Hospitality Ulster welcomes Department for Communities proposals to reform liquor licensing laws

Communities Minister, Carál Ní Chuilín MLA with Hospitality Ulster Chief Executive, Colin Neill

The NI Executive has signed off on the proposed Liquor Licensing Bill by the Department for Communities Minister, Carál Ní Chuilín MLA.

Hospitality Ulster has warmly welcomed the progress, which when approved by the Assembly will bring about the biggest changes to the hospitality sector in a generation.

This Bill is now expected to enter the legislative process in the Assembly ahead of the Summer recess with progress expected in the Autumn.

Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster said today:

“Building on the work of Minister Hargey, the progress of the Liquor Licensing Bill by the new Communities Minister Carál Ni Cuillin is the most significant change to licensing laws in a generation and is an important development at a time when the industry is facing significant challenges as a result of Coronavirus. We have been calling for these proposed changes which include removing restrictions on Easter opening hours and additional permitted opening hours for some time.”

“This Bill can be a defining moment for the hospitality industry, bringing much of it into line with our neighbours in the Republic of Ireland and in Great Britain and making it more attractive to customers and visitors.” 

“It was not so long ago that a Bill to reform our outdated licensing laws was introduced to the last Assembly prior to its collapse. Nevertheless, the world has changed substantially in the intervening period and the latest proposals by the Minister are to be welcomed at this time. We are hopeful now that real and meaningful change can finally be implemented.”

“Over the last number of years we have engaged with the five main political parties who gave us assurances that they would support the modernisation of liquor licensing, giving businesses in the sector the means to run profitably and to allow them to reinvest. Whilst significant, the proposals do not include everything we asked for, it is crucial now that our MLAs listen to the industry and swiftly make the legislative changes that will transform the industry.”

“Prior to Coronavirus, despite being a £2billion a year industry and the backbone of the tourism offer, the growth potential of the hospitality sector was being curtailed by the outdated legislation. As we look to rebuild the hospitality sector here after Coronavirus, it is imperative that businesses have all the tools necessary to thrive. Despite the undoubted challenges ahead, this updated legislation would be a welcome boost for hospitality businesses right across Northern Ireland.”

£5 million donated in first day to help protect people fleeing from conflict and instability who now face deadly Covid-19

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Coronavirus Appeal for people in some of the world’s most fragile places has raised over £5 million at the end of the first day.

Appeals fronted by presenter Anita Rani for BBC and award-winning actor and musician Riz Ahmed for ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky were broadcast following last night's news bulletins.

Iconic singer-songwriter Annie Lennox has also presented an appeal for DEC Scotland, as well as further appeals being shared widely across commercial radio.

The DEC Coronavirus Appeal was launched on Tuesday 14 July to raise funds to help the most vulnerable communities in the world fleeing from conflict and instability who now face the new deadly threat of Covid-19.

Saleh Saeed, DEC Chief Executive, said:

“Here in the UK we have all had to make unprecedented sacrifices to protect each other and save lives, so it is deeply humbling to also see the British public responding so generously to those in the world’s most fragile places who desperately need our help. I thank too the UK Government which is matching pound for pound the first £5 million donated by the public, as well as our broadcast partners for airing our appeal, reaching millions of viewers and listeners.”

“We are very fortunate here to have an incredible National Health Service which has cared for those who have fallen ill. The money so generously donated to the DEC appeal will help people in countries where there is no NHS; families who have fled conflict and hunger – and who are now living in overcrowded refugee and displacement camps with few hospital beds or medical supplies.”

The DEC Appeal aims to protect people from the virus in the world’s five most fragile states (Yemen, Syria, Somalia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo) plus Afghanistan, the most fragile state in Asia, and the world’s largest refugee camp, in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

Riz Ahmed, whose appeal was aired on ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky last night, said:

“Coronavirus is now threatening refugee camps and displaced people in countries like Syria, Yemen and South Sudan. Families who have already fled conflict and persecution are facing a deadly new and silent threat. People like the Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar have little access to running water or soap to protect themselves. Hospitals and clinics in these communities don’t have the staff or equipment to cope with the kind of outbreak we have experienced here. DEC charities are working hard to help stop the spread of Covid-19. These communities, who have already suffered so much, urgently need our support and solidarity.”

It is the first time that the DEC has launched an appeal for a disaster that has simultaneously affected both the UK and internationally. DEC appeals fund international disasters and the 14 DEC member charities are already present and working in refugee and displacement camps in the world’s most fragile states, despite the many challenges presented by the pandemic. But they urgently need more funds to scale up their operations and save lives.

John Herriman, CEO of the National Emergencies Trust, which launches appeals for domestic disasters, said:

“There remains much uncertainty around what lies ahead for the UK. The need within many communities has not gone away and will continue to evolve as the longer-term impacts of this pandemic become clearer and more keenly felt.

“However, we can be very certain that the global crisis is intensifying, and it will have devastating effects on people all over the world. The launch of the DEC’s international appeal at this time is therefore absolutely vital.”

We are not safe until we are all safe - DEC launches Coronavirus Appeal to help people in world’s most fragile states fight triple threat posed by pandemic

Bushra wears a mask provided by Islamic Relief. Bushra is 9 years old, she has 4 brothers and 2 sisters. Her father has a spinal injury which consists of a slipped disc and is unable to work. They have been displaced for a number of years and are currently living in Al-Harakat camp in Idlib. There are 150 families in this camp from Homs country side, Hama, Aleppo countryside and Abu Aldohor. Most of the families in this camp don’t work so there isn’t a source of income. They rely on the aid given to them by organisations. There are also a growing number of orphan families and widows living in this camp.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) today launches a Coronavirus Appeal to raise funds to help the most vulnerable communities in the world fleeing conflict and instability, face the new deadly threat of Covid-19.

The DEC Appeal aims to protect people from the virus in the world’s five most fragile states, plus Afghanistan, the most fragile state in Asia, and the world’s largest refugee camp, in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

It is the first time that the DEC has launched an appeal for a disaster that has simultaneously affected both the UK and internationally. The DEC, which appeals for funds in response to overseas humanitarian crises, will help the most vulnerable people in six fragile states: Yemen and Syria; Somalia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo; and Afghanistan, where a total of 24 million displaced people live in crowded temporary shelter.

The appeal also includes the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, which are one and a half times the population density of New York City – but with nothing like the equivalent health facilities or sanitation.

The 14 DEC member charities are already present and working in refugee and displacement camps, despite the many challenges presented by the pandemic. But they urgently need more funds to scale up their operations and save lives.

The Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC), is made up of fourteen charities, including Tearfund, Concern and Red Cross which will all be fundraising in Northern Ireland.

Every pound donated by the UK public will be matched by the UK government through its Aid Match scheme up to the value of £5 million. This support will double the impact of the public’s own donations and will ensure that charities working on the ground can reach more of the world’s most vulnerable people as they face the coronavirus pandemic. 

To make a donation to the DEC Coronavirus Appeal visit www.dec.org.uk, call the 24-hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900, or send a cheque. To donate £10 text SUPPORT to 70150. Texts cost £10 and the whole £10 goes to the DEC Coronavirus Appeal. You must be 16 or over and please ask the bill payer's permission. For full terms and conditions and more information go to www.dec.org.uk 

Speaking at the launch Press Conference this morning, Chief Executive of the DEC, Salah Saeed said:

“Here in the UK, we’ve witnessed great suffering and made unprecedented sacrifices to protect each other and save lives. We have seen too the tireless dedication of staff in our amazing NHS. But, imagine living in one of the world’s most fragile states – where there is no NHS – and no other safety nets for the very poorest and most vulnerable.” 

“Families who have been forced to flee conflict, drought and floods – living in crowded refugee and displacement camps – with little access to clean water, medical care or enough food – now face a new, deadly and silent threat: Covid-19 and need our help.”

Peter Anderson, Northern Ireland Director, Concern said:

“Coronavirus has had an impact on all of our lives over the past few months. Thankfully, we are now at a stage where restrictions are easing and some normality is being restored. This is not the case however, for the millions of people living in the world’s most fragile states who are facing the deadly threat posed by Covid-19 on top of other suffering.”

“Families who have fled violence, conflict and hunger now need our help more than ever. It is at times of the greatest need, that the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) brings together the unique alliance of the UK’s leading charities and broadcasters to maximise fundraising efforts and quickly deliver effective support where it’s needed most.”

“The immediate focus of this appeal is to protect the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities in the most fragile places. There are 24 million internally displaced people in total in these fragile states, and an additional 850,000 Rohingya people living in the world’s biggest refugee camp in Bangladesh. Many of these people have little access to medical care, clean water or enough food, making them extremely vulnerable to coronavirus. In these places, the virus is likely to be even more deadly than it has been here.”

“In Northern Ireland, Concern, Tearfund and Red Cross will all be fundraising on behalf of the DEC over the coming weeks. Northern Irish people are known for their generosity and compassion to others and their support is more important now than ever. We’d ask anyone who can donate to do so now – every penny raised could be the difference in life or death for the refugees and displaced people in the world’s most fragile places.”

Hospitality Ulster and Belfast Chamber joins call for NI Executive to adapt English approach to air travel to assist local airports

Hospitality Ulster and the Belfast Chamber of Commerce have called on the Northern Ireland Executive to allow airports here to open fully in a safe and controlled way to save the industry and protect connectivity.

Both groups have said this is vital to the wider Northern Ireland economy.

They have called for a similar approach to the 14 day quarantine measures in regard to air bridges with 53 countries which have already been implemented in England as a means of assisting airports in the fight for survival.

The call comes ahead of a meeting on Thursday of the Executive when Ministers are expected to review international travel regulations.

In a joint statement, Colin Neill Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster and Simon Hamilton, Chief Executive of Belfast Chamber of Commerce said:

“Connectivity is vital to our economic success and will be intrinsic to our post Covid recovery in the weeks and months ahead. As other countries begin to open up again in a safe and controlled way, we need our Ministers to open up these crucial travel links which will give business a fighting chance.”

“The past few months have been challenging for everyone but as restrictions are eased it is time now to get back to some sense of normality – allowing our airports to operate fuller services, with more airplanes in the sky, will go some way in this regard. EasyJet have already begun opening up a number of flights to and from mainland Europe from Belfast International Airport with further routes expected next month. This is a positive development but we need to see more airlines and schedules back and fully operational.”

“Our airports are the lifeblood of industry. Regional connectivity is crucial, and it is important that these routes are restored to full capacity also. Great Britain is our largest tourism market and without that regional connectivity, our sectors will take a real hammering.”

Derry Chamber welcomes support for hospitality and clarity on furlough scheme

Paul Clancy, Chief Executive, Derry Chamber

Reacting to the Chancellor’s Summer Statement this afternoon, Londonderry Chamber Chief Executive Paul Clancy said:

“This afternoon’s Summer Statement from the Chancellor provides some clarity over the next steps in the recovery of our economy post-coronavirus. A six-month cut in VAT from 20% to 5% will be a huge boost for our badly-hit hospitality and tourism businesses and the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ voucher scheme will hopefully encourage customers back into our world-class restaurants and cafes. However, going forward, the Chancellor must consider permanently reducing the VAT rate for hospitality and tourism businesses as bars and restaurants in Northern Ireland, and particularly in the North West, are at a competitive disadvantage to their Republic of Ireland counterparts who are subject to a much lower VAT burden. The North West has a strong and growing tourism offer and these are significant and welcome support schemes which will help our bars, restaurants, hotels, and attractions get back on their feet.

“The Chancellor also provided further clarity on the future of the Job Retention Scheme. The new £1000 bonus for employers who bring back furloughed staff and retain them into 2021 is a welcome initiative which is designed to avoid large-scale redundancies, lay-offs, and unemployment. As a region which has historically had higher levels of unemployment, this new initiative will help the North West and businesses here to retain workers.

“As the furlough scheme is gradually wound down, more financial support will be needed to protect jobs and businesses and I hope any fresh funding which comes to the NI Executive as a result of today’s statement is aimed at protecting jobs, enhancing skills, and rebuilding our regional economy.”

Hospitality Ulster welcomes Chancellor's Summer Economic Statement

Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster

Reacting to the announcement for the hospitality sector in the Chancellor’s Summer Statement, Colin Neill, Hospitality Ulster said:

“After a long campaign over many years, the announcement of a temporary reduction on food, accommodation and visitor attractions VAT to 5% until January 2021 is a welcome boost. This comes at a time when many in the hospitality sector are fearful for their future, but this will help paint a brighter picture and give businesses a fighting chance to survive and save jobs.”

“As businesses face the reality of operating at a reduced capacity for some time to come, ongoing government support is going to be crucial on the long and hard road to recovery. The announcement of an ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme which will give customers 50% off meals up to a cap of £10 per person in August is significant. We need to encourage people to visit our excellent venues once again and this will hopefully help in this regard.”

“Even before the Coronavirus pandemic, it was clear the hospitality sector was at a competitive disadvantage in terms of VAT. Sharing a land border with the Republic of Ireland which has a 13.5% VAT rate made it extremely difficult to compete. As we look to rebuild the sector, the Chancellor must look at permanently reducing the UK's 20% hospitality and tourism VAT rate which is one of the highest in Europe if we are to sustain the sector in the long-term.”

Now is the time to be thinking about the future and the potential for redundancies writes Lisa Bryson, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland

Lisa Bryson, Partner, Employment and Immigration, Eversheds Sutherland, Belfast

In some ways, it seems that the introduction of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or the ‘Furlough’ scheme as its more commonly referred to as, was a lifetime ago yet it is still in its infancy.

On the 1 July, this scheme changed, with the welcome introduction of the ‘Flexible Furlough Scheme’, giving employers the additional flexibility to bring back furloughed employees on a part-time basis. Greater employer contributions will be required from August through to the end of the scheme in October.

Despite the reopening of many sectors of the economy, normality has not resumed and is unlikely to resume for some time. Therefore, the inbuilt flexibility which the Chancellor has developed is welcome, but it will unfortunately not assist all employers nor necessarily prevent the inevitability of re-organising businesses and or considering redundancies. 

At this time, employers are considering how their markets have been, and may continue to be, impacted by the pandemic once the furlough scheme does end in October. While they are seeking to avoid job losses, and notwithstanding such Government support, the ongoing impact of the pandemic will inevitably leave some with no alternative but to consider whether redundancies may be necessary to preserve and safeguard the future of the business.

If this is the case, employment law must still be adhered to before making employees redundant. Locally if less than 20 employees are at risk, an employer is expected, as a minimum, to warn and consult employees individually, adopt fair selection procedures and consider alternative employment for those affected.

If the inevitability is that more than 20 employees may be made redundant, collective consultation obligations will need to be observed. One of the key things to keep in mind in the length of the collective consultation requirements in Northern Ireland – at least 90 days if 100+ redundancies are proposed, or 30 days if between 20 and 99 dismissals are proposed. Therefore, employers need to be assessing the shape of their business in the short to medium term now. It is important to note that a failure to consult trade union or employee representatives in accordance with collective consultation duties can lead to costly fines and may expose employers to other risks and claims. 

Nothing about the current situation is straightforward and employers should be prepared for delays in normal redundancy timescales due to employees being furloughed or working remotely. Where employee representatives must be elected, this could add at least a week to the planning. Employers should also take advice on how the furlough scheme interacts with their redundancy proposals to reduce the risk of falling outside the Scheme’s eligibility requirements.

Any such business considerations are difficult to make for all manner of reasons, not least the impact on the individuals concerned and the business itself. Seeking advice and guidance early, entering a genuine dialogue about the situation and having a clear and concise communication plan in place from the outset will be critical for those businesses bracing this potential aftermath of the pandemic.

Hospitality Ulster says financial support is essential if reopening date is not forthcoming for pubs

Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster

Hospitality Ulster has expressed deep frustration at the Northern Ireland Executive’s failure to provide a date for the reopening of ‘wet only’ pubs and called on it to provide essential financial assistance.

Traditional pubs or ‘wet only’ pubs as they as more commonly known, which focus on the sale of alcohol, have been left in the lurch with many publicans angry that they can’t at least get a target date to open their doors under industry guidelines.

Despite restaurants, hotels and beer gardens opening in Northern Ireland on Friday 3 July, England fully open, and dates provided for the reopening of the remainder of the industry in the Republic of Ireland and Scotland in July, the NI Executive has failed to follow suit.

Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster said:

“Our wet only pubs needed a date for reopening last week and it is hugely frustrating that another Executive meeting has passed without clarity on this issue. We are calling on Ministers to provide a reopening date or financial assistance now. Without this, businesses will go under, resulting in thousands of staff having to be made redundant. Nobody wants this to be the case, but without urgent action it will simply be unavoidable.”

“This weekend past, our restaurants, hotels and beer gardens were reopened in a safe and controlled manner - there is absolutely no reason why our pubs which serve pints cannot do the same. If the NI Executive is concerned that some may ignore social distancing, then they should give the date with strong enforcement powers attached. It is simply unfair to keep them all closed, rather than close individual premises that ignore the safety procedures.” 

“After almost four months of closure, these businesses are simply desperate to reopen. Four months of rent, bills and overheads, plus the added requirement of contributing to the furlough scheme at the end of this month despite no income and minimal grant support, paints a very bleak picture.”

“Many families rely on these businesses to put bread on the kitchen table. Our local communities rely on them to keep the heart of the community beating. Yet, these businesses feel let down and left behind as others embark on their recovery plans. After weeks of false hope, our Executive must now show confidence in our pubs by providing a much needed reopening date. If this is not possible, then they must provide immediate financial support to sustain them in the difficult days and weeks ahead.”

Spot the signs - empowering parents and carers to spot mental health issues

A mental health charity is encouraging parents to be aware of the signs of mental health issues in children and young people as we come out of lockdown.

Action Mental Health works with parents and carers, teaching them to recognise mental health issues that children and young people in their care may be facing.

The charity is warning that there could be an increase in mental health issues faced by children and young people as we deal with the fallout of lockdown and its impact on our younger generations.

The charity is urging parents and carers to spot the signs of mental ill health such as:

• Persistent sadness;

• Withdrawing from or avoiding social interactions;

• Hurting or talking about hurting yourself;

• Talking about death or suicide;

• Outbursts of anger or extreme irritability;

• Excessive worrying or fear;

• Confused thinking or problems concentrating;

• Extreme mood changes.

One tried and tested approach towards promoting overall wellbeing is the Take Five Steps to Wellbeing. The steps remind people to Stay Connected; Be Active; Keep Learning; Take Notice and Give.

Further advice and support can be found on the CovidWellbeing NI website which the charity is contributing to in partnership with 15 other mental health charities, as well as the Public Health Agency and the Departments for Communities and Health.

Operations Manager of Resilience and Wellbeing at Action Mental Health, Amanda Jones said:

“Lockdown has been a rollercoaster for most adults, so it’s important we don’t forget that it will also have had very significant impacts on our children and young people. Many of them left school without any sense of closure or being able to say goodbye to friends and teachers. Children may carry these burdens and it could have a detrimental impact on them.

“As many of us try to balance home-schooling, childcare and working at home, it is important that we support parents and carers to look out for signs of mental ill health and encourage them to talk to children and young people about these issues.

“Empowering parents to broach issues like this can help mitigate against the very worst impacts of this virus on our collective mental health and wellbeing. Through honest conversations and acknowledging thoughts and feelings, children and young people can become more aware of emotional health and may engage more with the idea of wellbeing.

“Action Mental Health are very aware that the long term impacts of the global health crisis may not be known for a long time, but we know children and young people will face significant issues as a result of the legacy of Covid-19. We need to act now to protect against this.

“The enormous shift in life for many will have major effects moving forward. Services including the Covid Wellbeing NI Hub are good resources for mental health coping strategies and should be utilised to help both parents and the young people and children they are looking after.”

Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 6 July

Forward Look

• The Executive parties are to meet later today to discuss deputy First Minister’s Michelle O’Neill’s attendance at the funeral of Bobby Storey.

• Hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes in Northern Ireland can reopen from today provided they adhere to social distancing measures.

• Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA has allocated a further £250m to departments as part of the June Monitoring Round, including £90m for the health service, £12m for Free School Meals, and £20m for business start-ups and tourism.

• A contact tracing app is expected to be released in Northern Ireland before the end of July. 

• West Belfast MLA Pat Sheehan has started initial work on a soft opt-out organ donation Bill in the Assembly.

• The wearing of face coverings on most buses, trains and ferries will be mandatory in NI from 10 July.

• The Department for Infrastructure and 10 local councils have jointly awarded a contract for a new regional planning IT system, worth £14m. 

• Fianna Fáíl leader Micheál Martin was appointed Taoiseach on Saturday and is expected to visit Northern Ireland in the coming week. For a full list of Cabinet ministers and Junior minsters, visit this link.

• A landmark £13.25m funding package and commissioning agreement for community pharmacy in Northern Ireland has been announced by Health Minister Robin Swann MLA.

• Oral Questions to the First and deputy First Ministers and the Health Minister will take place on Tuesday 7 July.

• The Committee for Infrastructure will bring a motion to the Assembly on Tuesday 7 July on the concerns over Covid-19 guidance and financial support to industry sectors, including the taxi, haulage, driving instruction, and private hire bus and coach sectors.

• Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA will brief the Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday 8 July.

• Department of Education Permanent Secretary Derek Baker will brief the Education Committee on Covid-19 issues on Wednesday 8 July. 

• Invest NI Chief Executive Kevin Holland will brief the Economy Committee on Wednesday 8 July.

• Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín MLA will brief the Communities Committee on Wednesday 8 July.

• Officials from the Department for Infrastructure and Department for Communities will give evidence on the inquiry into major capital projects to the Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday 8 July.

• The All Party Group on Social Enterprise will meet on Monday 6 July.

• The Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee will meet in private session on Wednesday 8 July.

Other Stories this week

• Data company AquaQ Analytics is creating 123 new jobs in Belfast in an £8.3m investment.

• Margaret Kelly has been appointed the new Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman.

• Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín MLA has announced the appointment of six new members to the Board of the Arts Council of NI, including former Sinn Féin MLA Máirtín Ó Muilleoir. The Minister also allocated £4m to the arts sector to deal with Covid pressures.

• Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has announced that the planning application for the Dalradian gold mine in County Tyrone is to be the subject of an independent public inquiry.

• Belfast City Council has completed a research paper on the Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor and submitted it to the North South Ministerial Council for further consideration.

• The UK’s top civil servant, Cabinet Minister Sir Mark Sedwill, has confirmed he plans to stand down from the role in September.

• MLAs have voted to give the Assembly Commission the authority to set the allowances paid to cover assembly members’ office and staff costs.

• Former Lord Mayor of Belfast Niall Ó Donnghaile has been appointed Sinn Féin’s Seanad group leader. 

• Phil Hogan, Ireland’s European Union commissioner, has pulled out of the race to become the next director-general of the World Trade Organisation.

• International Trade Secretary Liz Truss MP has announced the establishment of a Trade and Agriculture Commission to advise ministers on the UK’s approach to post-Brexit trade agreements.

• Green Party Councillor Hazel Chu has been elected Lord Mayor of Dublin.

• An additional 40 AHP undergraduate training places at Ulster University have been announced by the Department of Health.

• Planning permission is being sought for a €150m film, studio and media campus on an almost 50-acre site in Greystones, Co Wicklow, which could create more than 1500 jobs.

Consultations

• Consultation on Bereavement Leave and Pay Department for the Economy. Deadline 10 August.

• Consultation on Further Education Support and Charging Policy at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) DAERA. Deadline 11 September.

• Consultation on Development of an Adult Restorative Justice Strategy for Northern Ireland Department of Justice. Deadline 11 September.