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There are "serious issues" with Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol that need to be resolved by the UK and EU, Ireland's foreign minister has said.

But Simon Coveney said it should be improved where possible, rather than scrapped as unionists have demanded.

Unionists oppose that part of the Brexit deal, arguing it damages trade and threatens UK unity.

NI's first minister said it was unfortunate the Irish government hadn't listened to unionist concerns earlier.

Read more on this story here.

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Sinead McLaughlin of the SDLP asks if businesses have been reaching out to the HSE seeking advice on how to implement Covid-19 measures.

This has been the case, says Bryan Monson.

The HSE official says there have been templates developed to help businesses identify what issues they may face and what measures they could put in place.

“There are rogue employers out there, but the vast majority of employers want to do the right thing, they want their staff to be safe and their business to operate safely,” he adds.

John O'Dowd thanks the officials for their help when he has contacted them regarding complaints from workers.

The Sinn Féin MLA notes that there has been "a high rate of infection" among the BAME community in the Southern Trust area.

"That's not to blame that community for that infection rate, I don't want anybody to suggest that's the case," he adds.

Image source, NI Assembly

Mr O'Dowd refers to the high number of minority ethnic workers in food processing plants in the Southern Trust area.

He asks if the HSE is doing any specific work to protect the minority ethnic community in workplaces.

Robert Kidd says he was in discussion with the Department of Finance last week.

He says "they are looking at some issues around targeting very specific issues" and one of these was communication issues with people who may not have English as their first language.

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What work is the HSE undertaking with local authorities to ensure businesses are compliant with Covid-19 regulations, asks Gordon Dunne.

The DUP MLA welcomes what the HSE has done so far around farm safety but calls for more to be done around risk assessments.

“There is a fairly clear distinction between what HSE NI have responsibility for and what councils have responsibility for,” responds Robert Kidd.

He adds that “we do have a liaison officer within our team who is actually a former member of council staff” enabling the HSE to “work very closely with councils”.

Stewart Dickson is having terrible problems with his audio feed.

The Alliance MLA asks about the need for additional staff to deal with the requirements of Brexit.

HSE official Louis Burns says the body has two operational areas in the NI Protocol.

The first is chemicals and the second is product safety, he explains.

Image source, NI Assembly

The latter are "mainly products that are going to be used in the workplace," says Mr Burns.

He says there is "market surveillance work" on the chemicals side.

The official says there could be problems if there was "divergence" between GB and EU regulations.

He explains that the HSE's work on chemicals would not be "port-based or point of entry-based" but in the workplace with companies.

Dr Caoimhe Archibald starts the question session.

The Sinn Féin MLA asks about the visits conducted in respect of complaints.

“Most of our visits will be carried out in an unannounced manner,” responds Robert Kidd.

He says the information will be gathered and that the “triage system allows us to build a bit of a picture” and when the team arrives on site, the HSE team sees things “as they are”.

Image source, NI Assembly

Bryan Monson says the HSE has dealt with “over 150 cluster reports” which have been received from the public health agency (PHA).

He says the majority of those inspections will be unannounced, “unless there’s a good reason not too”.

The official adds that “what works for construction” may be different “to what you might see in a food production site”.

HSENI official Robert Kid begins the briefing and explains the role of the body.

The long list of its responsibilities on workplace safety include "agriculture and food, manufacturing, utilities and docks, construction, extractive industries and the waste recycling sector".

Mr Kidd says that work on Covid-19 "has overtaken our operational activity".

He says that "much has been learned since the onset of the first lockdown in March 2020" that "has enabled us to take the public health guidance and seek to apply it in conjunction with a workplace risk assessment, to devise plans which enable essential businesses to continue to operate safely".

Image source, NI Assembly

Regarding breaches of regulations by workers, he says, "the employer's approach, the employee's attitude and peer pressure from colleagues are much more effective tools in achieving sustained compliance".

Mr Kidd says site visits have been reduced due to Covid-19, including the suspension of routine farm inspection.

This has allowed the agri-food team to focus on food production and food processing plants.

The Mayor of Derry and Strabane has questioned whether NI's Economy Minister is committed to the expansion of Ulster University's Magee campus.

The university announced on Tuesday it was relocating undergraduate healthcare degrees to the campus in Londonderry.

Diane Dodds said that was a "step forward" for the north west campus but warned of concerns about Coleraine.

Mayor Brian Tierney said: "We should be questioning is the minister committed to New Decade, New Approach?"

Read more on this story here.

Committee Chair Caoimhe Arcihbald thanks the department officials for their contribution to the meeting before running through some further actions.

The Sinn Féin MLA then moves to the next item of business.

It’s a briefing from Health and Safety Executive (HSE) representatives on Covid-19 related issues.

Panellists include:

• Mr Robert Kidd
• Dr Bryan Monson
• Mrs Nikki Monson
• Mr Louis Burns
• Mr Kevin Neeson

“When this situation comes to an end in terms of subventions into the economy, what is the estimation of the number of jobs that are likely to go?” asks Christopher Stalford.

“I haven’t seen that recently Christopher I’m afraid,” responds Paul Grocott.

The official says he’ll come back to the member on this issue but says there is data relating to the number of people in NI who are currently on furlough.

Image source, NI Assembly

What level of support is the department providing to taxi drivers and the coach operating sector, in conjunction with the Infrastructure Department, asks the South Belfast DUP MLA.

Mr Grocott says coach firms would be covered under the Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme (CRBSS), while taxis would avail of a scheme delivered by the Department for Infrastructure.

Independent MLA Claire Sugden says: "The difficulty around the schemes is that they haven't entirely supported those small, medium enterprises which makes up a significant part of Northern Ireland's economy".

She says she agrees with part of what John O'Dowd has said, that the way the grants have been delivered is quite "piecemeal" and there is "imbalance across the system".

Image source, NI Assembly

Ms Sugden says it may be considered in retrospect that a universal basic income would have been a better way to address the problems.

Paul Grocott says he hasn't stopped to look at evaluation just yet.

"I haven't thought about whether a universal basic income would have been a better way to do this," adds the departmental official.

What support is there for cinemas and other event venues that are eligible for the hospitality scheme, asks Caoimhe Arcihbald.

“The original policy intent was targeted at large fixed costs of large hotels, that’s the reason it was designed,” responds Paul Groscott.

The official adds that conversations are ongoing around this issue at ministerial level.

Image source, NI Assembly

Dr Archibald’s Sinn Féin colleague, John O’Dowd, is up next.

“What we need to do, is get the money out the door and into the pockets of those people who haven’t received payments since before Christmas,” says the MLA.

Mr O’Dowd says “of course you have to protect public funds and there has to be a balance, but the balance is in the wrong direction”.

Gordon Dunne asks about support for bed and breakfast businesses.

He's concerned that self-catering accommodation is not included in the scheme.

Paul Grocott says self-catering is different from guest houses and B and Bs.

"It's not to says that they have been insulated or not affected" by the pandemic, but the department's assessment was that during the relaxation of restrictions in the summer many people stayed at home and "self-catering accommodation was particularly attractive," the official says.

Image source, NI Assembly

Mr Dunne says he will be taking the matter up with the minister.

Keith Forster intervenes to explain that self-catering accommodation is eligible for the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme (LRSS) scheme.

Stewart Dickson of Alliance says “civil servants and the department have done an amazing job because you’re working in these pandemic conditions as well”.

He asks if there any plans to “top-up existing schemes” using the resources that remain available up to the end of the financial year?

Paul Grocott from the Economy Department says “that’s absolutely part of the conversations we’re having”.

Image source, NI Assembly

What scoping out is the department doing around future support and support for those who have been excluded so far, asks Mr Dickson.

Mr Grocott says “the level of support that’s available into the next financial year is going to be dependent on the funding envelope”.

The official adds that the schemes “currently in play may have to adapt” going forward.

He adds that “the challenge” in the future will be moving towards “strategic and demand-stimulated support”.

Image source, NI Assembly

Sinead McLaughlin of the SDLP asks if the department is working towards a strategy on exploiting Northern Ireland's position in two markets.

She refers to the role of InterTrade Ireland and InvestNI.

Paul Grocott says the department is "working very closely with the EU Exit division" on live issues that need to be addressed immediately.

He says they must then consider the changes that have come as the result of the UK leaving the EU, what does that mean for NI and what does that mean for the strategic economic future.

Robbie Meredith
BBC News NI Education Correspondent

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Bodies representing grammar schools and drama teachers across NI have called on the education minister to reverse a decision banning WJEC qualifications.

Peter Weir has told schools they can no longer offer WJEC qualifications from September 2022.

Both the Governing Bodies Association (GBA) and NI Drama have urged the minister to reconsider his decision.

WJEC is the Welsh Exam Board - schools in Northern Ireland currently offer AS and A-levels in 16 subjects through it.

You can read more on this here.

“Businesses still are in turmoil and are looking for all the support they can get,” says UUP MLA John Stewart.

He asks the officials about the Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme (CRBSS).

It's made up of two parts.

The first relates to businesses that have been forced to close due to the health restrictions, while the second part of the scheme aims to support businesses that are part of a supply chain to those that have had to shut their doors.

Image source, NI Assembly

“The finance minister’s announcement yesterday, confirmed budget has been made available for grants to pay up until 5 March,” responds Paul Grocott.

The Economy Department official explains that this support scheme is different to the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme (LRRSS), as it is tied to health regulations.

“As soon as the regulations extend, it automatically increases,” says Mr Grocott.

As committee chair, Caoimhe Archbald has the first question.

She asks about the possibility of putting in place an additional scheme, "for example a hardship fund to open up for those who have been excluded from other schemes".

Paul Grocott says decisions are made by the executive and there are "ongoing conversations".

"The challenge with new schemes is that they are complicated and take time to deliver," adds the departmental official.

Image source, NI Assembly

Dr Archibald asks if any consideration has been given to expanding support "for the newly self-employed since 2019".

The provision for the newly-self employed is "more generous than what's provided" by the equivalent schemes in Scotland or Wales, the official replies.

The committee chair asks about the position of wet pubs that missed out on payments because they opened with an outdoor service for some time over the summer.

"By and large, the principle is, if the bar was closed they were paid, if they were open in any capacity that particular week then they weren't," explains departmental official Keith Forster.

Image source, NI Assembly

Paul Grocott provides “a very quick overview” of the department’s spending.

Around £365m of essential support has been provided by the department “into the economy”, says the official.

He says that has reached over 30,000 businesses and says there are currently six live schemes that are open for applications.

“Across the piece, there is an unprecedented level of support,” adds Mr Grocott.

“Hopefully now, with the roll-out of the vaccine, we’re positioning the economy in the strongest possible place to pivot towards recovery.”

Clodagh Rice
BBC News NI business correspondent

Image source, PA Media

On Tuesday, the executive agreed to allocated a further £106m of Covid and non-Covid funding to departments.

It followed an announcement from Finance Minister Conor Murphy that almost £300m in funding to tackle Covid-19 pressures in this financial year remained unspent, and urged ministers bring forward proposals.

Of the cash announced yesterday, £10.4m is to go to the student hardship fund, £15m will go to Translink, and £12m has been allocated to extend the three existing business support schemes.

In relation to remaining unallocated funding, Conor Murphy said he has reiterated calls for ministers to submit further proposals “to assist people, and businesses, particularly those who have so far not benefited from financial support”.