Weekly Bulletin. What you need to know this week…

First Minister says Anti-Poverty Strategy could “go further”
On Thursday (15 May), the Executive agreed on a draft Anti-Poverty Strategy, BBC News reports. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons submitted a draft paper on the strategy to ministers six weeks ago, describing it as a “realistic” long-term plan to tackle poverty. The Executive first committed to publishing an anti-poverty strategy as part of the St Andrews Agreement in 2006, and in March was found to be in breach of its legal obligation to adopt a strategy. First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the draft strategy presented to the Executive could “probably” go further, but denied that there was a “row” between Sinn Féin and the DUP over the contents of the document. She said differences could be worked out through consultation and further Executive discussions. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly described the Executive meeting on Thursday as “very constructive”. She said the strategy would “address the real-life impacts of poverty”. However, Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick, vice chair of the NI Anti-Poverty Network, said the “mood music” from the First Minister “would not inspire me with great hope”, adding that she was “not confident” that poverty is a “political priority” for the Executive. Trása Canavan from Barnados also voiced concern about the fact that they “haven’t had any sight of this document”, despite extensive input into a co-design process in 2021-2022.
What Next: The draft Anti-Poverty Strategy will be published next week. It will then open for public consultation, before a final version is submitted to the Executive for approval.

Economy Minister criticised for contradicting Department position on North-South Interconnector
During Question Time on Tuesday (13 May), Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald was asked to give an update on the North-South Interconnector. In her response, Dr Archibald stated that it was her position that the Interconnector “should be undergrounded”, and added that she had set out this position in a meeting with Darragh O’Brien, Irish Government Minister for Environment, Climate and Energy. Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole challenged the Minister, stating that planning permission for the interconnector in overground, asking: “Are you saying one thing while your Department is delivering another?” Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots also criticised the Minister, stating: “We did not need the Minister’s opinion; we just needed facts”. In response to a query from the Irish News, Sinn Féin said it had “consistently argued for the undergrounding of the interconnector” and noted that former SDLP Infrastructure Minister Nicola Mallon had granted planning permission for the project with overground cables and that “this is the legally binding position”. The current Infrastructure Minister, Sinn Féin’s Liz Kimmins, is fighting a legal challenge from a campaign group called Safe Electricity Armagh and Tyrone (Seat), which aims to halt the project.
What Next: Minister Archibald told the Assembly the Northern section of the Interconnector is set to be completed by 2028, while the expected completion date for the Southern section has been pushed back to 2031.

GPs reject funding package as Health Minister says offer is the “absolute limit”
On Wednesday (14 May), 99.6% of 1,381 British Medical Association (BMA) GPs voted to reject a funding offer for GP surgeries from the Department of Health. The Belfast Telegraph reported that BMA NI GP committee chair Dr Frances O’Hagan said the Department were “not listening” to their asks of additional core funding, a full indemnity solution, and funding to address increases in National Insurance contributions for GPs. Dr O’Hagan said that without more funding, “some practices will no longer be financially viable”. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said that despite his Department facing “a projected half billion pound-plus shortfall”, the £9.5m package, including £3.5 million to mitigate against increases in National Insurance announced on Tuesday, is still available. Minister Nesbitt said the package is “at the absolute limit of what is achievable this year”. Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister said GPs “could not make their opposition more evident”, adding things would not change “unless the Health Minister ensures general practice is sustainably funded”.
What Next: 89% of respondents to the BMA ballot indicated that they are willing to take further collective action.

Stakeholder Watch

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins MLA “I will continue working day and night as your Infrastructure Minister to build the A5 Road. This is about saving lives and protecting families and communities from the heartbreak of losing a loved one on this dangerous road. The safety of local communities is paramount for me”.

Gavin Robinson MP (DUP, East Belfast): “My DUP colleagues & I have travelled to Westminster this morning [Friday 16 May], for the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, more commonly known as the Assisted Dying Bill. We have opposed this Bill at every stage and will continue to do so”.

Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir MLA: “Our Agri-food products are second to none. That’s why I’m launching an ambitious Food Action Plan as we showcase the best of our local producers @balmoralshow. We can deliver: lifelong health & wellbeing, environmental sustainability & a prosperous Agri-food sector”.

Robin Swann MP (UUP, South Antrim): “The Government is yet to give a clear answer on the tangible benefits to Northern Ireland of the new UK-US trade deal, UK-India trade deal, and next week, the UK-EU trade deal. There must be real and positive outcomes for all corners of our United Kingdom.”

Claire Hanna MP (SDLP, South Belfast): “Statutory Maternity Pay here is some of the lowest anywhere having a long term financial impact on women. That’s why I tabled an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill. Bringing it in line with National Wage wouldn’t be too costly a fix for government #EndPregnancyPoverty”.

Baroness Hoey of Lylehill and Rathlin: “@JimAllister is so right. Time for @KemiBadenoch to accept that Northern Ireland didn’t get to Leave the EU despite us having the same ballot paper. She must accept that it was a Tory government which allowed the EU to keep us in the Customs code and under EU court and now she should put ending the Windsor Framework as a priority”.

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee: “This week, we went to the @BalmoralShow. It was a pleasure to visit the show and hear from @FSB_NI and @UFUHQ about the challenges and opportunities for small businesses and the agriculture sector in Northern Ireland”.

Embassy of Ireland: Ambassador Fraser was proud to host @IrelandFundsGB for an evening with the Northern Irish community in London. Speakers included Fleur Anderson MP, Bridget Walsh, Katie Jemmett and Patrick Kielty – who spoke movingly about growing up in Northern Ireland and the progress since.

Other stories

School principal questions Minister’s second sod cutting event at shared campus
This week (14 May), the First and deputy First Ministers and the Education Minister attended the site of the new Strule Shared Education Campus in Omagh, which was due to be completed in 2020. The Irish News reported that a decade ago, Executive ministers were pictured in a “similar shovel ceremony” marking the beginning of construction on the site. Principal of Omagh High School Christos Gaitatzis did not attend the ceremony and noted that his school was “absent over concerns” on the size of their building at the Strule and on the lack of facilities at the shared campus. Mr Gaitatzis called the ceremony a “PR strategy” and stated that the department should focus on making “correct adjustments” to the plans for the shared campus. First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the shared campus was “going to be a game changer” for the schools involved.

Research shows that young people in NI do not expect the breakdown of community barriers
Interviews and research carried out by Pivotal Public Policy Forum showed that “NI’s young people want to break down community barriers, but do not expect it to happen”. The report, Achieving greater integration in Northern Ireland: young people’s voices, showed that NI’s “segregated schools system helps perpetuate division” and that many supported integrated education, but it was not viewed as a “cure for all current social division”. Many of the participants from Belfast found that the peace walls are a “clear symbol of segregation”. Participants also noted that there is a “a shortfall of truly neutral spaces”, as well as a lack of public transport, particularly in rural areas

Health Minister welcomes cross-border collaboration on healthcare and medicine optimisation
On Friday (16 May), Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Irish Minister of State Alan Dillon TD attended an event which marked cross-border collaboration on pharmacy practice and medicines optimisation innovation. At the event the Medicines Optimisation Innovation Centre in Northern Ireland and the Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) in the Republic of Ireland signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which will build on relationships and facilitate “further collaboration”. Minister Nesbitt commented that, “collaboration is the foundation upon which a resilient, patient-centred healthcare system is built”. Minister Dillon noted that the MOU fosters healthcare innovation while also supporting “indigenous enterprises on this island”.

Education Minister announces extension to NI Childcare Subsidy Scheme
On Thursday (15 May), Education Minister Paul Givan announced a £55 million package of measures which includes an extension of the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS) to cover school-age children from 1 September 2025. Under the scheme, working parents of school age children will receive a 15% subsidy up to £184 per child per month. Minister Givan said “When this is combined with tax free childcare, it will provide a reduction of up to 32% on childcare bills.” It is estimated that the number of children covered by the scheme will increase by 60%, meaning that 24,000 children will be eligible. The Minister also announced investment in “vital early years services” and stated that he will continue to expand pre-school education “towards the goal of providing 22.5 hours per week for all children in their immediate pre-school year”. SDLP Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin welcomed the announcement but noted that the NICSS “can only be a beginning”.

Economy Minister announces £250 million of funding to support small businesses
Yesterday (14 May) Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald launched a new £100 million round of Access to Finance funding from Invest NI, aimed at supporting start-ups and SMEs. The funding is expected to attract over £150 million in private investment, creating a potential total of more than £250 million investment over the next 10 years. Invest NI CEO Kieran Donoghue said the initiative bridges “a gap in private sector funding”, adding that it will “positively impact our economy long into the future. The three new funds include TechStart III (£55 million), Co-Fund III (£39 million) and the Small Business Loan Fund III (£6 million).

Belfast to benefit from Civil Service jobs relocation
On Wednesday (14 May), the UK Government announced it will relocate thousands civil service jobs to new regional “campuses” across the UK. Belfast was the only location in NI listed by the UK Government. Politicians from the Northwest have criticised the plans, saying they will hurt rather than help regional imbalance. Sinn Féin’s local economy spokesperson, Emma Sheerin MLA, told the Belfast Telegraph on Friday (16 May) that the announcement was made “without the involvement or input of locally elected ministers.” SDLP MP Colum Eastwood said “relocating jobs to the area with the highest number of government jobs — by a country mile — defeats the purpose”. A spokesperson for the Department of Finance said the Department “welcomes additional jobs being created here and hopes the Westminster Government will consider the importance of regional balance when deciding on where these jobs are located”.

Agriculture Minister Muir urges partnership at Farmers’ Club event
Speaking yesterday (13 May), Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir called for partnership working to deliver economic and environmental sustainability for the agri-food sector. During his speech at the annual Farmers’ Club dinner held in Queen’s University of Belfast, Minister Muir said his “guiding mission” is to help to “mitigate cost and price pressures” facing the industry, while also “achieving environment improvement”. On the UK Government’s plans to change inheritance tax, he noted that the “family farm tax is wrong” and that “it should not proceed”. On US trade, he also highlighted that Northern Ireland’s food, produced with “quality” and “the highest welfare standards” should not be undercut by “cheap imports” from the USA or elsewhere. Minister Muir noted that he has been engaging with UK Government Ministers on an “ambitious and comprehensive SPS veterinary agreement” between the UK and the EU.

Unionist parties query Secretary of State’s comments on UK trade deals
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn said that NI will “benefit greatly” from trade deals agreed between the UK and both India and the US, including full access for NI exporters. He added that NI businesses can “use the schemes established under the Windsor Framework to avoid any EU duties.” According to the News Letter, TUV Leader Jim Allister called Mr Benn’s comments “wholly disingenuous” and said that “Northern Ireland importers will pay these foreign tariffs, while Great Britain importers avoid them – all because the UK does not control Northern Ireland’s trade laws”. UUP MLA Dr Steve Aiken also questioned the Secretary of State’s remarks, noting that the US trade deal is not yet finalised. DR Aiken added that “the reality of the ‘re-set’ means that any perceived advantage that Northern Ireland receives … will be robustly challenged by Brussels”. Mr Allister also tabled an urgent question to the Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds on the subject.

Across the border

Taoiseach rules out cost of living measures in 2026 Budget
Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that the next Budget will not include any “once-off” cost of living relief payments. According to the Irish Independent, he was challenged on this by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald in the Dáil on Wednesday (14 May). Ms McDonald suggested that the Taoiseach was refusing to accept the reality of people’s experience of inflation. Mr Martin defended the record of the previous Government, arguing that no EU Government “has provided as much… in terms of cost of living supports”. He said that while there had been “an exceptional period” of inflation, to which the Government had responded, there was now a need for “longer term sustainable programmes, in social protection and the tax code, and in terms of public expenditure”.

Tánaiste claims Trump administration has a ‘fundamental misunderstanding’ of pharma industry
On Thursday (15 May), Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris suggested that “elements of the United Strates administration” had “a fundamental misunderstanding” of “how the pharma sector works in terms of global supply chains”, the Journal reports. Mr Harris had, he said, told US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick that the EU and US pharma sectors are “very interdependent”. And argued that the US plans would “shrink the global reach of your pharma companies”, which said did not make “any objective economic or financial sense”. He was answering questions at a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council to discuss the proposed EU countermeasures to US tariffs.

Opposition parties table joint motion on assessments of needs for children with disabilities
Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and Independent Ireland have agreed to back a joint motion calling on the Government to take “emergency action” to clear the backlog of assessments of needs (AONs) for children with disabilities. The Irish Examiner reports that the motion will coincide with a protest by 14-year old disability campaigner Cara Darmody, who is set to hold a 50-hour vigil outside the Dáil next week. The motion calls for the creation of “Cara’s Fund” to clear the backlog of AONs, and for the Government to set a date by which they will comply with their legal obligation to provide AONs. The Examiner writes that the joint motion is “an unusual step”, but there has been “very close cooperation between the opposition following on from the aftermath of the Dáil speaking rights row”.

What we’re reading

Seeing through the uncertainty to understand the future of the NI economy – Hannah Martin
Writing in Tuesday’s Belfast Telegraph, Danske Bank economist Hannah Martin takes stock of a “very noisy” start to 2025 and examines the long-term outlook for the Northern Ireland economy. Martin says the impact of US tariffs on the region “will be relatively lower than many other countries”, given the economy “is comprised of small and medium-sized enterprises” and trade is “predominately directed towards Great Britain and Ireland”. She suggests that “making GB-NI and cross-border trade more seamless” could have a significant positive impact on businesses here, adding that next week’s UK-EU summit will be “an opportunity for resetting and refocusing”. Martin does, however, warn that higher employment costs are set to continue, noting that under current plans “the Government won’t be able to afford to cut taxes”. She also says that businesses may continue to face a long-term challenges with recruitment. She highlights that “around 70% of the increase in payroll employees in NI in 2023 consisted of workers from outside the UK or the EU”, and that migration is expected to fall by around 80% by 2030. Northern Ireland is also the UK region with the smallest percentage of people upskilling. Turning from businesses to consumers, Martin says that consumer confidence in NI has been “resilient” but that inflation remains a “big vulnerability”. She highlights that an average grocery shop costing £100 in March 2022 could cost around £130 now. Therefore, she cautions that “any return to rising inflation rates risks a disproportionately negative impact” on consumer confidence. Nevertheless, other factors including rising wages, resilient house prices, and falling interest rates “could ease pressure on household finances”. Martin concludes that despite the “economic turbulence” so far this year, the economy is still expected to grow.

Forward Look

Monday 19 May
NI Assembly to debate Budget 2025-26 – View the full Order Paper here.
UK-EU Summit in London.

Tuesday 20 May
Health Minister to answer questions in the Assembly – View the full Order Paper here.    

Wednesday 21 May
The Assembly Committees for Infrastructure, Finance, Education, and The Executive Office will meet. The Economy Committee will visit Studio Ulster and Spirit Aerosystems. – View committee agendas here.   

Thursday 22 May
The Assembly Committees for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Health, and Justice will meet. The Communities Committee with visit PRONI. View committee agendas here. 

Thursday 29 May
Green Skills Action Plan Launch, Custom House, Belfast – Read more here.

Saturday 31 May
Deadline to submit feedback to the Murphy Review of the Windsor Framework – Read more here.

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

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

Monday 30 June
Windsor Framework Independent Monitoring Panel to submit its report to the NI Secretary – Read more here.

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.

Saturday 5 July
NI Assembly summer recess begins

Tuesday 22 July
UK Parliament summer recess
Publication of the M

Sunday 31 August
NI Assembly returns from summer recess

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

Saturday 11 October
UUP Party Conference – Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast

Saturday 25 October – Sunday 2 November
NI Assembly Halloween recess17