Why 2022 should be the year of the cross-border worker

By Aidan O’Kane, Co-Chair of the Cross Border Workers Coalition

As originally appeared in the Irish News, 4 January 2022

All-island collaboration gets results. From Brexit to the Good Friday Agreement, we know that working beyond borders means we can start to address the political, social, and economic issues we face here. And similarly, we know that working in our silos, or even against one another, achieves little for anyone, North or South.

As Patrick Kielty said in his address to the Shared Island Forum, sometimes sharing isn’t easy. “A shared island means challenging ourselves to go beyond our comfort zones”, he continued. In the last two years, the pandemic has presented the biggest challenge we have faced both personally, professionally, and as an island. Every day has involved pushing ourselves beyond our comfort zones, and looking ahead to 2022, this daily uncertainty is set to continue.

For cross-border workers, this insecurity is particularly rife. Approximately 12,500 people live in Ireland but work in Northern Ireland, and since March 2020, they have been able to work-from-home like everyone else. A temporary waiver from the Irish Government has suspended tax rules which, left unchanged, could have posed a ‘double tax’ for border employees working remotely. Initially applicable for the 2020 Tax Year, the waiver has since been extended twice, and currently offers vital protection for workers affected.

Under new Irish Government regulations, however, this support could be lost overnight. Revenue has confirmed that the waiver will only be in place insomuch as public health guidance recommends home-working. No timeframe, no certainty, no clarity, this cliff-edge approach simply does not work for the employees we represent. For example, what if advice changes late on a Thursday night, are border employees obliged to drop everything and commute on Friday morning?

Speaking about our issue last month, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe TD said that current legislation “was not designed to apply to remote working scenarios”. Current legislation is outdated and does not reflect the modern working practises operated by businesses across this island. The temporary Covid-19 waiver cannot be extended indefinitely and kicking the can down the road only achieves so much.

We are set to meet Minister Donohoe again in the coming weeks, and our message is clear: a permanent, pragmatic approach must be taken if this issue is to be resolved. Our calls for legislative change are echoed by businesses, employees, and border families North and South. The Minister has heard our concerns directly on three occasions, now is the time for him to listen.

Last month, I had the privilege of briefing the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement regarding this issue. Parties from Westminster, Leinster House, and everywhere in between, recognised the need for this issue to be resolved urgently. All-island collaboration in action, working towards addressing the real issues facing border communities.

As we look towards building a shared island, we must set markers, goals along the way that typify real success and progress. Let’s make 2022 the year of the cross-border worker and begin to address the real issues faced on-the-ground. As Kielty said, sharing sometimes isn’t easy. But by collaborating we can make this island work, one issue at a time.

Overcoming common anxieties surrounding the gym

By Kerrie O’Hanlon, General Manager at Better Gym Connswater

As originally appeared in the Belfast Telegraph, 4 January 2022

The New Year, for many, brings a renewed sense of motivation. Getting back into training or embarking on a new fitness journey is a positive way to kick off the year and, in light of the public health crisis, more important than ever.

For many, however, this can bring a sense of apprehension about navigating the dos and don’ts of the gym.

In leisure, we know that looking after our mind goes hand in hand with looking after our body and burning off steam is often just as important as the physical aspect. I have developed some techniques for managing those feelings of self-judgement.

Adapt your perspective

When it comes to getting in a fitness regime, mindset is everything. Think about what you want to achieve in your regular sessions or classes and remember that it is ultimately a time to focus on you, your body and mind. View it as a few afternoons a week without the kids or a chance to relax after work, and any physical gains you do make will be a bonus.

Talk to a team member

A common benefit of gym membership nowadays, including at our Better centres in Belfast, is a complementary gym induction or one-to-one chat with an instructor. This is not a test, but an optional opportunity to tour the facilities, have the equipment demonstrated and ask any questions. Use this time to familiarise yourself with the environment and you will feel much more at home when you return.

Know before you go

If your apprehension lies around feeling aimless or out of place, arriving with a plan of action is worthwhile. Not only is this a reminder that you are there for a reason, to take time for yourself and focus on your health and fitness, but it will keep you on track towards your goals.

Manage your expectations

Accepting that you can’t do everything in day one will allow you to focus on what you can. It is perfectly normal, and more common than you might think, to start off on just one or two machines. Accept where you are and try not to put too much pressure on yourself.

Your apprehension is normal, and will pass

Just like a new job or your first day at school, joining a new gym or leisure centre brings with it concerns and anxieties around issues that may otherwise seem trivial. Unfamiliar faces, concerns about where to park or a new layout and feelings of general unease are normal. Consider visiting for an induction beforehand to get the lay of the land, and don’t be afraid to seek out a friendly face or staff member for advice. Plan some light sessions to get started, allowing you to get settled before attempting to make any serious progress.

Kerrie O’Hanlon, General Manager at Better Gym Connswater

Try out a fitness class

Fitness classes are a great way to get settled, fast. Though it may feel like a self-conscious, confidence-vanishing experience at first, starting off with group classes could be the motivation you need. Committing to a set time will keep you accountable and having instructors on hand to guide you when needed is an added bonus.

Exercise off-peak if you can

Peak times vary across every gym, but they can be useful in deciding when is best for you to exercise. If your schedule allows, going at a less-busy time or attending less in-demand classes will allow you to find your feet in a quieter environment.

Get started with a friend

If you fear your concerns may put you off, invite a friend you know and trust. This will help you stay more relaxed in your first few sessions and may also help keep you on track.

Consider the gym as an inclusive, social space

At Better, our leisure centres are made up of inclusive and sociable spaces with many fitness classes, clubs and spots to grab a coffee throughout. Focus on getting yourself into a regular gym pattern, or book your kids into a weekend swim class, and you will find yourself making connections with others in no time.

Remember to breathe

For us, leisure is about supporting all in the community to feel healthy and strong. Challenging your body and taking part in regular activity is an important part of this, but remember it is not the only reason you are there.

There is no shame in taking it easy, and we have many yoga and pilates classes on offer to help you do so.

Visit www.better.org.uk

The Fall star Bronagh Waugh joins DEC Afghanistan Crisis Appeal

Northern Irish actor and star of the hit BBC series The Fall Bronagh Waugh has launched an appeal video for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Afghanistan Crisis Appeal.

 The DEC appeal launched last week to raise funds for urgent humanitarian response in Afghanistan. It comes as conflict and economic collapse, coupled with the worst drought in 27 years and the Covid-19 pandemic, bring the situation in Afghanistan to a tipping point.

 Today, actor and writer Bronagh Waugh is appealing to the people of Northern Ireland to donate what they can to support the appeal and help the millions of people staring into a winter without food, clean drinking water or shelter.

Bronagh Waugh said:

“The situation in Afghanistan has reached a crisis point. Families are struggling to feed their children; hospitals are running out of supplies, and many are sadly already dying. The winter is setting in, and people are cold, hungry and desperate. We cannot allow this to continue.”

“With the help of the DEC, we have a chance to support swift humanitarian action to step in at this time of need. The Afghanistan Crisis Appeal is a chance to mobilise the generosity of the Northern Irish people to get everyday basics like clean water and emergency food packages to the millions of women and children at risk of famine. I urge anyone who can to donate and support this vital work.”

Local charities Save the Children, Tearfund, Concern Worldwide and the British Red Cross are supporting the DEC appeal.

The funds raised will be distributed among the thirteen participating charities, and matched pound-for-pound by the UK Government’s UK Aid Match scheme to a total of £10 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 people in need. 

Peter Anderson, Northern Ireland Director of Concern Worldwide said:

“Millions of people in Afghanistan are living through a nightmare of not having enough food. It is now clear that we urgently need to respond to this humanitarian crisis, and I am pleased to see figures like Bronagh join us to help. Over 22 million people don’t have enough to eat, and we must act quickly before the freezing winter sets in.”

“With the support of the DEC, charities like Concern Worldwide can deliver life-saving aid, generously donated by the people of Northern Ireland and across the UK, to those in desperate need. Thanks to the UK Government, the first £10 million raised will be doubled, reaching even more people in urgent need. I would encourage us all to donate whatever we can to help.”

How to donate:  
Online: dec.org.uk 

Phone: 0370 60 60 610

SMS: To donate £10 text SUPPORT to 70150. Texts cost £10 and the whole £10 goes to the DEC AFGHANISTAN CRISIS 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 

Or donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office, or send a cheque by post to Post: DEC Afghanistan Crisis Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA. 

Londonderry Chamber welcomes support package but more needed to save businesses

Londonderry Chamber Vice President Selina Horshi

Reacting after the Executive announced a financial package for hospitality businesses, Londonderry Chamber Vice President Selina Horshi said:

“It is welcome that the Executive has listened to the pleas of businesses across Northern Ireland and announced a financial support package for the hospitality sector. However, while this is a start, £40m is simply not enough to support all our businesses, especially if they are closed or experience a much suppressed trade for any significant length of time.

“It’s now crucial that Land and Property Services and the relevant departments work speedily to identify which businesses are eligible, to ensure that money is allocated as quickly as possible to businesses in dire need of it, and without further delay. We continue to urge ministers to strongly lobby the Treasury and the UK Government to release further funding which can support even more businesses across the North West and Northern Ireland.”

 

Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 27 December 2021

Forward Look

  • The Executive has announced a financial package for businesses affected by the latest Covid-19 restrictions, and will first review new measures on Thursday 13 January.

  • First Minister Paul Givan MLA has said the DUP will lay out tests in its election manifesto which will need to be met if the party is to return to government. The Daily Telegraph reports the party will urge the UK’s new lead Brexit negotiator, Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss MP, to trigger Article 16 in the new year.

  • The Equality Commission will investigate the High Street Spend Local Scheme over a complaint that under-18s were excluded. The Scheme has been extended until Friday 7 January for those who received their cards late.

  • An Audit Office report has found that local Councils face a tough financial future amid income generation challenges.

  • Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots MLA has launched a Consultation on Future Agricultural Policy Proposals for Northern Ireland. To respond by 15 February: LINK

  • An Institute for Fiscal Studies report has stated there is a case for a modest extension to the scope of devolved government’s borrowing powers in ‘normal’ times.

  • The £100m Belfast City Council-led restoration of the former Bank of Ireland building on Royal Avenue is due to be completed by 2028.

  • Laura Kuenssberg will step down as BBC Political Editor in April.

  • The US Senate has confirmed the nomination of Claire Cronin as the next US Ambassador to Ireland.

  • The Made in Northern Ireland Awards 2022 will take place on Friday 13 May 2022 at the Titanic Hotel.

Other Stories this week

  • Invest NI has appointed former Finance and Operations Director Mel Chittock as its interim Chief Executive.

  • Christopher Brooke has been appointed as the new Chair of Tourism Ireland.

  • The ESRI has found that NI companies exported an extra £1bn of goods to the Republic of Ireland in the first ten months of 2021.

  • A UK Digital Economy Council report has named Belfast as one of the UK’s fastest growing tech cities.

  • High Court Judge Mr Justice Scoffield has ruled that DUP ministers boycotting North South Ministerial Council meetings are in “abject breach of their solemn pledge”.

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 14 January, A Seat with Sinn Féin, NICVA

  • 17 January, NI Assembly returns from Christmas Recess

  • 23 February, CO3 Leadership Breakfast

  • 10 March, Women in Business awards

  • 24 March, Belfast Chamber’s BelFastForward Conference

Consultations

Londonderry Chamber deeply disappointed at lack of financial supports for businesses

Londonderry Chamber Vice President Selina Horshi

Reacting after the Executive’s decisions on Covid-19, Londonderry Chamber Vice President Selina Horshi said:

“It’s deeply frustrating that, for a second Christmas in a row, the Executive has chosen to close businesses once again. Nearly two years into the pandemic, the continued cycle of closures and openings is having a hugely detrimental impact on small and independent businesses, local employers, and our wider economy. The uncertainty over how long these latest restrictions will last and what substantial financial supports will be available to businesses worst affected must be addressed as soon as possible.

“The hospitality industry, which stands to be one of the sectors worst affected by these latest restrictions, has only just recently adapted to new rules and procedures in the form of Covid vaccine certifications. These have already come at substantial cost to a lot of these businesses and they have spent weeks preparing for the introduction of the certifications. The Executive must, therefore, outline the scientific evidence which states that these new restrictions in the form of closures are necessary to quash the threat from the Omicron variant.

“Other decisions taken, including the bolstering of the working from home message and the introduction of legislation to require social distancing in the workplace, will also have a significant impact on businesses of all kinds. The Executive must work with businesses and employers to clearly outline what they must do and give them the support they need to put these processes in place. The Executive must also recognise the impact that greater working from home has on other sectors including city and town centre retail, and get financial support out to these high street businesses as soon as possible.

“It’s wholly unacceptable that ministers have taken these decisions without having a proper and significant financial support package in place which businesses can immediately draw down from. Any delay adds to confusion and anxiety and business owners deserve so much better. The Executive must make clear as soon as possible how it intends to support businesses, and which businesses.

“We would again encourage people to continue supporting and spending local this Christmas, as well as taking all necessary Covid precautions like wearing a mask when you’re out and about and getting your jabs as soon as you can.”

Wellbeing of over 1,500 victims and survivors supported by the Victims and Survivors Service

Margaret Bateson, Chief Executive of the Victims and Survivors Service (VSS)

The Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) has awarded over £370,000 of funding to community organisations supporting victims and survivors to build social connections and reduce social isolation.

Nearly £200,000 was allocated to 20 community partner organisations by VSS for the Spring/Summer Social Isolation Programme. A further £174,000 has just been awarded to 17 community partner organisations for the Autumn/Winter Programme.

The funding, provided through the EU’s PEACE IV Programme, which is managed by the SEUPB, has enabled a range of social interactions to take place. Activities for the Spring/Summer Programme included painting workshops, walking tours and equine-assisted learning. The Autumn/Winter Programme will enable activities such as winter gardening group sessions, knitting and Christmas crafting.

VSS is committed to reducing social isolation and improving the health and wellbeing of victims and survivors of the Troubles/conflict. The activities are centered around the ‘TAKE 5 Steps to Wellbeing’ initiative. The concept of TAKE 5 is to encourage victims and survivors to connect, be active, take notice, keep learning, and to give.

CEO of VSS, Margaret Bateson said:

“VSS is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of victims and survivors. We have been able to support, and positively impact, the lives of over 1,500 victims and survivors throughout this year.

“Building on the success of the Spring/Summer Isolation Programme, the activities for our new Autumn/Winter Programme have been carefully selected to ensure there is something for all interests and abilities.

“The funding provided to our community partners enables victims and survivors to safely interact and connect through a range of social activities, whilst still ensuring Covid-19 restrictions are adhered to.”

Welcoming the funding awarded, Chief Executive of the SEUPB, Gina McIntyre said:

“Many victims and survivors of our shared history experience high levels of isolation which can negatively impact their mental health. Unfortunately, this has only been intensified as a direct result of the pandemic.

“The EU PEACE IV funding allocated for the Spring/Summer Social Isolation Programme allowed for a range of activities to take place, positively impacting 1,500 victims and survivors.

“This new tranche of funding will continue to allow community organisations deliver health and well-being support activities, giving victims and survivors the opportunity to connect in a safe environment.”

This programme is supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Match-funding has been provided by The Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland.

New plans lodged for over 250 homes in the Waterside

CGI of the proposed development layout

Plans have been submitted to Derry City and Strabane District Council to build 255 new homes in the Waterside area of the city. The new development will be at Ballyoan on lands adjacent to Clooney Road at Gransha Roundabout.

The proposals are being brought forward by a new partnership between Derry-based property developer South Bank Square and leading housing provider Choice.

The exciting new plans include a mix of social and affordable homes ranging from one to four bedrooms, comprising a mix of terrace, detached and semi-detached houses as well as a number of bungalows and apartments aimed at those aged 55 and over. The proposals also include significant areas of open space, a woodland walk, allotments, children's play area, and a tenant hub.

The entire project represents a very significant £120million of investment to the City Region, and will see the creation of approximately 850 new jobs over a period of eight to ten years.

Martin Mallon, Managing Director of South Bank Square said:

“We are delighted to unveil these updated proposals for the Ballyoan site. This new partnership with Choice Housing Association represents a significant multi-million pound investment in the North West and will see the development of hundreds of new family homes over the next ten years.

“The comprehensive planned development of this site will be key to delivering some of the thousands of new family homes that we know are very much needed in the city now and over the forthcoming years. The new proposals will include expansive areas of open space, children’s play areas, a woodland walk, as well as proposed improvements to the local roads infrastructure.

“It is fantastic to be able to announce this level of investment in our home city and we expect that this scale of investment will bring with it many job opportunities for local people and local suppliers in the North West. Enabling works have already started on site following our planning approvals granted earlier this year and we hope to commence house building on site early in 2022.”

Michael McDonnell, CEO at Choice said:

“We are thrilled to move forward with these proposals in partnership with South Bank Square. This project will unlock huge potential to create much needed, high quality social and affordable homes for a range of people in the city.

“As well as relieving housing stress in the city, this project will allow young families to get on the property ladder by bringing forward a number of affordable homes, as well as offering professionally managed, exceptional private rental opportunities too.

“Extensive planning has been carried out to ensure the needs of young families, disabled people, and the elderly are catered for, with plenty of green space, allotments, a play park and a tenant hub included in our ambitious plans. We hope to be able to secure planning permission for these homes so that we can begin to deliver them as soon as possible.”

NI aid worker calls for action to prevent catastrophe in Afghanistan, as the Disasters Emergency Committee ramps up the Afghanistan Crisis Appeal

By Maryann Horne, as originally appeared in the Irish News, 20 December

Senior Humanitarian Advisor with the British Red Cross Maryann Horne

As we drove about bumping along small mud trails in Afghanistan this month to visit some remote projects, my mind kept on drifting to Northern Ireland and the days of my youth.

As we visited humanitarian clinics and projects run by the Red Cross and Red Crescent, old reflexes resurfaced. I scanned the flags, graffiti on the walls as we approached villages.

The landscapes may be beautiful, but the reality facing its people has never been bleaker. The country is on its knees, the economy in free fall and hope is slipping away. At the heart of the crisis is an ongoing severe drought, a lack of cash and functioning banking system. The aftershocks of the pandemic, fighting and displacement are still rife.

The country is bracing itself for the worse humanitarian crisis in decades. Lives are already being lost to hunger, the lack of functioning hospitals and disease. I watched queues grow from morning to nightfall around the gates of Kabul’s main paediatric hospital.

People in Afghanistan are proud, strong and incredibly resilient, but there’s a sense of desperation in their eyes that I’ve not seen before.

For me, there were comparisons between scenes witnessed in my youth and Afghanistan today, but it’s the lessons we learned about the importance of empowering people affected by a crisis that resonated the most as I thought of home.

As the humanitarian effort takes shape, it is critical that the little aid that is being put forward remains guided by those it serves. Communities who understand the needs and have the trust of those most vulnerable must be listened to. They must remain at the heart of identifying beneficiaries and delivering aid.

On my travels, I met many Afghan women - strong, resilient, and proud. While their sons and men are forced to work away, they run communities.  They are leaders. Many have up to twelve children. They organise, feed, care and know better than most what aid is needed and how it should be delivered.

I met many of these women in remote clinics run by the Afghan Red Crescent. The mobile community clinics, today threatened by lack of funding, are their only access to basic health.

As we sat on the floor surrounded by sick children, they spoke with a resignation I’ve rarely observed. Most are cutting down on food portions because they just don’t have enough cash. Many brought children under five already showing signs of malnutrition. Drawn eyes, heavy limbs, faces without the sparkle and mischief of youth.


Food and medical aid distribution by the Afghan Red Crescent.

The needs in Afghanistan aren’t just about food. The situation requires even more sophisticated humanitarian responses. These responses rely on working with national humanitarian organisations such as the Afghan Red Crescent who are embedded at the heart of the community.

They are more resolute than ever on ensuring every penny is spent on those at the margins. They may be affected themselves. But they put themselves second. I spoke to several nurses and midwives who have turned up every day before, during and since the transition in August without getting paid for now four months. With the banking system paralysed, they may not get paid for many more.

There’s also a particular affinity between the few Northern Irish aid workers in Kabul today. Most left with the transition. My colleague from Belfast is a United Nation’s access specialist and is scouring the country to improve understanding of the UN humanitarian system and build relations. Another friend from Coleraine is advising senior UN officials. We like to joke we may be small tribe, but we’re mighty!

As the crisis worsens, we are honoured to be on the front lines serving the response effort. But I hope we won’t be alone and that you, as readers, will join us. This week the Disasters Emergency Committee, of which British Red Cross is a member, has launched its Afghanistan Crisis Appeal. The generosity of folk from Northern Ireland is legendary. Afghanistan today needs some of that generosity more than ever. Please donate to the DEC appeal – if you can. Every single penny will help us and the thirteen aid agencies represented to save lives.

Donations can be made online at dec.org.uk and phone 0370 60 60 610.

To donate £10 text SUPPORT to 70150.?Texts cost £10 and the whole £10 goes to the DEC Afghanistan Crisis Appeal. You must be 16 or over. Full terms and conditions and more information is at dec.org.uk.

People can also donate over the counter at any bank or post office, or send a cheque by post to DEC Afghanistan Crisis Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA.

Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 20 December 2021

Forward Look

  • Please find attached a rundown of the legislation currently passing through the Assembly.

  • The Northern Ireland Assembly has risen for Christmas Recess. The next scheduled plenary session is on 17 January. The UK Parliament will return on 5 January.

  • The Executive has been told that “significant intervention” may be need in January if the Omicron variant is as severe as Delta. It comes as the deputy First Minister called for the reintroduction of furlough. The Executive is expected to meet again on Wednesday to take further decisions.

  • The Belfast Region City Deal has been signed off by government ministers. The deal will deliver over 20 projects with an investment of £1 billion over the next decade.

  • Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA expects the Executive to agree the draft Budget by mid-February before purdah begins on 25 March.

  • The Fiscal Commission published its Interim Report which found there is a case to consider further taxes. Its next report is expected at the beginning of the next political mandate and will focus on income tax, fuel, alcohol, and tobacco duties, stamp duty land tax, air passenger duty, the apprenticeship levy, and landfill tax.

  • Economy Minister Gordon Lyons MLA has launched his department’s new energy strategy which sets three ambitions to ensure Northern Irelands energy is secure and affordable by 2030.

  • The UK Government announced that goods exported from Ireland to Great Britain will be temporarily exempted from new border controls on EU-GB trade which take effect on 1 January.

  • At the Education Committee, officials confirmed that the Special Schools Area Planning Strategy will be published in June 2022 after a further 12-week consultation.

  • Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn will introduce a Private Members Bill to the Assembly on Suicide Prevention in the next term.

  • The Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Bill passed all stages in the Assembly and will become law once it receives Royal Assent.

  • The Irish News has reported that Diane Dodds MLA is “expected” to stand down at the next Assembly Election, potentially allowing party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to stand in Upper Bann. The paper also reports that Edwin Poots’ seat in Lagan Valley would be ‘vulnerable’ if three DUP candidates stood in the constituency.

  • The EU will today publish a new proposal for guaranteeing medicine supplies from GB to Northern Ireland. BBC NI is also reporting that the UK Government has indicated that the European Court of Justice could have a role in the governance of the NI Protocol.

Other Stories this week

  • Alliance Belfast City Councillor Carole Howard has defected to the UUP.

  • Adam Smyth has been appointed as the interim director of BBC Northern Ireland.

  • Baroness Hallett has been appointed chair of the UK’s public inquiry into the Covid pandemic.

  • The Department for the Economy is seeking to appoint 7 board members to the Board of Invest Northern Ireland.

  • The Executive is to receive an additional £75 million to help with ongoing pandemic pressures. The Department of Finance claims £50m of this is not new money, however.

  • MLAs voted by 59 to 24 to approve the use of the Covid Certification Scheme.

  • DUP MLA Christopher Stalford’s Private Members Bill concerning abortion was rejected by the Assembly this week.

  • The latest NI Planning Statistics show that the average processing time for major applications was 56.4 weeks for the first six months of 2021/22, above the 30 week target.

  • Julie Gibbons, Managing Director of AbbeyAutoline, has been elected the new President of Newry Chamber of Commerce.

  • The Liberal Democrats have won the North Shropshire by-election, a seat the Conservatives had held for nearly 200 years.

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 14 January, A Seat with Sinn Féin, NICVA

  • 17 January, NI Assembly returns from Christmas Recess

  • 23 February, CO3 Leadership Breakfast

  • 10 March, Women in Business awards

  • 24 March, Belfast Chamber’s BelFastForward Conference

Consultations