Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: W/C 18 December


  • The House of Commons will break for Christmas recess on Tuesday 19 December. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak MP has said he is ready to legislate to “protect" Northern Ireland's place in the UK's internal market ahead of this. During PMQs, he told the House of Commons such a move would sit alongside a deal to restore the Northern Ireland Executive.

  • Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP has said his party is “approaching the time” for a decision on his party’s return to Stormont following an offer of a £2.5bn financial package from the UK Government. The package includes a lump sum to settle public sector pay claims. All five main parties have stated that the package is not enough, with Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP saying the financial package being offered to Northern Ireland “falls short” of what is needed.

  • Ian Snowden has taken up the role of Interim Permanent Secretary at the Department for the Economy following Mike Brennan’s retirement.

  • An updated Autism Strategy has been published by the Department of Health. An initial two-year delivery plan has been developed which can be viewed here: LINK.

  • The Independent Review of Education has been published, with the panel putting forward a total of 25 recommendations which can be viewed here: LINK.

  • Digital DNA has appointed Chloe Ferris as Managing Director.  

  • Wide disruption is expected today, tomorrow, and Friday 22 December as transport strike action in Northern Ireland takes place.

  • Radiographers in Northern Ireland will strike over working conditions and the strain being placed on them by a lack of recruitment on 18 January, unless a deal is reached between the main parties and the UK Government, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

Republic of Ireland

  • The Sinn Féin Dublin North-West TD, Dessie Ellis says he will wait until after next year’s local elections to decide whether he will run in the next general election. Another Sinn Féin TD, Martin Browne of the Tipperary constituency is yet to confirm whether he will run.

  • Ireland’s domestic economy is slowing faster than expected, according to statistics from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) as reported in the Irish Times. ESRI has predicted domestic economic growth for next year at 2% after GDP fell by 2.7% in 2024.

  • Longford-Westmeath TD and former minister Robert Troy has confirmed that the Standards in Public Office Commission has opened a formal investigation into his conduct following allegations he broke the law by failing to declare property and business interests for three consecutive years, which is also the reason Mr Troy resigned as a junior minister last August.

  • Minister for Climate Eamon Ryan TD said the agreement reached at COP 28 calling on countries to accelerate a global shift away from fossil fuels was historic “because for the first time in nearly 30 years it contains language which addresses and acknowledges fossil fuels as the primary source of climate change”.

Other Stories this week

  • Secretary of State Chris Heaton Harris MP has appointed Ms Karly Greene, Mr Michael Counahan, and Mr John Hood to the board of Tourism NI.

  • The Department for the Economy has launched a public appointment competition to appoint a new Chair to the Board of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland. Details of the appointment can be viewed here: LINK.

  • According to an internal memo seen by the Irish News, Northern Ireland’s largest car dealership Charles Hurst is set to make up to 100 redundancies. The company operates eight sites in Northern Ireland with a staff of around 870.

  • The Department for Infrastructure is inviting the public to have their say on a consultation on proposed revisions and changes to the Planning (Development Management) Regulations (NI) 2015. The consultation will run for 12 weeks until 3 March 2024. See link here: LINK.

  • The value of goods sales from Britain to Northern Ireland dropped by 2.4% in 2022, as reported by the BBC.

  • Following COP28, renewable energy and net zero policy in Northern Ireland will be the focus of a new inquiry by MPs on the cross-party Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee. The inquiry comes as a result of data showing that Northern Ireland is not on target to meet it’s 20230 climate targets.

  • The Department for the Economy has launched a competition for bids to run a Social Enterprise Work Programme which delivers strategic support to the social enterprise sector. More information and how to apply can be viewed here: LINK.

  • The Department for Infrastructure has announced a recruitment campaign to appoint a Chair and a Non-Executive Member to the Board of Northern Ireland Water. The application pack can be viewed here: LINK.

  • Payrolled employees and earnings have decreased over the month, according to labour market statistics published by NISRA. The report also states that proposed and confirmed redundancies are approximately three times that of the same period last year. The full report can be viewed here: LINK.

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 19 December, Belfast City Council, ‘Meet the Broker’ VCSE networking event, City Hall.

  • 19 December, House of Commons Christmas Recess begins.

  • 8 January, House of Commons returns from Christmas Recess.

  • 10 January, Invest NI, Essential guide to market research support and business advice. Ecos Hub, Ballymena.

  • 16 January, IoD, The Director’s Update, online.

  • 20 January, TEDxStormont, Parliament Buildings, Belfast.

  • 25 January, NI Cyber, The Breakfast Club, Aflac, Belfast.

Consultations