Stay at home & stay safe for VE Day celebrations

COVID Restrictions remain in place

Updates from this week

Economy Minister Diane Dodds

• Announced a £40million hardship fund for microbusinesses which have not been able to avail of existing support.
   
• Updated the Assembly's COVID-19 Response Committee
   
• Announced two skills initiatives in response to the pandemic 
   
• Addressed the first meeting of the Tourism Recovery Working Group
   

Education Minister Peter Weir

• Addressed the daily Northern Ireland Executive Media Briefing where he outlined issues including
  • Assessing the feasibility of providing IT equipment where digital access has been identified as a barrier to learning.
     
  • Update on childare and key worker provision in schools.
     
  • Maintaining contact with vulnerable children
     
  • 54,000 families receving direct payment for Free School Meals.

DAERA Minister Edwin Poots

• Commented on support options for the dairy industry
   
• Extended opening hours for cattle registration telephony service
   
• Urged people to be responsible with their waste during the COVID outbreak

Westminster

• Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP joined a cross-party conference call with the Prime Minister this week which focused on the recovery plan for the UK.
   
• Gavin Robinson MP joined with Gregory Campbell MP and Paul Girvan MP in writing to the Chancellor calling for an extension of the Job Retention scheme for industries including the local airline sector. 
   
• Jim Shannon MP raised the need for Government support for charitable projects
   
• Ian Paisley MP raised airline safety concerns during a debate on workplace safety. 
  
  He also questioned the Government about steps they are taking to protect students from accomodation charges whilst they are at home as a result of the COVID-10 outbreak.
   
• Carla Lockhart MP had discussions with the British Poultry Council to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the local poultry industry, and particularly its importance in Upper Bann.
   
• Gregory Campbell MP questioned the Government on steps to protect availability of ATMs, particularly in rural areas.