Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 31 January 2022

Forward Look                                

  • The Irish News has reported that the DUP will hold its party conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Saturday 26 February. The SDLP Conference will take place at the Seamus Heaney Homeplace on Sunday 20 February.

  • The Executive has published its draft Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland, setting out strategic investment priorities for the next 30 years. Consultation events will take place virtually on Thursday 10 February, Friday 25 February, and Monday 14 March. To view the Strategy: LINK

  • The Department of Infrastructure will bring forward policy proposals “at the earliest opportunity” amending consultation requirements and other planning processes following a review of the Implementation of Planning Act (NI) 2011.

  • First Minister Paul Givan MLA has suggested the DUP’s new deadline for seeing changes to the Protocol will be on Monday 21 February when the EU-UK Joint Committee next meets.

  • Economy Minister Gordon Lyons MLA has announced an Independent Review of Invest NI led by Sir Michael Lyons.

  • The BBC has reported that Edwin Poots MLA will seek the DUP’s nomination to run for the party in South Down.

  • The House of Commons Procedure Committee will meet with members of the Executive Office Committee on Wednesday 23 February to discuss intergovernmental relations.

  • Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA has received Executive support to establish an Infrastructure Commission.

  • The British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly will meet on Monday 28 February in London.

  • The Fiscal Council will publish a report in the summer detailing how Budget allocations can impact the sustainability of other departments.

  • Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA has announced that the Omicron Hospitality Payment Scheme will be extended to include hotels.

  • Health Minister Robin Swann MLA has launched a public consultation on reshaping adult social care. To respond by 18 May: LINK

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

  • The Second Stage of the Employment (Zero Hours Workers and Banded Weekly Working Hours) Bill will take place on Monday. The Consideration Stage of the Climate Change (No. 2) Bill is expected to take place on Tuesday.

  • On Wednesday the Executive Office will receive an oral briefing from the Flags, Identities, Culture and Tradition (FICT) Commission Co-Chairs.

Other Stories this week

  • Doug Beattie MLA has remained as UUP leader despite backlash surrounding a series of controversial tweets.

  • Sinn Féin have blocked a DUP paper seeking Executive approval for the continuation of checks introduced by the Protocol.

  • A LucidTalk/Belfast Telegraph poll has found that Sinn Féin hold an eight-point lead over the DUP.

  • Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA has said that £100m has been left unallocated by this month’s January Monitoring Round.

  • Richard Kennedy has been appointed as the new Chairman of InterTradeIreland.

  • RTÉ have appointed Sean Whelan as its new Washington Correspondent.

Upcoming key political and business events

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

  • 20 February, SDLP Conference, Seamus Heaney Homeplace, Bellaghy

  • 23 February, CO3 Leadership Breakfast

  • 26 February, DUP Conference, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast

  • 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

  • 15 – 18 March, MIPIM, Cannes

  • 24 March, Belfast Chamber’s BelFastForward Conference

  • 7 April, RTPI Annual Dinner, Titanic Belfast

Consultations