Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead Week Commencing 7 February 2022

Forward Look                                

  • The DUP’s Paul Givan MLA has resigned as First Minister of Northern Ireland, effective from midnight last night. Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA has automatically been removed from her post.

  • Under the Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill, the NI Assembly will remain in shadow form and legislation currently passing through the chamber can continue.

  • Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey MLA has asked for arrangements to be made to schedule an Assembly sitting before Thursday to provide an opportunity for the posts of First and deputy First Minister to be filled.

  • Health Minister Robin Swann MLA is seeking legal clarification regarding decisions on Covid regulations. The Executive was planned to meet on Thursday to discuss the remaining restrictions.

  • Ian Jeffers has been appointed as the new Commissioner for Victims and Survivors (CVS) on a four-year term.

  • Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA has confirmed the Treasury’s plans for a Spring Statement on 23 March 2022 to provide an updated economic and fiscal forecast.

  • Northern Ireland is to receive £49 million for community renewal, £617 million as part of City and Growth Deals, and £70 million for new British Business Bank investments through the UK Government’s Levelling Up Plan announced this week.

  • The British Government is to introduce a new ‘Brexit Freedoms Bill’ in the coming weeks to amend and remove EU law more easily.

  • Belfast Live is reporting that the DUP has deselected East Belfast MLA, Robin Newton to be replaced by Councillor David Brooks. It is expected that Paul Bell will run in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Councillor Brian Kingston will run in North Belfast, and Councillor Alan Robinson will run in East Londonderry. Ex-DUP MLA Alex Easton will run in North Down as an Independent.

  • Department of Finance officials are liaising with the Cabinet Office regarding a ‘Procurement Reform Bill’ to bring greater transparency to Northern Ireland’s procurement process.

  • The Assembly has voted in favour of supporting a 2050 net zero emissions target for Northern Ireland. Consideration Stage for the Climate Change (No. 2) Bill will continue on Monday.

  • The Second Stage of Sinn Féin’s Onshore Fracking (Prohibition) Bill will take place on Tuesday.

  • Question Time will take place for the Justice Minister on Monday. The DAERA Minister will face questions on Tuesday.

  • On Wednesday, Hospitality Ulster and Retail NI will give evidence to the Economy Committee on the Employment (Zero Hours Workers and Banded Weekly Working Hours) Bill. The Finance Committee will consider the 2021-25 Budget.

  • The NI Affairs Select Committee will receive oral evidence from NIO Minister of State Conor Burns MP on progress since the New Decade, New Approach agreement.

Other Stories this week

  • Prime Minister Boris Johnson MP has pledged to reform internal structures at Number 10 following the publication of an update from Sue Gray into lockdown gatherings.

  • On Wednesday, AERA Minister Edwin Poots MLA ordered a halt to checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from GB as part of the DUP’s opposition to the NI Protocol. Checks will continue until at least Monday while the legal position is reviewed.

  • An NI Audit Office report has found that lengthy delays inherent within NI’s planning system are significantly hampering development opportunities.

  • The Prime Minister’s Head of Policy, Munira Mirza, the Downing Street Director of Communications, Jack Doyle, the Prime Minister’s Principal Private Secretary, Martin Reynolds, and Chief of Staff, Dan Rosenfield have resigned.

  • The first results of Northern Ireland’s Census will be published by June.

  • Dr Katy Radford MBE has been appointed as Chair of the British Council’s Northern Ireland Advisory Committee.

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, In Camera with the Department for Infrastructure

  • 23 February, CO3 Leadership Breakfast

  • 25 February, Women in Tech Conference, Titanic Belfast

  • 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

  • 14 -15 March, InterTradeIreland Venture Capital Conference

  • 15 – 18 March, MIPIM, Cannes

  • 24 March, Belfast Chamber’s BelFastForward Conference

Consultations