WATCH: DUP deploy cross community veto twice in a bid to block Robin Swann's new COVID-19 proposals

By Q Radio News

The DUP have again deployed their cross-community vote in an ongoing deadlock amongst Stormont's Executive Ministers.

They used the controversial veto mechanism to defeat Health Minister Robin Swann’s proposal for a one-week extension of the current circuit break - this being the second time in two days which the veto was used.

That proposal by the Health Minister had been backed by the other parties in the Executive.

The move by Mr Swann came about after the majority of Ministers failed to agree with proposals set by the Economy Minister Diane Dodds for the partial reopening of the hospitality sector.

Health Minister Robin Swann

PA understands that a paper tabled by Robin Swann to the executive this afternoon warned ministers that failure to extend the circuit break by two weeks would “significantly increase” the likelihood of a pre-Christmas intervention in Northern Ireland.

The paper makes clear that even a two-week extension may not be enough to avoid the need for new measures being imposed ahead of the festive period.

The paper, which proposed a one-week extension to give ministers more time to develop an agreed approach, warns that hospitals in Northern Ireland are all currently operating “at, close to, or above full capacity”.

It highlighted that if hospitals are overwhelmed with Covid-19 cases then capacity to deliver other services will be “adversely impacted”, leading to increased deaths from other causes.

There are 38 available hospital beds today in the north.
6 of our hospitals are operating beyond capacity.
That reality should focus minds in the Executive!
We need to find agreement:
To save lives & protect our health service:
And, to support businesses, workers & families

— Declan Kearney (@DeclanKearneySF) November 11, 2020

In the document, Mr Swann also expressed doubt about whether alternative proposals tabled by Economy Minister Diane Dodds could be translated into regulations in time for the lapsing of the current circuit break on Thursday.

If Ministers do not come to an agreement by the time the current restrictions come to an end at midnight on Thursday, the current measures will lapse, leading to a default relaxation of most measures affecting the hospitality and close contact services.

It is understood Justice Minister Naomi Long is now developing a paper that would fuse Robin Swann’s one-week extension proposal with Diane Dodds’ plans for partially reopening the hospitality sector.

I voted for every health recommendation. They have all been blocked.

So, half is better than none. We can't impose the full 2 weeks extension. Either we get agreement or we revert to No 2 Regs at midnight on Thursday.

That is worse than any of the proposals we are looking at.

— Naomi Long MLA (@naomi_long) November 11, 2020

Under the proposal, the circuit break would continue for a further week before the introduction of measures that would allow cafes and coffee shops to reopen and close contact services to resume.

Meanwhile, businesses have been left wondering when they would be allowed to reopen: