NI’s coronavirus restrictions to be extended by one week
Coronavirus restrictions in Northern Ireland are to be extended by another week, after the NI Executive finally agreed a way forward.
Days of wrangling have left businesses in limbo, while politicians failed to agree a plan.
Meanwhile, there was even uncertainty over when the current restrictions were due to expire.
However, the DUP, UUP and Alliance have backed a proposal made by Economy Minister Diane Dodds that would see some areas of the locked down hospitality sectors partly reopen next Friday.
Sinn Féin voted against and the SDLP abstained.
Reopening is understood to include:
close contact services, including hairdressing, beauty treatments and driving lessons on 20 November by appointment only
unlicensed premises, including cafes and coffee shops, reopening on 20 November with restricted opening hours to 8pm and no alcohol to be consumed on the premises
all other sections of hospitality closed during the circuit-breaker to reopen on 27 November
pubs and bars permitted to sell sealed off-sales from 20 November 20
Sinn Féin said the party voted against the proposals because it ran contrary to the guidance from Stormont’s medical and scientific advisers to extend the circuit-break in its entirety for two weeks.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “The expert health advice from the Chief Medical Officer this week could not have been clearer that any move away from a two-week extension of the current interventions would result in ‘excess deaths’.
“That’s stark. It means more lives being lost.”
Ms O’Neill added: “I am hugely disappointed that a voting mechanism designed to protect minorities was abused by the DUP to block the implementation of public health measures during this global pandemic.
“Our situation remains fragile. Our priority is to protect our hospitals and health service and will continue to keep this situation under review.”
It is understood Health Minister Robin Swann backed the proposal as a way to avoid all the regulations lapsing at midnight on Friday.
DUP leader and First Minister Arlene Foster said: “The choice became the quick but wrong decision, or to fight and get us to a better or balanced decision.
“Sometimes compromise does not come easy and it has to be fought for to achieve it.”
UUP leader Steve Aiken said: “That an agreement that could have been reached over a week ago has finally been achieved this evening is hardly a startling example of good and effective government.
“The lack of leadership from the Executive Office, the leaking and the briefing, as well as the use of cross-community voting within the Executive on matters that are anything but, further reinforces our belief that the system of government here needs urgent reform.
“The first duty of our Executive should be the protection of our people - we would be hard-pressed to say that either the DUP or SF have put that responsibility first this week.”
Negotiations at Stormont got back underway for the fourth time in four days hours after it emerged that businesses had been given the wrong deadline for the end of the current circuit-breaker.
The Department of Health said it had received “revised legal advice” that regulations forcing the closure of many hospitality businesses expires at midnight on Friday, 24 hours later than the department had previously understood.
The development has added to the frustration of business owners already angry at the lack of clarity.
The DUP had already used a contentious voting mechanism to veto two proposals from Ulster Unionist health minister Robin Swann to extend the circuit-break measures – one proposed a two-week extension, the other a single week.
Businesses react
Belfast Chamber Chief Executive Simon Hamilton said there was “huge disappointment” among its members who were forced to close four weeks ago at being told at the “11th hour” that they would not be able to reopen this weekend as intended.
He added that many businesses are understandably concerned that the adjusted reopening dates they have been given will also “slip”, and further called on ministers to fast-track financial support.
Retail NI said the latest restrictions were “far from perfect”, but it welcomed the certainty a decision being made will give to businesses in the run up to Christmas.
Chief Executive Glyn Roberts added that it would be “pressing” the Executive to provide a package of support measures to support the high street shops through Christmas.
While welcoming that a decision had been made on the matter, Hospitality Ulster Chief Executive Colin Neill said extra financial support was now needed to protect businesses and jobs.
He added that members would “do everything they can” to make sure they reopen successfully and safely in little over two weeks’ time.