Other News In Brief

UUP 'Cautiously' Welcome Energy Payment Announcement

The UUP has "cautiously" welcomed the announcement that NI will receive the long delayed energy support in January.

East Belfast Ulster Unionist MLA and Communities spokesperson Andy Allen said: "I cautiously welcome the update from the Business and Energy secretary that energy bill support for households in Northern Ireland is to commence from January 2023. However, for many this will be later than when it was most needed and I remain of the view that this much needed support could have been delivered weeks ago.

"Today's announcement also raises a significant number of questions, therefore, I would call on the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to promptly pull together a question and answer guide that may be able to provide further clarity for households.

"The scheme has also been likened to the high street voucher scheme previously run by the Department for the Economy, which we know presented challenges for many people when it came to providing identification. Many people still don't have any form of ID, which may cause challenges for them to avail of the voucher support.

"Critically, as the support here is coming much later than it should have and unlike other regions of the United Kingdom there are no alternative packages of support from either the Departments for Communities, Economy or otherwise, the UK Government must ensure the £600 support is proactively delivered. Every passing day that it is not will result in households being pushed further into hardship.

"This short-term intervention is both welcome and much-needed, however, it cannot be a substitute for local intervention to tackle the root causes of poverty and a reliance on fossil fuels."

Govt Must EU's 'Act Of Good Faith' In Protocol Negotiations – SDLP

The British government must return the EU's act of good faith in negotiations over the Protocol, SDLP Rural Communities Spokesperson Patsy McGlone has said.

Mr McGlone was speaking after the EU extended grace periods around the sale of veterinary medicines to the North from Britain.

Mr McGlone said the move would be a relief to those in the sector.

Mid Ulster MLA Mr McGlone said: "The news of an extension for the grace period around purchasing veterinary medicines in the North will be warmly welcomed by those in the sector who had concerns around the availability of these products, with no permanent solution in place. Vets and our agricultural industry in particular rely on these medicines to keep animals safe and well and this move from the EU will provide certainty going forward as negotiations on the Protocol continue.

"Extending these grace periods is another act of good faith from the EU who have bent over backwards throughout the Brexit process to reach agreed solutions when issues have presented themselves. They have done much of the heavy lifting in these negotiations and it's time that the British government respond in kind so that a deal can be struck on the Protocol in the near future.

"There has been a marked change in tone in relations between the British government and EU in recent months and we need to see this capitalised on with intense efforts to reach a solution that acknowledges the small number of issues still outstanding, while protecting the substantial economic benefits and protections the Protocol provides the North. It is clear the EU is willing to compromise to do what's right for people here and the British government must meet them halfway."

Varadkar Urged To 'Take A Leaf From Micheál Martin's Book'

DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP has urged Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to "take a leaf from Micheál Martin's book".

Sir Jeffrey said: "As neighbours we want to have a cordial and respectful relationship with the Government of the Republic of Ireland. The imposition of the NI Protocol upon Northern Ireland, without unionist support but with the support of Dublin, was a backward step for North-South relations.

"During his tenure as Taoiseach Micheál Martin sought to understand why unionism was wholly opposed to the NI Protocol. I encourage Leo Varadkar to follow Micheál Martin's example in managing North-South relationships. Whilst many unionists will struggle to forget the new Taoiseach waving news reports from the 1970's of a bombed border customs post which gave the threat of violence a seat at the EU negotiating table and demoted the power of democracy and politics, we are prepared to work with him if he is willing to address unionist concerns.

"For those who have forgotten, political progress in NI was hard won and is built on the support of unionists and nationalists. Not one unionist MLA supports the Protocol. The idea that one section of our people will dominate the other and ignore the concerns of unionists will never produce durable or balanced outcomes.

"There will be no solid basis for an Executive and Assembly until the Protocol is replaced with arrangements that restore NI's place in the U.K. internal market and our constitutional arrangements are respected."