South Ministerial Councils meetings, as requested by Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA. The DUP again failed to attend a sectoral meeting on languages this week.

  • Independent unionist and MLA for East Londonderry Claire Sugden, turned down UUP Leader Doug Beattie’s request to join the Party.

  • Matthew Hall was appointed CEO of Belfast City Airport.

  • Health Minister Robin Swann MLA announced an extension to the term of the Chair of the Public Health Agency, Mr Andrew Dougal, from 1 June 2021 to 30 November 2021.

  • Pharmaceutical company Almac has announced it will create 100 new highly skilled jobs at a new base in the North West. It has also been reported that US-based fintech company Fiserv will create more than 200 new jobs in Derry as it plans to set up a new office at Ebrington Square in the city.

  • Bangor company, Denroy, has been awarded a £19.5m PPE contract with Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland. The new contract will create 130 jobs. Invest NI has offered the company £1.5m of support towards 130 jobs.

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