EU Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič was questioned by MLAs about the NI Protocol
Members of the Economy Committee were briefed on the Small-Scale Green Energy Bill by the Utility Regulator and NIE Networks
Economy Department officials briefed MLAs on the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill
The Executive Office Committee questioned officials about the Refugee Integration Strategy
The NI Public Services Ombudsman, Margaret Kelly, delivered a statement on principles for complaints
Image source, ReutersCommittee chair Sinead McLaughlin thanks the EU Commission Vice President for his time this afternoon.
She then draws the meeting to a close.
That’s all from us today, but we’ll be back tomorrow morning at 09:15 with a live briefing from the Health Minister Robin Swann on winter pressures.
Until then, have a great evening.
Image source, NI AssemblyThe DUP's Christopher Stalford asks if the the EU is prepared to see the removal of so many items from the original agreement then "why did you ask for them in the first instance?".
"In these very difficult and intense negotiations what we have been looking at was how to make sure that it will have no hard border on the island of Ireland and how we would make sure that NI would have access to the single market for goods," Maroš Šefčovič replies.
He adds that the single market is set up using a very clear legislative framework so it's only natural that access to the single market clearly had to be done within the same framework and the same processes are still needed".
Mr Šefčovič says the checks would not be abolished but they would be made "as smooth as possible" using IT databases.
Image source, NI Assembly“One of the fears some people have here is that those same negotiators that you're sitting across the table from have exaggerated the difficulties surrounding the protocol,” says Pat Sheehan.
The Sinn Féin MLA asks if there is a time limit on current negotiations with the UK.
Maroš Šefčovič responds that there are “clearly benefits of dual access” under the NI Protocol.
The EU Commission Vice President says that "listening carefully to the business community I think that we know what is important to do here”.
“I’m also talking about the need to have a joint effort in cutting the customs formalities by half,” he says, adding “we are ready to do that” and is hopeful agreement can be reached.
Image source, NI Assembly"We are disappointed that there is nothing essentially new in what you have told us today," says the DUP's Diane Dodds.
She says she wants to talk about consent, referring to the principle of cross-community consent within the assembly.
"In this House no unionist party gives consent to the NI Protocol and therefore there is no consent," Mrs Dodds adds.
How will the EU work to address the issue of consent, she asks.
The MLA says President Macron of France has been quoted as saying that the NI Protocol "is a matter of war and peace".
Does Maroš Šefčovič condemn the president's reported statement?
The vice president says that regarding consent the UK and EU are "sovereign equals", referring to the "full overall majority in the UK parliament".
He says he is fully conscious of the positions and the "concerns of the unionist community".
Image source, NI AssemblyDeputy chair of the committee John Stewart says “it is absolutely critical for NI’s health service and people” to be able to access medicines.
The Ulster Unionist says he doesn’t think the EU’s proposals go far enough.
“Why not just remove medicines from the protocol completely?”
Maroš Šefčovič responds “if it comes to medicines, we fully recognise the urgency of this issue”.
The EU Commission Vice President says it’s important for people in NI “to have access to the same medicine at the same time” as those in the UK.
“We found the solution to all these questions within the protocol,” he adds.
“Carving out certain sectors from the protocol would amount to the renegotiation of the protocol and very honestly I do not have the mandate for that.”
Image source, NI AssemblyCommittee chair Sinead McLaughlin says the protocol "does tend to inflame passions here".
She asks about NI companies that have increased their sales "into Ireland and into the EU".
What commitments can Maroš Šefčovič give to NI businesses if the EU and UK fail to come to agreement.
The EU Commission Vice President replies that "having this dual-market access is actually a unique opportunity".
He adds that this has provided a positive "buzz" for investment.
"The business leaders are telling us please sit together, be constructive, find a solution," he says.
Referring to the negotiations with the UK government, Mr Šefčovič says: "I believe that we offered a lot on our table."
Maroš Šefčovič says the EU has “put solutions on the table” around ensuring medical supplies from GB to NI continue to flow.
The EU Commission Vice President adds that he’s committed to doing anything required to resolve any issues in this regard.
Mr Šefčovič is due to meet with the UK’s chief negotiator, Lord David Frost again on Friday.
“We hope the UK government will follow down the path of engaging to find solutions because this is in everybody’s interest,” says the EU chief.
He adds “now it’s time to act and to act on the things that matter to the people like the uninterrupted supply of medicines”.
Maroš Šefčovič says the EU has been “showing flexibility” to find solutions within the protocol.
The EU Commission Vice President adds that he and his colleagues have met with various political parties, civic society and businesses in NI.
When he visited NI in September, he says he got to see the “situation at first hand”.
“Yes it is not perfect but it is the best response to the UK’s decision to withdraw from the EU and the form of Brexit that the government has chosen,” he adds.
Mr Šefčovič refers to a paper of proposals submitted in October by the EU around the protocol which hopes to ease some of the concerns which have been raised.
“Our proposal will deliver significant changes, they amount to a new model for the implementation of the protocol and can deliver a real difference to people and businesses in NI.”
Image source, NI AssemblyEU Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič is finally linked up to the committee’s video conference call.
He says “a lot has happened” since he was last before the Executive Office Committee in June.
Mr Šefčovič says the EU hopes to form a “positive and stable relationship with the UK”.
Turning to the NI Protocol, he says “the EU has always been, and remains fully committed to protecting the Good Friday, Belfast Agreement in all its parts”.
“The protocol on Ireland and NI seeks to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland and protect the integrality of the EU single market,” he adds.
“The benefits of the protocol are immense,” says Mr Šefčovič and refers to NI’s access to both the EU and UK markets.
Image source, AFPA union representing head teachers has urged parents to be prepared for disruption in schools before the Christmas break.
It comes as concern continues to grow about a shortage of teachers to cover classes.
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said there were not enough substitute teachers and the demand was "absolutely huge".
The NASUWT union has called for schools to close early as a "circuit breaker".
Mr Šefčovič isn't due to make his appearance until 16:30.
In light of this committee chair Sinead McLaughlin suggests a brief suspension.
Sinead McLaughlin thanks the ombudsman and her colleagues for taking part in the meeting.
The meeting has run ahead of schedule so she takes the members through some committee business before the final briefing of the day.
It's a briefing on UK exit with the European Commission's Vice-President, Maroš Šefčovič.
Image source, NI AssemblySinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan asks about the six principles “laid out today - where does accountability fit into all of that?”
Margaret Kelly responds that accountability “starts with effective leadership” and a culture change.
“In some respects,” says the NI Public Service Ombudsman, “if people are unhappy with that complaints process” then “they should only have to do two stages, which should be time limited, and then they can bring it to my office”.
Independent MLA Trevor Lunn says he's "completely in favour of the principles".
He asks how the document MLAs are considering differs from previous sets of principles.
Margaret Kelly says that "as it currently stands public bodies can design their own complaints system".
She says the standardised principles are designed to address the "absolute disparity" between the policies of different bodies.
Image source, NI AssemblyThe DUP's Diane Dodds says the issue of standardising complaints and making them more open "is probably more important than ever".
She says she wants to see "a straightforward process".
Margaret Kelly says one of the reasons she needs the support of the committee is that she needs the principles approved "before I can begin that process of putting in place a two-stage really clear complaints process with all public bodies".
Image source, NI AssemblyDeputy chair of the Committee, John Stewart says he doesn’t see “why anyone on the floor of the assembly” would be opposed to the complaint principles as outlined by the NI Public Service Ombudsman officials.
He asks if the consultation showed concerns around the public not being aware of how to get outcomes from complaints.
Margaret Kelly responds that she recently dealt with one education case in which a complainant had previously raised the complaint with 54 separate organisations in relation to their issue.
Turning to the consultation responses, Joanne Matthews says “it was very much reinforcing the statement of principles today and being transparent in those process, being clear and making those processes straightforward”.
Image source, NI AssemblySinead McLaughlin asks for more detail about the panellist's comments around receiving feedback from two ministers.
Margaret Kelly says one was the health minister while the other was the justice minister.
Joanne Matthews adds that these ministers “had a particular interest in our consultation”.
SDLP MLA McLaughlin responds that quite a lot of complaints around health come to her office.
She asks the Public Service Ombudsman officials if they believe there will be much opposition from parties in the chamber when the principles are debated.
Ms Kelly says “I‘m not expecting there to be any significant opposition, I think the principles are pretty broad”.
Image source, NI AssemblyThe Public Service Ombudsman (NIPSO) Margaret Kelly begins her briefing.
She outlines the work on devising the complaints standards model, which is designed to be easily understood and to make it easier for people to make complaints.
Ms Kelly says the draft model must be laid before the assembly and she explains the lessons learned from a recent consultation.
The next item on today's agenda is another briefing, this time by the NI Public Services Ombudsman.
The witnesses include:
They're delivering a statement on the principles for complaints.
Image source, NI AssemblyDUP MLA Diane Dodds asks what is the average length of time a person will wait while getting an asylum application processed.
"In reality people can be waiting years" says departmental official Orla McStravick.
Gareth Johnston adds that there is a concern that the mechanism is not keeping up with the increasing numbers of arrivals and this is part of the department's discussions with the Home Office.
Image source, NI AssemblySinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan asks about refugees and asylum seekers and the “pathway out of destitution”.
He refers to those “who have no recourse to public funds”.
“What can we do?”
Orla McStravick responds that “there is work that is ongoing with stakeholders” on this issue.
The civil servant adds that if someone is at “significant risk of destitution there are some mechanism that we do have at the minute, for example our Crisis Fund”.
She adds that the fund is administered by the Red Cross.