Positive Life says that people living with HIV shouldn't have to share their diagnosis in order to get the Covid-19 vaccine

Jacquie Richardson, Chief Executive, Positive Life

Jacquie Richardson, Chief Executive, Positive Life

The Covid-19 vaccination programme will get underway for vulnerable groups in the coming weeks, Positive Life, the only charity in Northern Ireland for people living with HIV has called for sexual health clinics to be used to administer the Covid vaccine for people living with HIV.

Belfast Health & Social Care Trust has begun to issue letters informing people living with HIV that in order to receive a vaccine as a priority group they must inform their GP of their positive status if they have not already done so.

The prospect of having to potentially disclose such confidential and sensitive information to GPs and other staff in local health care settings has left many Positive Life service users feeling anxious. There is a very real fear about having their HIV status exposed to people they know in surgeries and live in the local community.

Sexual health clinics are a well-placed and viable alternative providing a well-established sense of confidentiality. It is from these clinics that people living with HIV already access medication and services as opposed to through GPs. In very many cases, GPs would not be aware of a patient’s status.

Staff at GUM clinics are also trained to administer vaccinations, providing the HPV vaccine regularly to patients who request it.

Currently around 1200 people are living with HIV in Northern Ireland.

Jacquie Richardson, Chief Executive, Positive Life said:

“GUM clinics are the most appropriate settings to administer the Covid-19 vaccine for people living with HIV. They are a familiar environment and staff understand the issues and fears around sharing a diagnosis.”

“We are asking the Department of Health to divert the vaccines intended for people living with HIV towards these clinics where trained and qualified staff can administer them instead.”

“Most people living with HIV interact with the GUM clinics on a regular basis to access medication and the services they provide. They know the clinicians and feel safe in this environment.”

“This is and continues to be a very anxious and uncertain time for people living with HIV with many experiencing retraumatisation. The arrival of these letters and the thought of being forced to share status is a source of further distress.”

“Making this very minor alteration would make a huge amount of difference and put a lot of people at ease.”

Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 25 January 2021

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Forward Look

  • The Executive has agreed to extend the current lockdown restrictions until 5 March to be reviewed on 18 February. Education Minister Peter Weir will bring forward a paper to the Executive next week on the reopening of schools.

  • Head of the Covid Vaccination Programme for Northern Ireland, Patricia Donnelly has stated that Phase Two of the programme is “on course and ready” to commence next week for the over-75 and the clinically vulnerable.

  • Virtual proceedings in the NI Assembly are due to take place next month to allow for remote participation.

  • The draft Programme for Government consultation opens on 25 January.

  • Finance Minister Conor Murphy has published the Draft Budget 2021-22. Respond by 25 February. To view: LINK.

  • The Department for the Economy has issued a new research report entitled the Future of Energy Policy in Northern Ireland. To view: LINK.

  • Question Time will take place for the Executive Office and the Economy Minister on Monday. Questions to the Education Minister will take place on Tuesday.

  • The Economy and Infrastructure Committees will both meet on Wednesday to hear departmental briefings on Brexit.

  • The Communities Committee will continue its scrutiny of the Licensing and Registration of Clubs Bill on Thursday, taking evidence from local brewers, the PHA and Omniplex.

Other Stories this week

  • Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has established the first ever Infrastructure Youth Assembly.

  • The Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Bill passed the Final Stage in the Assembly and will achieve Royal Assent in the coming weeks.

  • The Functioning of Government Bill, sponsored by TUV MLA Jim Allister, had its Further Consideration Stage this week.

  • Sinn Féin’s Martina Anderson MLA has launched a document aimed at addressing regional and employment inequalities. To view: LINK.

  • Former SDLP MLA Alex Attwood has been appointed to the Electoral Commission to represent smaller parties at Westminster.

  • Belfast City Council’s planning committee has deferred a decision on a proposed £40 million anaerobic digestion facility at Belfast Lough.

Upcoming key political and business events

Consultations

Hospitality Ulster reacts to the latest support package for large tourism and hospitality businesses and lockdown extension

Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster, Colin Neill

Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster, Colin Neill

Reacting to the latest £26m plus support package as part of the Large Tourism and Hospitality Business Support Scheme (LTHBSS) announced this afternoon, Colin Neill, Chief Executive, Hospitality Ulster said today:

“This is very welcome news for a vital part of the hospitality sector that has had to wait for a significant period of time to be supported financially, despite being some of the biggest and best known hospitality venues we have here.”

“Although this is over £26million being announced today, this will be allocated to as many as 278 hospitality and tourism businesses across Northern Ireland based on NAV and will go towards the fixed overheads of large buildings that are considerable, even when closed. We need to ensure that these mothballed businesses stand some chance of opening again, as many have not been eligible for other support packages to date.”

“With the extension of the lockdown being announced for a further four week period - which this financial aid will not cover - we now have to work with the Executive to make sure that there is a continued level of financial response for this new timeframe. The issues don’t go away.”  

“We will also continue to press for payment of outstanding grants and support for those businesses that have fallen through the funding gaps.”

He added:

“It is also good to see the launch of the £4.1million Bed and Breakfast, Guest House and Guest Accommodation Scheme by the Department for the Economy to support tourist accommodation businesses severely impacted through reduced income due to Covid- 19. We would encourage all those eligible to apply at the end of the month when the scheme opens.”

On the extension to the lockdown until 5 March, Colin Neill added:

“Unfortunately the extension to the lockdown announced this afternoon comes as no surprise. The longer this lockdown goes on for, the more costly it becomes for the hospitality industry, especially when our lockdown calendar shows that we have now broken through the 300 day mark of being under severe restrictions or zero trading.

“Whilst another 6 weeks might see a short space of time in the grand scale of the pandemic, it will be the difference in some deciding never to open again, not because they have run out of patience, but because they have run out of money trying to make it through. Business owners can’t wait around forever, especially when they have families to feed and mortgages to pay.”

“This is such a struggle for the entire industry and we now must work towards the start of March to make sure the industry led recovery plan is in place, backed and wholly funded by the Executive. Now is not the time for sitting back, this is the right time to be focused on economic recovery led out by the hospitality sector.”

Londonderry Chamber reacts to latest lockdown extension

Paul Clancy, Chief Executive, Londonderry Chamber

Paul Clancy, Chief Executive, Londonderry Chamber

Reacting to the Executive’s announcement of an extension of the current lockdown restrictions until 5 March, Londonderry Chamber Chief Executive Paul Clancy said:

“While not surprising, this latest extension of the lockdown restrictions is yet again nonetheless bitterly disappointing for businesses. Staff and employer morale is depleted, businesses of all sizes are seriously struggling with their cash flows, and planning ahead is next to impossible. Businesses need political leaders - now more than ever - to provide the strategy, direction, compensation, and confidence which will see them through this year and give them certainty that an economic recovery can take place.

“The time is now for the Executive to produce a workable, strategic economic recovery plan, one designed in collaboration with businesses which will give them the confidence and certainty going forward. Business owners are not naïve and we know that the success of the vaccine roll-out will take time to come to fruition. But the Executive must use this time now to ensure that these are the last of the significant lockdown restrictions imposed on businesses.

“Departments should also do all they can to get vital grant payments out to struggling businesses and I would implore Ministers and officials to widen the eligibility criteria of existing schemes to help firms who are falling through the cracks. Ahead of the UK Budget on 3 March, the Executive must also be lobbying the Treasury to extend the furlough scheme well beyond its current end date of April to protect jobs.

“By the end of the current lockdown on 5 March, we will be nearly one year into living with significant restrictions on our lives and livelihoods. The Executive has an opportunity now to learn from the mistakes of the past 10 or 11 months and put in place a plan which will get our economy off its knees and give businesses the boost they desperately need.”

Apprenticeships vital to the future workplace, say leading businesses ahead of virtual event

Allstate NI, EY and Herbert Smith Freehills are set to host a virtual event on ‘Understanding Apprenticeships’, the third instalment in the ‘Your Child, Their Future’ series.

As global businesses spearheading developments in digital and professional services with significant workforces in Northern Ireland, the firms believe apprenticeships are fast becoming the best route into satisfying, well-paid jobs.

Once favoured by those set on trades such as construction or plumbing, the apprenticeship model is gaining popularity as a reliable source of fresh talent across all sectors.

As global leaders that employ in excess of 4,000 people in Northern Ireland, Allstate NI, EY and Herbert Smith Freehills believe apprentices can re-energise the workforce and fill vacancies in burgeoning sectors like FinTech, Data Analytics, Assurance and Legal Services.

School leavers would be forgiven for thinking they are entering a bleak job market as the pandemic rumbles on and redundancies set in. But according to these industry leaders, a bright and prosperous career is on the horizon for those who choose the vocational route.

Hosted by Sarah Travers, a former BBC news journalist and familiar face to many in Northern Ireland, the free online event will feature three field experts, who are parents themselves, to platform a diverse range of opinions on Wednesday 3 February.

Speakers will include:

  • Richard Kirk, Workplus

  • Maria Curran, Mid Ulster Mega

  • Eamonn Brankin, Belfast Met

Rather than a lecture or recruitment fair, it will foster a positive and constructive conversation between parents and those working hard on the apprenticeship agenda about its merits in launching a fruitful career.

In line with the upcoming Northern Ireland Skills Strategy, vocational qualifications offer a direct mechanism to fill skills gaps as we shift toward a more green and digital society. Gone are the days of academia being the only route to skilled or semi-skilled jobs.

Speaking at the launch of the event, Richard Kirk, CEO & Founder of Workplus said:

“I am thrilled to be involved in this progressive event to promote the concept of apprenticeships with parents and young people.”

“Allstate NI, EY and Herbert Smith Freehills have put their brightest heads together to continue the ‘Your Child, Their Future’ series with an event centred on exactly what our workforce needs: talented young people who can shape our organisations for the future.”

“As society begins to emerge from the uncertainty of Covid-19, apprenticeships are good news for everyone involved; employers, young people and the economy.”

To register for this event please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/your-child-their-future-tickets-135515212649

Key Points from Finance Minister statement at Assembly on publication of draft Budget 21/22 consultation

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Late yesterday evening Finance Minister Conor Murphy launched the consultation process on the 2021/22 budget. It will only be a one-year budget as the Spending Review announced on 25 November 2020 does not allow for a multi-year settlement. This means that the Finance Minister is restricted in terms of what he can financially plan for in the 2021/22 financial year. When making his statement, and answering questions in the Assembly chamber the Finance Minister made some key points:

1.     The Spending Review has not delivered the level of support that is needed to recover from Brexit and COVID-19.

2.     A rates freeze for all households and business has been proposed.

3.     £380 million is allocated to the Department of Health for COVID-19 response and vaccine support.

4.     £30.6 million is designated for the Department of Education to support holiday hunger payments.

5.     £0.7 million is given to the Department of the Economy for higher education.

6.     £126.9 million will be held for further consideration as part of the final budget to respond to COVID-19.

7.     The draft budget sets out £1.75 billion of capital spending to support the completion of the A5 and A6, and to support a building programme of 1,900 new homes.

8.     Allocations have been prioritised to continue welfare reform mitigations, support health care staff and provide for Special Educational Needs.

9.     Agreed financial packages, such as Confidence and Supply and New Decade New Approach Funding, is not allocated as part of the draft budget, as the Secretary of State has not confirmed these allocations.

10.  The shared prosperity fund will not fully replace funding that came from the European Union.

The Draft Budget consultation document is now open for consultation and can be viewed here. Comments are requested by Thursday 25 February.

Cross Border Workers Coalition reacts to publication of the National Remote Work Strategy from the RoI Government

Aidan O’Kane, Co Chair, Cross Border Workers Coalition

Aidan O’Kane, Co Chair, Cross Border Workers Coalition

Reacting to the publication of the National Remote Work Strategy from the Republic of Ireland Government, Aidan O’Kane, Co-Chair, Cross Border Workers Coalition said:

“The Cross Border Workers Coalition (CBWC) welcomes the Irish Government’s commitment to introducing legislation which will give employees the right to request remote working on a permanent basis after the Covid-19 pandemic. Since our inception, we have campaigned tirelessly on the basis that current tax legislation on cross-border workers is outdated and does not reflect current working practices.”

“We agree with the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar TD, that there “can be huge benefits” to remote working provisions, including “more flexibility, less commuting, more time for family and friends”. However, as we stated in our correspondence to the Minister, cross-border tax legislation must be changed to accommodate new remote working practices to ensure that cross-border workers are not left behind.”

“As a group we are committed to ensuring that cross-border workers domiciled in the Republic of Ireland, but working in Northern Ireland, are not subject to ‘double taxation’. Before the next budget, the Tax Strategy Group – an advisory group to the Finance Minister – will review the treatment of remote working. We now call on Finance Minister, Paschal Donohoe TD for clarity as to how cross-border income tax legislation will be considered in this review.”

“This move by the Irish Government shows their commitment to accommodate remote working practices for employees across Ireland. Upon this, we re-affirm our call to the Government to update current legislation and provide a permanent solution for disadvantaged cross-border workers."

Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 18 January 2021

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Forward Look

  • First Minister Arlene Foster MLA announced that any person arriving into Northern Ireland on an international flight must produce a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of travel.

  • Economy Minister, Diane Dodds MLA announced a new £20m support scheme for company directors adversely impacted by the pandemic. The funding will be available for the Limited Company Directors Support Scheme (LCDSS) with applications opening on Thursday 21 January.

  • The Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove MP stated that new guidance for mixed loads of food products – ‘groupage’ - moving between GB and NI is to be published next week.

  • The Executive is due to meet on Thursday 21 January to review the current Covid-19 restrictions as per the agreement implemented on 26 December.

  • The Department for the Economy has said the retail voucher scheme announced by Finance Minister, Conor Murphy MLA in November has been deferred due to the ongoing restrictions. A new bid of £140m for the voucher scheme to be used in the next financial year will be requested.

  • The Labour Party announced ‘The Good Friday Education Programme’ to educate its 500,000 members on the Good Friday Agreement and the role of the Labour Party in the Peace Process.

  • The Belfast Telegraph has named Lisa Smyth as Health Correspondent and Mark Bain as Education Correspondent. Aine Toner will also take up the role of Features Editor.

  • Alliance Chief Whip, Kellie Armstrong MLA has written to the Assembly Committee for Procedures requesting remote plenary sessions to begin when the Assembly returns on Monday.

  • The Justice and DAERA Ministers will take questions in the Assembly on Monday 18 January. The Minister for Communities will take part in Question Time on Tuesday.

  • Justice Minister, Naomi Long MLA will update the Justice Committee on key issues within her Department on Tuesday 19 January.

  • The Health Committee will be briefed by officials from the Health Trusts on the Covid-19 response on Thursday 21 January.

  • Northern Ireland questions will take place in Parliament on Wednesday 20 January. Secretary of State for NI, Brandon Lewis MP will also update the NI Affairs Select Committee on the Northern Ireland Office’s forward work programme for 2021 on Wednesday.

  • The Infrastructure Committee will hear evidence from NI Retail Consortium’s Aodhán Connolly and Seamus Leheny of Logistics UK on issues facing the freight/haulage sector due to Brexit on Wednesday 20 January.

  • Fay Jones MP has been appointed to the NI Affairs Select Committee replacing Caroline Ansell MP.

  • Justice Minister, Naomi Long MLA has launched a public consultation on a new strategy for supporting and challenging women and girls in contact with the justice system. Deadline for responses is 12 March. To respond: LINK

  • SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly has launched a public consultation on proposals to introduce legally binding targets to tackle Northern Ireland’s biodiversity crisis. Deadline for submission is 8 March. To respond: LINK

  • Judith Gillespie, Chair of the working group looking at the Mother and Baby Home scandal in Northern Ireland, told the BBC the group’s report is ready to be published with recommendations including a full public inquiry to be put to Ministers.

  • The Financial Times is recruiting a new Ireland Correspondent. For more information: LINK

Other Stories this week

  • The Department of Health published its Vaccination Programme which has been informed by the JVCI. To read the full programme: LINK

  • Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA announced a further £2.75m for councils under the Covid-19 Community Support Fund to allow them to support the voluntary and community sector response to the pandemic.

  • The third Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by pharmaceutical company Moderna was approved by the UK Vaccine moderator MHRA. The UK Government has pre-ordered 17m doses of the Moderna vaccine which is expected to arrive in early Spring 2021.

  • Environment Minister Edwin Poots MLA chaired the first meeting of the new Green Growth Inter-Ministerial Group which looks at the overarching multi-decade Green Growth Strategy and Delivery Framework for Northern Ireland which is aiming to transform society towards net zero by 2050, protect and enhance the environment and deliver sustainable economic growth.

  • Health Minister, Robin Swann MLA has approved funding for the development of a new specialist perinatal mental health services. This new service will provide multidisciplinary community perinatal mental health teams in all Trusts and will include a new stepped care model. The cost of the new specialist perinatal mental health services is estimated at £4.7million per year.

  • The Ireland-Scotland Bilateral Review Report was published on Thursday which sets out a series of joint actions to be taken in the areas of business and the economy; community and diaspora; culture; academic and research links; and rural, coastal and island communities, as well as government and political relations. To read the review: LINK

Upcoming key political and business events

Consultations

NILGA members meet with Executive Junior Ministers to discuss challenges facing NI’s councils

NILGA President Cllr Matt Garrett

NILGA President Cllr Matt Garrett

The 11 local councils today joined together within the Northern Ireland Local Government Association to meet both NI Executive Junior Ministers to discuss economic recovery, the new Programme for Government and the precarious financial position of local councils.

While NILGA members used the virtual meeting to reaffirm their partnership approach, crucial in the current fight against the pandemic, they also expressed their genuine concerns for the sustainability of the local government sector.

Recognising that the funding to date from the Executive Departments has lessened some of the initial pressures, concerns remain that the majority of council revenue-generating facilities will be closed or at best partially reopened for months to come. This will lead to further reductions in income coupled with non-domestic and domestic rates deficits as the economic recovery will be slow.

Cllr Matt Garrett (Belfast City Council) NILGA President, commented:

“I welcome the valuable partnership message made by both Ministers Kearney and Lyons this morning. This is an exceptionally challenging time for everyone and every community across our region.  The world is a very different place since we last formally engaged with the Ministers at the Local Government conference in February 2020.

“For NILGA, whose members are the hubs of our communities before, during and after Covid, the importance but fragility of our 11 local councils has been severely exposed, and the new Programme for Government must involve and resource councils more. That combination will be good for all parts of government and our businesses and communities too. Supporting our high streets to thrive again, emphasised by Ministers today, for example, is part of the investment in a long road to recovery.

“I believe all Ministers, MLAs, NILGA and councils will intensify their commitment in the crucial times ahead.”

Junior Ministers Gordon Lyons MLA and Declan Kearney MLA

Junior Ministers Gordon Lyons MLA and Declan Kearney MLA

Junior Ministers Gordon Lyons MLA and Declan Kearney MLA welcomed the joint engagement.

Junior Minister Lyons said: “Throughout the pandemic people have pulled together right across our community to mitigate the impacts. Local and central government, working together, have played a vital role in keeping our public services running and the Executive is committed to building on that collaborative approach.

“The Executive is determined to help breathe life back into the centre of our villages, towns and cities. It will work closely with local government and beyond, to help boost the sustainability of our high streets and help make them a safe, welcoming and thriving place for shoppers, visitors and businesses alike.

“It is such collaboration that will continue to sustain us as we move forward. A joined-up approach across sectors and government is key to improving wellbeing for all of our citizens as we emerge from this crisis, and will be the backbone of the Executive’s new strategic Programme for Government.”

Junior Minister Kearney also sought to reaffirm the Executive’s commitment to working with local government.

He said: “The Executive remains steadfast in its support of local government as we continue to work together to tackle this pandemic.

“The impacts of Covid and the urgency associated with the response measures that continue to be needed, whether health-based, economic or societal, have shown that significant capacity exists when the public sector acts decisively, thinks innovatively and collaborates with others in pursuit of shared goals.

“The collective leadership of central and local government, alongside grassroots community organisations and partners right across society has never been more important. Only by working together can we support the wider transformation needed to improve the wellbeing of all our citizens, tackle disadvantage and make public services sustainable into the future.”

Money promised needs to find its way to business owners after lockdown calendar reveals impact of closure

Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster

Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster

In the last 300 days or so, our traditional non-food serving pubs were only able to trade for a limited period of 23 days. Those 23 days weren’t really normal trading days and were so heavily restricted for those business owners, the till simply didn’t ring.

Similarly, food-led hospitality businesses (food serving pubs, restaurants and hotels) were only allowed to open, again, under severe restrictions for just 119 days. It is no secret that these businesses have zero cash reserves left and it is becoming so difficult to remain afloat. Repeated closure and reopening has taken its toll emotionally and financially.

Before Christmas, statistics showed that half of hospitality businesses did not have sufficient cash reserves to make it to February, and only 1 in 5 were confident of survival beyond the first quarter of this year. This is worrying evidence that many of the hospitality businesses here who are in the small or micro category will simple be obliterated.

Last week we welcomed the announcement by the Economy Minister Diane Dodds on the further detail of the Business Support Scheme for non-food serving pubs to the tune of £10m. Although this might sound like a big figure, this grant funding will be used to offset debt which has accumulated over the months and months of closure. The cost of having the doors shut, no trade, but still having to keep businesses alive has had such a negative financial impact on owners.

It is now imperative that the Department for the Economy waste no time in getting in contact with those who are eligible and get money out to as many as possible in the shortest space of time. Hundreds of businesses are struggling and wholly reliant on even the smallest grant.   

It is very clear that there is still considerable financial support that has been promised which remains outstanding from the Department for the Economy. Additional support has been promised for large hospitality businesses and company directors, but, many have received nothing with months and months passing since it was announced.

Our sector contributes around £2billion a year to the economy but has been the worst impacted of any business sector with extensive closures and restricted trading, even when open, and needs to be prioritised with a sense of urgency injected into getting money into the bank accounts of those who are in desperate need.

As draining as this challenge has been for the entire industry, we must now be looking to the horizon and a bespoke recovery plan for the sector which has the potential to reinvigorate and reignite the economy when we hopefully see the conclusion of the pandemic.