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First Minister welcomes Prince of Wales to Northern Ireland

First Minister Arlene Foster MLA pictured with HRH Prince Charles on the first day of his two-day visit to Northern Ireland.

Leader designate sets out his priorities

This week the Party Leader designate Edwin Poots engaged in his first round of media interviews, setting out his focus on the Northern Ireland Protocol and ensuring its removal.

Also this week

Party Leader Designate and Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots commended the Royal British Legion on their 100th anniversary.
- Met with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and told him it was time to see action on the NI Protocol
- Launched a £1 million Rural Halls Refurbishment Scheme
- Launched DAERA’s Plan to 2050.
- Launched an initiative to protect pollinators.
- Highlighted concerns about the prospect of a zero tariff, zero quota Free Trade Agreement between the UK and Austalia.

First Minister Arlene Foster said that action, not just words was needed on the NI Protocol.
- Described the vaccination of more than one million people in Northern Ireland as a momentuous day.
- Met the Prime Minister at Downing Street.
- Announced relaxations to Covid restrictions following Thursday’s meeting of the Executive.
- Welcomed progress on the Castlereagh Foundation which is part of the New Decade New Approach agreement.

Education Minister Peter Weir outlined his plans for exams and assessments in 2021/22
- Met with all the uniformed organisations to listen to their experience of the pandemic and how his Department can help them as we come out the other side.
Welcomed the Executive’s agreement to allocate over £51milion to deal with Covid pressures.

Economy Minister Diane Dodds praised the resilience, innovation and creativity at Spirit Aerosystems.
- Announced a final call for projects to apply for funding under the NI European Social Fund.

North Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey said there must be further examination of the PSNI’s actions following the publication of the HMIC report into the PSNI’s handling of the Bobby Storey funeral. He said that policing concerns must be addressed.

Lagan Valley MLA Paul Givan said the NI Protocol must be replaced and Northern Ireland treated the same as any other part of the UK.

North Antrim MP Ian Paisley, speaking on BBC Politics Live highlighted that GB-NI trade undergoes more checks than worldwide trade entering the port of Rotterdam.
- Was interviewed on UTV View From Stormont following Edwin Poots election as leader designate.

East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell congratulated Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis on his achievements with Rangers this season and becoming the most capped UK male player in history.
- Criticised Sinn Fein’s refusal to meet the Prince of Wales on his visit to NI.
- Met Police in Coleraine alongside Maurice Bradley MLA>

Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley proposed a DUP Motion in the Assembly highlighting the impact of the NI protocol on medicine supply.

Strangford MP Jim Shannon condemned anti-semitic attacks and hate speech witnessed in London.
- Rased the persecution of religious communities in China.

South Antrim MLA Pam Cameron welcomed the vaccination of one million people in NI as a step towards putting covid in the rear-view mirror.

East Belfast MLA Robin Newton said the Housing Executive must communicate with residents over their plans to demolish tower blocks.