By Q Radio News and PA
Stormont finance minister Conor Murphy has requested a “very urgent” meeting with Chancellor Rishi Sunak to discuss what financial support would be on offer if Northern Ireland was to enter another period of lockdown.
“Clearly the executive and undoubtedly the government in Dublin and government in London are all looking with great concern at the increase in the prevalence of the virus right across these islands and considering advice from medical and scientific advisers as to what additional steps might be necessary,” he told a Stormont press conference.
“Those steps obviously are key to protecting the health of the population, and that’s our first and primary concern, but they also have very serious impacts in terms of the local economy and we clearly want to discuss with London additional financial support for the local economy should we move to more severe restrictions in terms of movement and the ability of people to work.”
Mr Murphy was commenting after a meeting of the Stormont Executive.
Ministers did not make any decisions on the introduction of further coronavirus restrictions on Monday but are expected to revisit the issue on Thursday.
The minister said he outlined a range of potential financial supports for businesses in the Derry City and Strabane council area that are subject to additional Covid-19 measures as a result of soaring rates in the north west.
In terms of what support may be needed across Northern Ireland if a further lockdown is required, he said: “The virus is at a very serious place, much more rapid growth than had been anticipated.
“That does require some interventions and so the level of support required will very much depend on the level of restrictions that may be brought in.”
Stormont finance minister Mr Murphy said there was a need to confirm what level of support the UK Government would offer if another lockdown was required.
“Up until this point it was being made very clear that we have had all the support that we will be getting, but I noticed that the British Prime Minister has in recent days talked about the possibility of further lockdowns and what support might be available during that,” he said.
“So we want to make sure and bottom that out.”
He said First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill were scheduled to have a conversation with Boris Johnson later on Monday. Stormont’s leaders were also due to talk to Taoiseach Micheal Martin, he added.
“Obviously for measures to be effective, the more synchronising there is across these islands then the better,” said Mr Murphy.
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