Weekly Bulletin. What you need to know this week

Legacy issues discussed at British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference   
On Thursday (24 April), the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference met at Hillsborough Castle, the first time the meeting has been held in Northern Ireland since 2006. The UK Government was represented by Secretary of State for NI, Hilary Benn MP and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Fleur Anderson MP. The Irish Government was represented by Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Harris TD and Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan TD. According to BBC News NI, the meeting covered issues of legacy, in particular the UK Government’s plans to repeal the Troubles Legacy Act and reform the and reform the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).  The Tánaiste said the two sides had “made progress” on an agreement as to “what legacy mechanisms would look like”. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan urged families to “have faith” in the Irish Government’s pledge to cooperate with the Omagh bombing inquiry, after families of victims said there was a lack of consultation on a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two governments earlier this month. And both governments reaffirmed the “importance” of implementing the Windsor Framework at the Conference and their commitment to “protecting the Common Travel Area”, noting the “importance of continued engagement” with stakeholders on the operation of the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation. US tariff developments were also discussed.
What Next: Tánaiste  Simon Harris said “I think we will know within weeks whether it is possible to have a joint position between the two governments” on legacy mechanisms. 

UK Government decides EU rule on geographical indicators will apply in NI 
On Thursday (24 April), BBC News NI reported that an EU rule relating to the protection of geographical indications (GI) for craft and industrial products will apply in NI despite a unionist vote against the rule in the NI Assembly. GI indicator schemes legally define and protect products tied to certain areas; they already apply to food and drinks, for example champagne. The new EU rules extends this cover to manufactured goods, such as Italian Murano glass. Last year, the rule was put to an applicability motion in the Assembly, where it failed to secure cross-community support as unionists voted against it. That meant that the rule did not automatically apply in NI, but gave the UK Government authority to make the final decision on whether the rule should apply in the region. In a statement, Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds MP said that while the Government had “considered carefully the views expressed by Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly last March”, they had concluded that the regulation “would not materially impair the free flow of goods or divert trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland”. TUV leader Jim Allister MP criticised the decision to implement the rule despite unionist opposition, adding that “unless or until unionist show some backbone”, decisions like this will continue.
What Next: The Government will lay an Explanatory Memorandum before Parliament explaining its view that the regulations will not create a new regulatory border. It has also commenced a formal “exchange of views” with the EU in relation to new regulations on AI.

NIO distances itself from Minister’s comment that border poll decision will be based on opinion polls
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and NI Secretary Hilary Benn MP have distanced themselves from comments made by Parliamentary Undersecretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office, Fleur Anderson MP. In an interview in AgendaNI on Sunday (20 April), Ms Anderson said a decision on whether to call a border poll “would be based on opinion polls”. Ms Anderson was heavily criticised this week by unionist politicians for her comments, with DUP deputy leader Michelle McIlveen MLA describing them as “divisive” and “ill-considered”, and the UUP’s Robin Swann MP saying it showed “a poor understanding” of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. The NIO said  “responsibility for a referendum sits solely with the Secretary of State” with the principle of consent remaining “the only condition” for a border poll. The Secretary of State, it said, “has been clear that there is no evidence that this condition has been met”.
What Next: Speaking at a press conference at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on Thursday (24 April), NI Secretary Hilary Benn said a border poll is “a long way off”.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill MP: “Irish unity is about building a better future for everyone who calls this island home. A future where every worker, family, and community has the opportunity to thrive. An Ireland defined by hope, fairness, and limitless possibility. It’s about unlocking the full potential of our people and resources to create something much better than what has gone before. Now is the time to write the next chapter in Ireland’s story—together, as one. A new, united Ireland for all”.

Carla Lockhart MP (DUP, Upper Bann): “The UK Supreme Court’s ruling on the legal definition of a woman is a welcome return to common sense and biological reality. Today [24 April], I ensured Northern Ireland won’t be left behind. This clarity must apply across all of the UK, equally and unequivocally”.

Paula Bradshaw MLA (Alliance, South Belfast): “I had a great meeting with Bomoko NI today, hearing about the experiences of women asylum seekers & refugees. We talked about the issues they have faced in accessing housing & healthcare, their children’s educational journeys, & their aspirations for their future living in here”.

UUP: “Speaking on @BBCNolan this morning [25 April], @RobinSwann_MP highlighted the need for common-sense solutions to address the Windsor Framework” [video].

SDLP: “In some areas, second homes are driving up prices while housing sits empty most of the year. Our SDLP plan Building Firm Foundations calls for: A register of holiday homes; Powers to cap them in hotspot areas; Higher rates on second homes. Communities must come first”.

Baroness Hoey of Lylehill and Rathlin: “The Tobacco and Vapes Bill may not apply in Northern Ireland due to EU law. The Generational ban will effect small shop keepers who will be in the front line of deciding the age of a buyer of tobacco and the criminal gangs will flourish selling on the black market”.

Cormac Devlin TD (Fianna Fáil, Dún Laoghaire): “Honoured to have been nominated by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin to chair the Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. I’m really looking forward to engaging with stakeholders and communities right across the island.”

PSNI spending over £20m a year on legacy issue, Chief Constable tells MPs
On Wednesday (23 April), PSNI Chief Constable John Boucher told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that the cost of dealing with legacy issues is a “considerable burden … taking money from contemporary policing”. Responding to a question from DUP leader Gavin Robinson MP, the Chief Constable said that while spending varies year-to-year, legacy issues cost the PSNI over £20 million a year, equivalent to around 400 police officers. He also noted that between 2018 and 2024, the PSNI spent £25 million to resolve 30 “challenging” civil cases, of which just £7.3m went to victims and £17.7m went to lawyers. Mr Boucher said: “Because we have this attritional approach to legacy by all the security agencies around information disclosure and provision, it creates a green-field site for lawyers.” Detective Chief Superintendent Claire McGuigan told the committee “nothing has stopped with the Legacy Act” introduced by the previous UK government, adding that it may in fact add “another £4-£5 million on top of what we are currently spending”.

Stormont’s top press officer removed from role by the head of the NI Civil Service
On Friday (25 April), it was reported that Chris McNabb, head of the Executive Information Service has been removed from his role by Jayne Brady, head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS), after what was described as a “personality clash”. The News Letter reported that Ms Brady did not consult First Minister Michelle O’Neill or deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly about the move, and “the pair then sought Mr McNabb’s reinstatement”. However, by that stage, had decided to accept her offer of a new post within the civil service. Sources told the Belfast Telegraph the decision was “short-sighted”, with there being no replacement lined up to fill the role. Former UUP leader Doug Beattie MLA told the News Letter the move pointed to “dysfunctional” relationships at the top of government. 

Northern Ireland’s first Blue Carbon Action Plan launched
On Thursday (24 April), Agriculture Environment & Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir MLA launched Northern Ireland’s first Blue Carbon Action Plan (blue carbon refers to the carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems). The plan contains 22 action points which are designed to provide the “foundation” for the protection of blue carbon habitats. It aims to promote them as a nature-based solution to challenges represented by climate change. The plan includes funding, communication, governance, and evidence objectives to achieve its aims. Targets for 2030 include ensuring 30% of seas are protected, key marine habitats and species in recover and the implementation of nature-based solutions to coastal erosion. Minister Muir said that “immediate action” is needed to tackle the “double crisis” of climate change and biodiversity loss, adding that as the plan progresses to the implementation stage, partnerships with cross-cutting Departments are vital to ensure “co-delivery” of the actiion plan.

Emergency Care Waiting Time Statistics for January to March 2025 published
On Thursday (24 April) the Department of Health published statistics on Emergency Care Waiting Times for January to March 2025. The results showed that there were 184,753 attendances at EDs during this period, a 0.8% decrease from same period in 2024. There was a 6% decrease of ED attendances from GP referrals in compared to last year. Additionally, in March 2025, 95% of patients had their care needs assessed within 1 hour 9 minutes of arrival. The median time patients who were admitted to hospital spent in a Type 1 ED was 13 hours 23 minutes in March 2025, which was down by over 2 hours. 

Stakeholder events on Offshore Renewable Energy Action Plan announced
On Wednesday (23 April) the Department for the Economy announced a series four stakeholder events in May to discuss the information within the Offshore Renewable Energy Action Plan consultation documents. The consultation documents also include the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report and Report to Inform Appropriate Assessment (RIAA). The events will also provide an opportunity for stakeholders to provide feedback which will contribute towards the development of the Offshore Renewable Energy Action Plan. The stakeholder events will be held in Ballycastle, Larne and Kilkeel, as well as a virtual meeting. The consultation can be accessed here.

McDonald not intending to step down as party leader after general election result
Speaking on RTÉ’s Late Late Show, Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD said there was no pressure from within the party for her to step down as party leader following the general election last year. She said that Sinn Féin needed to assure people at the next election that it could form a new government and “have partners on that enterprise”. Ms McDonald would not be running for the presidency. Her job is to make sure there is a change in government and that there are changes in policy such as in housing and in healthcare. “You can’t achieve those things from Áras an Uachtaráin,” she said.

Aontú submit bill to allow Irish citizens in Northern Ireland to vote in presidential election
Aontú party leader Peadar Tóibín TD announced on Sunday (20 April) that he has submitted a Bill to the Dáil which would allow Irish citizens in Northern Ireland to vote in the Republic’s presidential elections. Extending the franchise would require a referendum to change the Irish constitution. Mr Tóibín said the “power to grant” Irish citizens a vote “is in the gift of the people of this state and the Dáil”. Mr Tóibín also noted that Irish citizens in NI are allowed to stand for election, but are not allowed to vote. The current rules for presidential candidates state that they must reside in the Republic, with exceptions including those serving in the defence forces and diplomatic staff who serve abroad, according to the Irish News. Oireachtas committee chair appointments announced
This week, party leaders announced which TDs will serve as chairs of Oireachtas committees. Fianna Fáil have appointed

Oireachtas committee chair appointments announced
Following a resolution to the speaking rights impasse in the new Dáil, party leaders this week announced which of their TDs will serve as chairs of the Oireachtas committees. Fianna Fáil, the largest party in the Dail, gets to chair eight committees. These include newly established Committees on Infrastructure and Artificial Intelligence. These are to be chaired respectively by Seán Fleming (Laois) and Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford). Their party colleague Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire) will chair the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement Committee. Fine Gael has been allocated seven committee chair positions. These include the Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which Micheál Carrigy (Longford-Westmeath) will chair. Sinn Féin TDs also get to chair seven committeese. These include the Public Accounts Committee, which will be chaired by John Brady (Wicklow) and the Defence and National Security Committee to be chaired by Rose Conway (Mayo). Labour have chosen former party leader Alan Kelly (Tipperary North) to chair the Media, Arts and Culture Committee, while the Social Democrats have chosen first-time Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central) to chair the Health Committee. The Irish Times reports that independent Richard O’Donoghue (Limerick County) “is being tipped” to chair the Budgetary Oversight Committee, and independent Catherine Connolly (Galway West) is “likely” to chair the Irish Language Committee.

What we’re reading

Emerson asks whether electric aircrafts at City of Derry Airport are an opportunity or a “science fiction fantasy” 
Writing in the Irish News on Thursday (24 April), Newton Emerson suggests that the City of Derry Airport could experience a “clean” and “prosperous future” within the next decade if it begins to utilise electric aircraft. His article follows last week’s announcement that the Department for the Economy, led by Sinn Féin Minister Caoimhe Archibald MLA, has taken over responsibility from Derry City and Strabane Council for the airport’s annual funding. This has, Emerson says, led to accusations by the Green Party that Sinn Féin is backing a “failed” and “polluting airport” to the detriment of “greener transport options” particularly “electric rail”. He maintains however that as small airport it is “ideally suited to short low-volume routes” operated by small electric aircraft, which are at “advanced stages of development across the world”. While the proposal for a high-speed double-track line between Dublin and Derry~Londonderry, he says, “has precisely no chance of being delivered”, the airport could facilitate one or two 40 – 50 seat electric aircraft to operate the route. He concludes though that “Stormont should be aiming higher” and “pick electric aircraft as a possible win”, as part of its industrial strategy – taking advantage of the expertise in the region’s “aerospace, bus and materials industries”.

Forward Look

Monday 28 April
Reform of Stormont: Options for Discussion, Queen’s University Belfast – Read more here.

Tuesday 29 April
Dáil returns from Easter recess

Wednesday 30 April
House of Commons NI Affairs Committee continues inquiry into the operation of the Windsor Framework
Taking Control of our Energy Future via Mutualisation in Northern Ireland – Canada Room, QUB – Read more here.

Thursday 1 May
Belfast Chamber Business Awards Launch – Custom House, Belfast – Read more here.

Tuesday 13 May
NICVA and Department of Education engagement event on 16-18 Legislation consultation, Online – Read more here.

Friday 16 May
Insider ‘Made in Northern Ireland’ Awards 2025 – Titanic Museum Belfast – Read more here.

Monday 19 May
UK-EU Summit in London.

May 2025 – date tbd
Assembly to approve Budget 2025-26

Friday 13 – Saturday 14 June
Scottish Conservatives Party Conference – Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Friday 27 – Sunday 29 June
Welsh Labour Party Conference – Venue Cymry, Llandudno

June 2025 – date tbd
British Irish Council hosted by the NI Executive.

Tuesday 1 July – Thursday 2 July
ICTU Biennial Delegate Conference, Waterfront Hall, Belfast – Read more here.

Friday 5 September
NI Chamber Festival of Business – St. George’s Market, Belfast – Read more here.

Friday 19 September
Centre for Cross Border Cooperation Annual Conference – Ballymascanlon Hotel, Dundalk – Read more here.

Friday 19 – Saturday 20 September
DUP Party Conference – Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast

Saturday 20 – Tuesday 23 September
Liberal Democrats Party Conference – Bournemouth International Centre

Sunday 28 September – Wednesday 1 October
Labour Party Conference – ACC Liverpool

Friday 3 October – Saturday 4 October
SDLP Conference – Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast

Friday 3 – Sunday 5 October
Green Party of England and Wales Conference – Bournemouth International Centre

Sunday 5 October – Wednesday 8 October
Conservative Party Conference – Manchester Central Convention Complex