Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 2 May 2022

Forward Look                                

  • The final Belfast Telegraph-Lucid Talk opinion poll before the Assembly Election places Sinn Féin on course to become the largest party on 26%, followed by the DUP (20%), Alliance (14%), UUP (14%), and the SDLP (10%). An Irish News-University of Liverpool poll will be published on Tuesday.

  • UTV will host their Assembly Election leaders debate on Sunday. The BBC’s debate will take place on Tuesday.

  • This week saw the launch of the Sinn Féin, DUP, Alliance and SDLP Assembly Election manifestos as well as the DUP’s ‘Plan for the Economy’.

  • Planned changes to import rules for goods entering the UK from the EU have been deferred by the UK Government amid increased supply chain costs for businesses.

  • The Fiscal Commission will publish its final report on the case for increasing the Executive’s fiscal powers after the Assembly Election.

  • The UK Parliament will next sit on Tuesday 10 May for the State Opening of Parliament in which the Queen’s Speech will set out the government’s legislative agenda.

  • Round Two of bidding for the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund will open on Tuesday 31 May, businesses, universities, community organisations, district councils, and Executive departments can apply.

  • The Northern Ireland Office is expected to introduce legislation in the next six months to end all Troubles-related prosecutions.

  • The High Court ruling into whether the Department for Infrastructure unlawfully granted planning permission for the redevelopment of Casement Park is expected before the end of May.

  • The next meeting of Belfast City Council will take place on Tuesday.

  • Manufacturing Month 2022 kicks off next week with a launch breakfast taking place at the Soloist, Belfast on Tuesday. The month will see a series of events, webinars, and the flagship Anchor High Summit on Thursday 12 May. To find out more: LINK.

Other Stories this week

  • DUP officers in South Down have resigned en masse in protest at the selection of Diane Forsythe as the party’s candidate in the Assembly Election.

  • Former senior Executive civil servant Andrew McCormick has criticised the UK Government for failing to take responsibility for the NI Protocol and its impacts.

  • The NI Chamber has appointed Stuart Anderson as Head of Public Affairs.

  • The number of eligible voters in Northern Ireland has increased by 119,000 since the 2017 Assembly Election according to the Electoral Office.

  • A legal challenge against the NI Protocol, led by TUV leader Jim Allister, has been referred to the UK Supreme Court.

  • UTV has disclosed an 11% decrease in pre-tax revenue recorded during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic.

  • Members of Northern Ireland’s largest teaching union have voted in favour of strike action to commence from Monday 9 May.

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 3 May, Manufacturing Month 22 Launch Breakfast, The Soloist, Belfast

  • 5 May, Northern Ireland Assembly Election

  • 10 May, State Opening of Parliament

  • 12 May, Anchor High Summit, Manufacturing NI, Galgorm Hotel and Spa

  • 26 May, Belfast Telegraph Business Awards, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast

  • 21 June, House of Commons rises for Summer Recess

  • 24 June, NI Chamber’s Annual Lunch

  • 30 June, Irish News Workplace and Employment Awards, Titanic Belfast

  • 29 – 30 September, Centre for Cross Border Studies’ Annual Conference

Consultations