Meeting to discuss lifting Covid-19 restrictions rescheduled for Monday

By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

The meeting to discuss lifting Northern Ireland's remaining Covid-19 restrictions has been rescheduled for Monday after the planned discussion had to be cancelled when deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill tested positive for the virus.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy said Ms O’Neill and First Minister Paul Givan had agreed to postpone the meeting  as Ms O'Neill is unwell with the virus.

“She not only has Covid but she is unwell with it so she wasn’t able to attend a virtual meeting of the Executive,” he said.

“She wants to be at a meeting of the Executive and we want her to be there at the meeting. She has been leading our party’s response to Covid within the Executive and of course we had a range of meetings scheduled across the summer for the Executive. This was an unscheduled meeting and it is going to happen on Monday so we’re only losing a number of days.

“If there is anything urgent that needs to be decided by the Executive it can be done by urgent procedure so both the First and the deputy First Minister agreed to postpone the meeting to next Monday and we will turn up and deal with all of the issues then.”

Earlier today DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the Stormont Executive must meet as soon as possible to take further decisions on Covid-19 measure.

The Stormont Executive must meet as soon as possible to take further decisions on Covid-19 measures, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said.https://t.co/EdTvjGjmpl

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) September 1, 2021

Sir Jeffrey said: “I understand that the deputy First Minister, because she is unwell at the moment, cannot attend the Executive, but there are key decisions that need to be made, and I want those decisions to be made as soon as possible.

“People need to know where we’re going; for example, in relation to our response on Covid, on economic recovery, our schools are back, so what’s happening there?

“And we need a cohesive, coherent approach from the Executive, so the sooner we can meet the better, and I’m making that absolutely clear.”

(Sir Jeffrey Donaldson)

Ms O’Neill tweeted earlier this week that she is currently self-isolating and hopes to return to public duties next week.

She wrote: “I have contracted Covid-19.

“I am thankful to have had two doses of the vaccine.

“I’ll remain in self-isolation and hope to return to my public duties next week.

“Executive Office Minister Declan Kearney will take forward departmental business in the meantime.”

I have contracted Covid-19. I am thankful to have had two doses of the vaccine. I’ll remain in self-isolation, and hope to return to my public duties next week. Executive Office Minister Declan Kearney, will take forward Departmental business in the meantime.

— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) August 31, 2021

The Executive cannot meet in her absence as it requires both the First and deputy First Minister to chair the meeting.

Certain restrictions still apply in Northern Ireland, with no more than 10 people from three households allowed to meet indoors at a private home and hospitality businesses required to operate table service only for drinks.

Meanwhile, nine further deaths of patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 have been reported in Northern Ireland.

The Department of Health said there had also been 1,472 new confirmed cases in the last 24-hour reporting period.

On Wednesday morning there were 418 Covid-positive patients in hospital, with 46 in intensive care.

So far, 2,449,587 vaccines have been administered.

(The Deputy First Minister is self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19)