Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 24 January 2022

Forward Look                                

  • Sue Gray is to publish her investigation into Downing Street parties during lockdown next week. It comes after the Prime Minister has faced calls for his resignation from his own backbench MPs.

  • The Executive has agreed to remove the rule of six in hospitality settings, the cap on the number of households meeting indoors and the need to provide proof of mask exemption from noon today. From 26 January nightclubs will reopen with covid certification and the requirement for social distancing in the workplace will be removed. The remaining covid measures will be reviewed on 10 February.

  • The Government is to discuss the reform of the roles of First Minister and deputy First Minister after the upcoming Assembly Election.

  • The Speaker of the Assembly has written to MLAs to say that any Bill which does not get through Committee Stage in the next few weeks is unlikely to pass. Plenary sittings on Wednesdays have now been introduced to ensure more legislation progresses before the end of March.

  • EU Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič has signalled that Northern Ireland Protocol negotiations could finish by the end of February if no breakthrough occurs.

  • The Fiscal Commission’s final report will be published in the next few weeks after minor changes are made.

  • The First and deputy First Minister will deliver a public apology to Historical Institutional Abuse victims at an event on 11 March.

  • Economy Minister Gordon Lyons MLA has launched a 22-point plan for the Path to Net Zero Energy in Northern Ireland to be delivered by 2050. The plan can be viewed here: LINK

  • Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA is to seek approval from her Executive colleagues to run a third financial assistance scheme for the private bus and coach sector.

  • Maria McIlgorm will take up the position of Chief Nursing Officer in March 2022.

  • Belfast City Council is seeking views on their Draft Urban Innovation Framework. The consultation closes on 15 March. More information can be found here: LINK

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

  • On Wednesday the Economy Minister will provide a Ministerial Briefing to the Economy Committee on the draft Budget and Energy Strategy. The Northern Ireland Fiscal Council will appear before the Finance Committee to discuss their draft Budget report.

Other Stories this week

  • After heavy criticism, the Government withdrew a House of Lords amendment to the Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections, and Petition of Concern) Bill to bring back double-jobbing for MLAs and MPs.

  • The NI Fiscal Council published its report assessing the Executive’s 2022-25 draft Budget. It concludes that the draft Budget lacks strategic direction. It can be viewed here: LINK

  • The Integrated Education Bill passed its Consideration Stage in the Assembly by 58-27 votes.

  • DUP MP Ian Paisley has presented the Digital Devices (Access for Next of Kin) Bill before Parliament.

  • It was revealed that imports into the Republic of Ireland from Northern Ireland surged 64% during 2021.

  • Claire Cronin has been sworn in as US Ambassador-Designate to Ireland.

  • Economy Minister Gordon Lyons MLA announced plans to extend Project Stratum to an additional 8500 premises.

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 11 February, Succeed North West, Fir Trees Hotel, Strabane, Londonderry Chamber

  • 23 February, CO3 Leadership Breakfast

  • 3 March, Londonderry Chamber President’s Annual Lunch, City Hotel, Derry

  • 9 March, Post-Brexit Conference: Sustaining and Building Cross-Border Cooperation and Trade, Newry and Dundalk Chamber

  • 10 March, Women in Business awards

  • 24 March, Belfast Chamber’s BelFastForward Conference

Consultations