Economy department officials answered questions on Covid-19 financial support schemes for businesses
NI Health and Safety Executive representatives gave an update on Covid-19 related issues
The Executive Office Committee was briefed on the High Street Task Force
Interim Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Jenny Pyper briefed MLAs
Colin McGrath thanks the Executive Office officials for attending the meeting.
He asks the clerk to outline forward working plans, before adjourning the session.
Image source, Brian LawlessThat concludes live coverage from Stormont today.
We’ll be back again tomorrow morning, bright and breezy, when we’ll be joining the Agriculture Committee.
Until then, have a great evening and stay safe.
Martina Anderson says she wants to ask about Covid recovery "in the context of an equal, just recovery".
She says the poorest have been the hardest hit and asks about equality impact assessments.
Ms Anderson wants to know if an assessment has been made into the effects of a flat budget on Section 75 groups.
Dr Mark Browne says TEO has its draft budget and is considering what the potential impact of it is, including on those groups Ms Anderson has mentioned.
Image source, NI Assembly"We're still at the early stages of that," he says.
On subject of the protocol, the Sinn Féin MLA asks if there is there a role for the department in "awareness raising" on the subject.
"There is no credible alternative, I can say that as a former MEP," says the MLA.
"I wouldn't disagree with you at all on the provision and need for provision of consistent, evidence-based factual information," says Jenny Pyper, adding that the TEO provides that information to ministers.
Emma Sheerin of Sinn Féin is up next and asks the interim chief of the civil service about New Decade, New Approach (NDNA).
She wants to know if Jenny Pyper has a plan around the implementation of an Irish Language Act, as well as aspects of the Stormont House Agreement.
“The executive clearly has a lot of competing priorities, those in NDNA, then in the programme for government” says Ms Pyper.
She adds that a “workshop” has been established to discuss these issues.
“We don’t, as you know, have endless resources,” says the Executive Office official, adding it’s important to “see where we are and see what is possible”.
Image source, NI AssemblyDr Mark Browne picks up the question on the Irish Language Act.
“In terms of rights, language and identity,” Dr Browne says a division has been established within the department to take forward bills relating to these issues.
“The legislative timetable is tight, as you will know,” adds Jenny Pyper.
She says the permanent secretary group discussed “what can we actually get through given the limited timetable” at a meeting last week.
Image source, NI AssemblyPat Sheehan asks about the high street voucher scheme.
He understands that £90m was set aside for this but the Department for the Economy could not deliver it and the money "is going to be handed back".
He asks if there have been any alternative suggestions made to the minister for the economy around what the funds could be used for "so that money can be kept here".
Jenny Pyper says the economy minister has been working with her executive colleagues to try to find alternative uses for the money.
The interim head of the civil service adds that the Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, has been engaging with the Treasury to arrange a rollover of funds into the next financial year.
Image source, GettyColin McGrath asks the interim chief of the civil service about the work of the High Street Task Force.
Jenny Pyper says “we’re not at the stage of developing specific initiatives” but “very much in the space of looking at, reflecting what has happened over the last nine months, 12 months”.
She says “the shape of the high street has fundamentally changed, not just because of the pandemic, but because of bigger market changes”.
“The task force itself isn’t going to be delivering, it’s going to be trying to pull together, in a coherent way, all those various elements that NI is going to need in order to recovery,” says Ms Pyper.
The SDLP MLA asks Jenny Pyper for what her expectation is around the financing of the Troubles pension for victims.
He says “there is a sort of bartering if it will be London that pays or Belfast that pays”.
You can read more about the Troubles pension here.
The interim head of the civil service says there is an allocation within the draft budget fro the Executive Office to cover implementation costs of the pension, it doesn’t provide any funding for the actual payments”.
She adds that the executive is committed to delivering on the scheme.
Ms Pyper says she meets frequently with her NIO counterpart frequently and “we continue to press our case”.
“It does sound like pass the parcel, I understand that, and that is very suboptimal from our perspective.”
Image source, NI AssemblyDr Mark Browne chips in and says there is a request out for a meeting with the NI secretary of state.
He adds that while the discussion around the full funding of the scheme is ongoing, there is work ongoing to ensure arrangements are in place for the scheme to open.
“It’s really in the political sphere that the funding issue has to be sorted out,” he adds.
Jenny Pyper says it's "day 65" since her appointment and tells MLAs she will outline her key priorities.
The interim head of the civil service was appointed on 1 December for eight months, having previously been chief executive of the Utility Regulator since 2013.
Ms Pyper says dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic "continues to be the focus for very many of us".
The other inescapable pressure comes from issues resulting from Brexit, she explains.
There are a number of strands to her role including, leading the overall NI Civil Service and ensuring coherent and ongoing support for executive ministers.
Image source, NI AssemblyShe is the permanent secretary of the Executive Office (TEO) and also the secretary to the Executive Committee.
"I do see one of my key responsibilities as ensuring that the executive continues to function as effectively and efficiently as it can as it works through the challenges of the pandemic," she says.
The interim head outlines some of the work of the Executive Covid Task Force.
She says her final priority "is to do myself out of a job" and to help to develop a competition for a permanent head of the civil service.
Image source, PA MediaA DUP MP has called on the prime minister to "be the unionist we need him to be" in addressing concerns over the Irish Sea border.
Ian Paisley told the Commons that the NI Protocol had betrayed unionists and made them "feel like foreigners in our own country".
He said "tea and sympathy would not cut the mustard" and urged the government to act.
Boris Johnson said the government would "do everything we need to do".
That concludes the committee’s briefing on the High Street Task Force.
The next item of business is an introductory briefing from Jenny Pyper.
She is the new interim head of the NI Civil Service.
Ms Pyper is joined by two colleagues from the Executive Office, namely Dr Mark Browne and Dr Andrew McCormick.
Image source, Getty ImagesTrevor Lunn, the Independent MLA, refers to Newtownards high street which he says has been a success.
Before lockdown, he was on the high street and says “it was buzzing, it was great”.
The MLA asks about food and drink and the “evening economy”.
Will the task force look at whether pubs could open in a “continental way” and “spill onto the pavement”.
Chris Stewart says “the short answer is yes”.
“We need to find out why is it that Newtownards and other successful examples are successful and working well” and the difference in those that aren’t, adds the Executive Office official.
Martina Anderson says there "are no quick fixes" when it comes to the decline of the high streets.
She is concerned that a reference group has been set up with representatives of so many Belfast-based groups, such as Retail NI, Hospitality Ulster, Belfast Chamber of Commerce, NILGA and Belfast City Council
The Sinn Féin MLA says she is concerned about representation for the north-west in the task force membership when it is announced.
Image source, PacemakerChris Stewart Stewart says he understands the point Ms Anderson is making.
"We need to deliver for every city and town and village centre in Northern Ireland," he says.
Doug Beattie is the deputy chair of the committee.
He says it was a “fascinating brief” but asks for clarity on the future the high street.
“What is England, Scotland and Wales delivering” as part of their high street task force that is seeing change?
“The need for, in broad terms what you would call, anchor tenants,” is one aspect which Chris Stewart outline.
Image source, PA MediaThe Executive Office official says “something that gives a citizen a reason to be on that high street”, but something broader than one big department store.
“We will see different master plans for somewhere like Belfast, which of course will be unique and different anyway, but Belfast will look different to Banbridge and Banbridge will look different to Belcoo.”
Committee Chair Colin McGrath has the first question.
He says that pre-Covid the high street "was on its knees" and is now on its back.
The SDLP MLA wants reassurance that the High Street Task Force will continue when work by the executive task force on Covid-19 is completed.
Image source, NI AssemblyMr Stewart says he believes the task force's work is seen as strategic, and he wouldn't be surprised if it is decided to continue it over "a three-to- five year timespan," continuing past the current assembly mandate.
The TEO official says "there is a future for retail" but "the high street retail offering will simply not look like what it looked like even 18 months, two years ago".
"We could draw upon the sophistication of the Scottish approach and the really strong partnership with local government that's in Wales, those to me would be two very good building blocks," he says.
Chris Stewart says he’s going to focus on the work that has been carried out since November.
The Executive Office official says there was an “initial scoping exercise” conducted by officials from a number of departments.
The officials groups examined the existing initiatives that are in place, such as Giro D’Italia and City Deals.
Stakeholders were then contacted, and “one of the most surprising things” from the engagement was the “very, very high degree of consensus” about the issues that need to be addressed.
“Our towns and city centres face a range of economic and social challenges,” adds Mr Stewart, and explains that some issues “predate” the current Covid-19 crisis.
Image source, PA Media“Local government has a very key role to play in this,” says Mr Stewart.
Before Christmas, ministers asked officials to establish a reference group, “a sort of prototype task force if you like”.
The reference group was asked to develop terms of reference for the task force proper and to make recommendations to the Executive Office and the executive.
Ministers “endorsed the need for a vision” says Mr Stewart, adding that the sought a “bespoke approach for NI”.
As for scope, ministers said all towns, cities and villages should be included, but that there shouldn’t be an overlap of City Deals.
Image source, PacemakerThe establishment of the high street task force was announced back in August 2020.
It was set up by the executive in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It’s a cross-departmental organisation that aims to consider and address the key issues affecting businesses.
Image source, NI AssemblyCommittee Chair Colin McGrath opens the meeting to the public and brings members to order.
MLAs are joining today’s proceedings remotely by video link.
Mr McGrath, a SDLP MLA for South Down, advises members to be careful with their language when it comes to the matter of the NI Protocol.
Mr McGrath also says he was disappointed by the low number of members attending this week's meeting with the Irish Senate's Brexit Committee.
He then introduces the first substantial item on the agenda.
It’s a briefing from department official Chris Stewart on the High Street Task Force.
We're back from lunch and joining the Committee for the Executive Office.
Here's a full rundown of what you can expect to hear during the meeting.
Image source, NI Assembly
We’ll be back at 14:00 when we’ll be joining the Committee for the Executive Office.
MLAs will be asking questions about the work of the High Street Task Force.
The Interim Head of the NI Civil Service, Jenny Pyper, will also be delivering an introductory brief.
In the meantime, we’re off to grab a quick coffee and scone.
See you again soon.
Image source, NI AssemblyClaire Sugden raises the issue of Ulster University transferring its undergraduate healthcare degrees to its Magee campus in Londonderry.
Economy Minister Diane Dodds has expressed concerns that this could have a negative impact on the university's Coleraine campus.
Ms Sugden says she would like to have assurances that the university remains committed to all its campuses on the north coast and elsewhere.
The members agree to engage with Ulster University on the matter .
Chairperson Caoimhe Archibald thanks the members and that concludes the meeting.
Dr Caoimhe Archibald thanks the health and safety office officials for attending the meeting this morning.
She then directs members through some general committee business.
The MLA then reads a departmental response to “issues raised by University and College Union (UCU)”.
In particular, she reads points referring to the “arrival of international students from China”.
At the start of this year, Queen's University chartered a flight taking hundreds of students from China to NI.
Image source, Getty ImagesDr Archibald reads the department’s correspondence which says “Queen’s has raised the matter with the Executive Office task force and were advised that the new regulations could not prevent the flight as long as the public health guidance was adhered to”.
“Before boarding the flight, students had to provide evidence of a negative Covid-19 test and not be displaying any symptoms,” reads Dr Archibald.
She asks members if they agree to send the department’s correspondence to UCU.