[ad_1]
Stormont ministers again failed to agree on new coronavirus restrictions for Northern Ireland, after a long and sometimes bitter meeting last night.
It was the second night in a row that the executive parted ways without an agreement.
Ministers are expected to resume discussion later today on alternative proposals put forward by DUP Finance Minister Diane Dodds, which would see a partial reopening of the hotel sector.
The current four-week circuit lockdown ends tomorrow at midnight, at which point the regulations that have forced the closure of much of the hotel sector will disappear.
Ministers face mounting criticism for not telling companies if they can reopen on Friday.
There were angry exchanges at the beginning of yesterday’s meeting when the DUP blocked a proposal by Health Minister Robin Swann to extend the circuit interruption measures for two more weeks.
Latest coronavirus stories
The DUP used an intercommunity vote to effectively veto the proposal, despite support for the measure from most executive parties.
Swann and senior health officials warned that Covid-19 cases are likely to spike again in mid-December if the fifteen-day extension is not approved.
Another 11 Covid-19-related deaths were announced in Northern Ireland yesterday, along with 514 new confirmed cases.
Speaking this morning, Northern Ireland Prime Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster said she feels the frustration of business owners and believes that close contact services such as hairdressers and estheticians and coffee shops should reopen.
Speaking on BBC Radio’s Good Morning Ulster, he said it was important to find “a proportionate and balanced approach” to protecting hospitals and allowing “families to go out and have a livelihood.”
Ms. Foster said that Mr. Swann’s latest document has been considered, but that there was no certainty about what would happen after the proposed extension.
“We could be back here in two weeks having the exact same conversation and that’s just not good enough.”
He said the last four weeks have been devastating for the economy, but that he has to “look at the whole equation.”
“Northern Ireland’s economy has lost £ 400 million. Poverty kills as much as Covid,” he said.
“We are seeing a mental health tsunami in relation to pressure on families approaching Christmas,” he added.
She denied that it was a case of health versus the economy, or the minister of health versus the minister of the economy.
“The Minister of Health is not in my party, but let me defend him. He understands that there are economic implications,” he said.
Meanwhile, the CEO of Hospitality Ulster says the Stormont executive should make a call about Covid-19 restrictions or at least keep financial supports in place because most venues will not be able to open this week.
Speaking at RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Colin Neill pointed out that supply chains are not ready to allow the reopening of most pubs, restaurants and hotels.
It’s not about hospitals versus hospitality, he said, or someone going for a pint, but about how we save lives and livelihoods.
He said that you cannot take someone’s life and hope that everything is going well in their health.
Mr. Neill said that if a two-week extension is needed to resolve the health crisis, members will accept it, but a compromise must be found.
He asked for certainty on a reopening date and additional financial support.
[ad_2]