Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 5 July 2021

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Forward Look

  • Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP has been officially ratified as the new Leader of the DUP. In a keynote address, he said he would be seeking a return to the Assembly to become First Minister potentially before next year’s Assembly Election “should an opportunity arise”. The Lagan Valley MP also suggested a possible reshuffle of Executive and Assembly positions.

  • The EU and UK have agreed to extend the current grace period on chilled meat products moving from GB to NI until 30 September. The European Commission has also announced that it will bring forward a legislative proposal in early autumn to allow medicines destined for NI to be authorised in GB.

  • Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis MP has set out a Framework for Multiparty Talks on Northern Ireland Legacy issues involving nominated representatives from the main political parties and the British and Irish Governments.

  • The Executive has further relaxed Covid-19 regulations to allow live music to return to hospitality venues from 5 July. A cap on outdoor gatherings will also be removed from today. A review of the current Pathway out of Restrictions will be carried out at next Thursday’s Executive meeting to consider the “sequencing of further relaxations”.

  • Health Minister Robin Swann MLA has published a new ten-year Mental Health Strategy for Northern Ireland. The Strategy focusses on three key themes: promoting mental wellbeing and resilience; providing the right support at the right time; and new ways of working: LINK.

  • Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA has announced that work is to commence on the development of an Irish Language Strategy and an Ulster Scots Language, Heritage and Culture Strategy. Expert Advisory Panels have been established with wider consultation to follow.

  • DAERA Minister Edwin Poots MLA has launched a Call for Evidence on a Plan to Eliminate Plastic Pollution in Northern Ireland, a commitment set out in New Decade, New Approach. A Private Members’ Bill sponsored by Sinn Féin’s Phillip McGuigan MLA to ban single-use plastics in Northern Ireland has been approved by the Speaker’s office.

  • The SDLP’s Claire Hanna MP is co-sponsoring a Private Members’ Bill in Parliament to give workers the right to request flexible working from the first day of employment – including working from home, part-time working and flexible hours.

  • Polling for the Dublin Bay South by-election will take place next Thursday. An Irish Times – Ipsos opinion poll has Fine Gael’s James Geoghegan leading with 27% of first preferences, followed by Labour’s Ivana Bacik on 22%.

  • Question Time will take place for the Finance Minister and the Health Minister on Monday. The Infrastructure Minister will answer questions on Tuesday.

  • On Wednesday, the Economy Minister Paul Frew MLA will brief the Economy Committee on Economic Issues; the Finance Committee will receive a briefing from the Financial Services Union on Banking Issues; and the First and deputy First Ministers will brief The Executive Office Committee.

  • On Thursday, the Health Minister Robin Swann MLA will give a Ministerial Briefing to the Health Committee; and the AERA Committee will consider a written briefing on the Climate Change Bill.

  • Retail NI has launched a new High Street Heroes campaign to encourage shoppers to vote for their favourite independent retailer. To vote: LINK.

Other Stories this week

  • The Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill passed the Final Stage of the Assembly on Tuesday. The Bill, which is expected to come into effect in October, will allow pubs and hotels to extend their hours of service by an hour, change restrictions around opening hours on off-licenses and bars over Easter, and tackle harmful aspects of alcohol consumption. Consideration Stage of the Local Government (Meetings and Performance) Bill took place on Monday.

  • The DUP’s Alex Easton MLA (North Down) has resigned from the party, citing a lack of “respect, decency and discipline” in the party’s actions over the last month. He will remain as an independent MLA.

  • Economy Minister Paul Frew MLA has announced investment of £180 million in the NI Traineeship programme to fund around 20,000 Traineeship places over seven years, delivered via the six FE colleges.

  • The First and deputy First Ministers have extended the appointment of Dame Brenda King as Attorney General for Northern Ireland for one year.

  • Stephen Dunne, son of the late DUP MLA Gordon Dunne, has been co-opted to the Assembly to fill the vacancy left by his father in the North Down constituency.

  • Health Minister Robin Swann MLA has announced that Tom Kark QC will chair the public inquiry into abuse at Muckamore Abbey Hospital.

  • Sajid Javid MP has replaced party colleague Matt Hancock MP as the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care following Mr Hancock’s resignation on Saturday.

  • The Belfast Innovation and Inclusive Growth Commission has published its ‘Reset for Growth’ report to promote new ways to transform the NI economy, including housing development at scale and making Belfast more globally relevant: LINK.

  • Labour’s Alison Gilliland has been elected as the new Lord Mayor of Dublin, succeeding the Green Party’s Hazel Chu.

  • Belfast Live has launched three new sub brands focusing on local news in Derry, Tyrone, and Fermanagh.

  • The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust has announced Roisin Coulter as its new Chief Executive.

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 8 July, Dublin Bay South by-election

  • 9 July, NI Assembly Summer recess begins

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

  • 8 October, Londonderry Chamber President’s Dinner, Everglades Hotel, Derry.

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

Consultations