Tag: Northern Ireland Office

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 14 October 2025.

The new Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will put in place a fair and transparent system that enables families of victims, including those who never came home from service in Northern Ireland, to seek answers.

• The legislation will implement reforms to build a fair, proportionate and transparent system to those seeking answers, repealing the previous legacy arrangements.
• New measures will end the former Government’s immunity plan which would have offered immunity to terrorists
• Veterans who served in Northern Ireland will benefit from 6 protections and safeguards which were not in place in the previous flawed Act.

The UK Government introduces legislation today to repeal and replace the Legacy Act 2023. The new Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will put in place a fair and transparent system that enables families of victims, including those who never came home from service in Northern Ireland, to seek answers.  

The  Bill (‘The Troubles Bill’) will establish a reformed Legacy Commission and pave the way for new information-sharing arrangements with the Irish authorities – a first which delivers on the spirit and promise of the Good Friday Agreement.

We will deliver new protections and safeguards specifically designed and put in place for veterans who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.   

The Troubles Bill will also address the UK Supreme Court ruling in Adams regarding the application of the Carltona principle in the context of interim custody orders, making clear that such orders could be made by junior Ministers as well as by the Secretary of State.

The Bill follows extensive consultation with victims and families, community organisations and civil society, the Northern Ireland political parties and our Armed Forces community.

It also reflects the Joint Framework that was recently announced between the UK and Irish governments, which saw unprecedented commitments made by the Irish Government to bring forward its own legislation and to co-operate with a reformed Legacy Commission. These reciprocal commitments will help deliver the Good Friday Agreement’s unrealised ambition to “address and acknowledge the suffering of victims and survivors”.

The Government has also today introduced a draft Remedial Order which will remove from statute the previous government’s immunity scheme which proposed to allow terrorists to seek immunity from prosecution. 

The Troubles Bill will: 

• Establish a reformed Legacy Commission, with strengthened governance arrangements, new conflict of interest duties, and a statutory oversight board. 
• Give the new Commission enhanced investigative powers and a fairer disclosure regime, ensuring it has all it needs to find answers for families, and the maximum possible information can be made public, subject to proportionate safeguards. 
• Allow a small number of inquests already started to continue, with no fresh inquests beyond those already in the system. Inquests that were stopped part-heard by the Legacy Act will be able to resume. Other inquests that were halted by the Legacy Act will be referred to the Solicitor General to independently consider whether, in each case, they are most appropriately dealt with by a reformed Legacy Commission or via the coronial system.
• Provide for new proceedings within the Commission, for cases that transfer in from the coronial system. The new mechanism, consistent with the approach in the Inquiries Act, will have provision for public hearings, the ability to consider sensitive information in closed hearings, and provide effective next of kin participation, including through legal representation;
• Establish an Independent Commission for Information Retrieval, jointly with the Irish Government, and consistent with the Stormont House Agreement. This will, initially on a pilot basis, provide families with an additional means to retrieve information. The ICIR will not have powers to investigate; its purpose will be to privately receive information about individual cases on behalf of families.

Included within this legislation will be robust protections for veterans who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.  These measures include: 

• Right to stay at home – Changing the law to create a presumption in favour of remote evidence, so that veterans are not forced to travel to Northern Ireland to give evidence to the Commission or to an inquest.
  Protection from repeated investigations – The Commission will be under a requirement not to duplicate the work of any previous repeated investigations unless there are compelling reasons that make such duplication essential. 
• Protection in old age – we will legislate through this Bill to require the Commission and coroners to consider the health and wellbeing of elderly witnesses – including whether it would be inappropriate for them to give evidence at all.
• A right to anonymity – We will legislate that any veteran seeking anonymity when giving evidence will now be granted.
• Right to have Veterans’ voices heard – There will be a statutory advisory group that will provide an opportunity for the voices of all those victims and survivors of the Troubles to be heard, including those from the armed forces and police. In addition to this, the MOD will put forward an independent advisor with operational experience to support investigations, to remove the need for veterans to give unnecessary evidence on historical context and general operational details.

Separately to the legislation, the Government is ensuring that veterans will be protected from cold calling through two new protocols. These will ensure they are only ever contacted with the support of the MoD, meaning that from the moment of contact they are supported by the state that asked them to serve.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, said: 

The Government will now put into legislation the commitments that we have made both as part of the Joint Framework and to our Armed Forces veterans.

The purpose of all this is to help families who have waited too long to find answers about what happened to their loved ones during the Troubles.

This is our opportunity to deliver on this final part of the Good Friday Agreement and help Northern Ireland politics and broader society to find those answers and move forward.

The Minister for Armed Forces, Al Carns, said: 

We promised our veterans who served with honour in Northern Ireland that we would put proper protections in place, and today’s legislation delivers on that commitment.   

After the false promises of the last government, we are putting in place real, workable protections for veterans that the failed Legacy Act never did. We will not allow the process, like so many times before, to become the punishment for our veterans.  

Having served for 24 years and as a serving reservist myself, I understand the importance of avoiding an endless cycle of investigations. These robust safeguards will ensure the rights of those who served their nation so honourably are protected whilst providing families with a fair and transparent system to seek answers.

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 6 October 2025.

Nine voluntary and community groups are the first to receive funding from the £1 million Connect Fund grant scheme.

Community projects to develop youth leadership across the UK, facilitate dialogue on Lough Neagh’s degeneration, and combat health inequalities and poverty are among the first successful applicants to the Northern Ireland Office’s (NIO) Connect Fund.

Nine community groups will receive funding totalling £300,000 from the Connect Fund’s £1 million pot to strengthen collaboration between groups in Great Britain and those in Northern Ireland. 

Announced at the East West Council in June, the Connect Fund supports groups working on projects which directly affect Northern Ireland communities, helping them to tackle challenges and opportunities which also affect communities in Great Britain.

Among the recipients is CO3 – the Chief Officers Third Sector East West Forum – which will partner with organisations in London and Edinburgh to establish an East-West leadership forum for 30 Chief Executives from the voluntary and community sectors across the UK. This will include workshops and knowledge sharing at Corrymeela.

NIO Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Matthew Patrick visited CO3 to hear about their work and congratulate them on their successful application.

He said: “The Connect Fund promotes grassroots connections between community and voluntary organisations in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, to benefit local communities.

“From youth work to the environment, from leadership development to tackling inequalities and poverty, this fund will make a real difference – improving the quality of life of people across the UK.

“Importantly, it will also help to forge close, invaluable bonds of mutual support between community organisations in Northern Ireland and the wider UK, enabling knowledge exchange to tackle shared challenges.”

CO3 Chairperson Jacinta Linden said: “We are genuinely delighted to have been awarded a Connect Fund grant alongside our partners, the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO), and Charity Leadership Scotland  (formerly ACOSVO). 

“As sector leaders, we so rarely have the chance to step back from the day-to-day and think strategically together in a safe and trusted space. This programme gives us that gift — the opportunity to share, collaborate, and learn across boundaries, and in doing so to ignite fresh ideas and lasting relationships. 

“We are deeply appreciative of this support and excited for the potential it will unlock for our leaders, our organisations and, most importantly, the communities we serve.”

Another successful applicant, Belfast youth organisation YouthAction, will use its grant to join with groups in England, Scotland and Wales, strengthening East-West civic relationships through a Youth Leader Summit hosted in Belfast for young leaders aged 18-35. It will also hold a CEO Leadership Summit in England for existing cross-nation partners to strengthen organisational alignment across Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and England.

Meanwhile, Dungannon not-for-profit organisation South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (STEP) will use its grant to facilitate dialogue on shared environmental challenges, specifically the degeneration of Lough Neagh, partnering with organisations in Scotland, England and Belfast through field trips and stakeholder conferences.

The press release issued by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 23 September 2025.

The Independent Expert will take up the role, within the existing Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) legislative framework, on 23 September 2025.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, The Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn MP has today announced the appointment of Fleur Ravensbergen to the role of Independent Expert on paramilitary group transition to disbandment. The appointment has been made jointly with Jim O’Callaghan, the Irish Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. 

The Independent Expert will take up the role, within the existing Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) legislative framework, on 23 September 2025 and is expected to complete the scoping and engagement exercise and submit their report by mid-August 2026.

Biography

Fleur Ravensbergen is an independent conflict resolution and negotiation practitioner, and a lecturer in conflict resolution and governance at the University of Amsterdam. She has broad and deep experience of supporting dialogue around the world including in the Middle East, Central Africa and Europe. She is a member of the Peace and Security Commission of the Advisory Council of International Affairs (AIV) which advises the Dutch Government and parliament on peace and security. She serves as the Facilitator for ABN AMRO’s Human Rights Grievance and Remedy Mechanism and is an Advisory Council Member for Fight for Humanity – a Geneva-based human rights organisation. Previously she co-founded and was Deputy Director of the Dialogue Advisory Group, an Amsterdam-based NGO that facilitates dialogue in armed conflict. 

Political Activity

All UKG appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity in defined categories within the last five years to be made public.

The appointee has declared no such political activity in the past five years.

Regulation

This appointment is not regulated by the UK’s Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Terms of appointment

The appointment will be for a period of one year. The Independent Expert role attracts a remuneration of £650 per day and is not pensionable. 

Background

The UK Government and the Government of Ireland announced in February 2025 that they would jointly appoint an Independent Expert to carry out a short scoping and engagement exercise to assess whether there is merit in, and support for, a formal process of engagement to bring about paramilitary group transition to disbandment. 

The objective of the Independent Expert is, through independent scoping and engagement, to assess whether there is merit in and support for a formal process that ensures the transition to disbandment of paramilitary groups and to produce a report by mid August 2026. 

The Independent Expert will carry out their work in line with the overarching objectives of the IRC which are:

• promoting progress towards ending paramilitary activity; and
• supporting long term peace and stability in society and stable and inclusive devolved Government in Northern Ireland

In carrying out their functions, the Independent Expert will be mindful throughout of the overarching vision of the Fresh Start Agreement for the “continued transformation of our society,” and the goal of “the primacy of the democratic political process in Northern Ireland and the ending of paramilitarism” as well as the recommitment to tackling paramilitarism made by the parties in the New Decade, New Approach Agreement in 2020.

Functions

To achieve their objective, the Independent Expert will carry out a programme of exploratory engagement with inter alia:

• representatives of communities affected by paramilitarism, including victims of paramilitary activity;
• representatives of wider society in Northern Ireland;
• representatives of the statutory agencies likely to have a role in aspects of implementation of a formal process of engagement with paramilitary groups aimed at facilitating their disbandment;
• representatives of paramilitary groups who have an interest in ending the violence and wider harms caused by paramilitary groups  

To achieve their objective the Independent Expert will consider through this programme of engagement, inter alia, the following:

• Issues that are currently perceived or presented as a barrier and issues that could enable paramilitary group transition to disbandment;
• the advantages and disadvantages of a formal process of engagement with paramilitary groups aimed at facilitating their transition to disbandment;
• the feasibility and advisability of such a formal process;
• levels of willingness to engage in a formal process ;
• expectations of what would be achieved through participation in such a process;
• the issues likely to arise over the course of a formal process of engagement; and
• the extent to which such a process would substantially contribute to furthering the commitments of the Fresh Start Agreement to work collectively to achieve a society free of paramilitarism.

The Independent Expert will produce a report by mid-August 2026 setting out what could be in scope of a formal process that ensures the transition to disbandment of paramilitary groups and the levels of public support for such a process. This should include recommendations on whether there would be merit in establishing a formal process of engagement with paramilitary groups aimed at facilitating their transition towards disbandment, and if so, how such a formal process could be established to have the highest chance of success including in terms of structure, milestones, timeframe and reporting/verification arrangements.

The Independent Expert should reflect in their report, based on what they have heard through their engagement, on alternative or additional approaches which could help promote progress towards ending paramilitary harm and activity and support long term peace and stability in NI and may merit further consideration.

Approach and delivery

In carrying out the functions described above, the Independent Expert will engage the UK Government, the Government of Ireland and respective law enforcement agencies, the NI Executive and other statutory agencies, local councils, political parties, communities, and civic society organisations in order to understand their perspectives on the issue. 

The Independent Expert will have a strong focus in their work on recommendations aimed at promoting and supporting practical, comprehensive and effective trauma-informed measures and initiatives that aim to bring about the continued transformation of society envisioned in the Fresh Start Agreement.

Throughout their scoping and engagement, the Independent Expert should actively encourage the ending of all paramilitary and criminal activity. They should make clear that PSNI and their partners will continue to work to bring those involved in paramilitary criminality to justice and that group behaviours will be taken as an indication of levels of commitment to transition to disbandment, in particular, supporting the police and criminal justice system in tackling criminality, including drug dealing, extortion, and child criminal and sexual exploitation. The Independent Expert should remind their interlocutors that the IRC and others have been clear about the behaviours that would demonstrate a commitment to moving from violence and harm and these include:

• Ending recruitment to paramilitary groups;
• Giving up paramilitary structures and activity;
• Ceasing mobilisation of members; 
• Ceasing to exercise coercive power and control in communities; 
• Ending of all paramilitary style attacks and all other forms of violence, threat of violence or intimidation; 
• Disposal of any remaining weaponry and materiel; 
• Allowing people to exit from paramilitarism without cost or consequence; 
• Publicly supporting the PSNI and criminal justice system in tackling criminality and committing to democracy and the rule of law; and
• Engaging with legacy bodies.

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 2 September 2025.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Hilary Benn MP, has announced the appointment of Mr David MacAnulty and Mr Donald Leeson as Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland with effect from 1 October 2025.

Background

Civil Service Commissioners are appointed under the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 by the King, on recommendation from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Their function is to regulate appointments to the Northern Ireland Civil Service and under the terms of the Civil Service Commissioners (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, the Commissioners also have the power to consider, and determine, appeals to them by civil servants under the Northern Ireland Civil Service Code of Ethics.

Further information on the work of the Commissioners is available at:

https://www.nicscommissioners.org/

Terms of appointment

• These positions are part-time for a period of five years ending on 30 September 2030.
• The positions receive a daily fee of £300.
• The positions are not pensionable.

Biographies

Mr MacAnulty is an Inspector of Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland. He formerly held the role of Prosecutor within the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland.

Mr Leeson currently holds the position of Non-Executive Director at the NI Transport Holding Company (Translink) and Chair of the Board of Trustees. HR Consultant and Accreditation Assessor with Diversity Mark. He formerly held the position of Chief Executive of the Labour Relations Agency NI and also held the position of Director of Corporate Services.

Political Activity

All appointments are made on merit and with regards to the statutory requirements. Political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity in defined categories to be made public.

Both individuals have declared that they have not been politically active in the last five years.

Regulation

Appointments to the Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland are not regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Statutory Requirements

Appointments to the Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland are made under the provisions of section 36 (1) of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 17 July 2025.

Tournament returns to Northern Ireland for second time in six years.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn has congratulated the organisers of the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush, and welcomed the significant benefits it will bring to Northern Ireland, following a visit to the event today (Thursday 17 July).

He said: “This week’s Open championship at Royal Portrush will shine a spotlight on Northern Ireland, showcasing its world-class sports facilities, tourism, and high quality local food and drink.

“It will give Northern Ireland a real economic boost and will set the stage for future investment and opportunities for Northern Ireland.

“To be chosen to host the Open twice in six years is a fantastic compliment, and I congratulate the organisers of the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush on having achieved this.”

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 29 May 2025.

From today (Thursday 29 May) copies from three centuries of the historic Belfast title will become accessible to the public online for the first time.

People around the world can now access newly digitised historic editions of the world’s oldest English language daily newspaper still in circulation, thanks to a UK Government project to highlight Northern Ireland’s cultural heritage.

From today (Thursday 29 May) copies from three centuries of the historic Belfast title will become accessible to the public online for the first time, strengthening understanding of Northern Ireland’s newspaper heritage around the world and delivering on commitments made in the Safeguarding the Union command paper.

First published in September 1737, the News Letter will mark its 288th anniversary as the oldest continuously published English language daily paper this year. The Northern Ireland Office has worked in partnership with the British Library and Findmypast to expand the online collection of the historic publication on the British Newspaper Archive dating to the late 18th, early 19th and 20th centuries.

Announcing the launch, Secretary of State Hilary Benn visited the British Library in London to view the new additions to the online archive. The British Library provided originals of the News Letter in microfilm and newspaper format, which were digitised by the online platform Findmypast, which has spent nearly 15 years working on a separate collaborative project to digitise the British Library’s vast newspaper collection.

The Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, said:

It was wonderful to be able to view the newly digitised editions of the Belfast News Letter at the British Library in London using the online archive.

Bringing Northern Ireland’s newspaper heritage to a global audience will encourage research, exploration and appreciation of Northern Ireland’s rich political and cultural history.

This UK Government project has opened up a unique resource to readers and researchers in nations around the world with historic links to Northern Ireland, including the USA.

The archive is available online through the British Newspaper Archive and on Findmypast, and can be viewed freely at the British Library sites in London and Yorkshire, as well as at any library or by any private individual around the world with a subscription.

Lee Wilkinson, Managing Director of DCThomson History, which owns Findmypast and the British Newspaper Archive, said:

We’re delighted to bring these historic News Letter pages to the public, enabling more people to access this rich resource documenting Northern Ireland’s past at the click of a mouse.

Over the past 15 years, through our unique relationship with the British Library, we have been able to bring millions of these key historical records to communities across the globe, so that families and researchers alike can uncover and understand their heritage.

Rebecca Lawrence, Chief Executive of the British Library, said: 

We are thrilled to make all known surviving copies of the News Letter accessible for the first time through the British Newspaper Archive, in partnership with Findmypast and the UK government. As the world’s oldest English language general daily newspaper still in circulation, the historic Belfast title offers insight into centuries of life, politics, and culture in Northern Ireland and beyond.

The British Library is custodian of one of the world’s largest news archives, with over 60 million newspaper issues dating back to the 1600s, alongside growing collections of broadcast and digital news. Digitising all known surviving copies of the News Letter and making them available online preserves a vital piece of heritage and opens up the archive to researchers around the world.

David Montgomery, founder, National World, said:

Digitising The News Letter is an important step in preserving the paper’s iconic history of covering news from Northern Ireland and across the world for three centuries. By making historic copies of the paper available, we can recognise its continuing role in delivering quality journalism on stories that matter to its community.

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 23 May 2025.

Secretary of State Hilary Benn MP underlines the benefits for Northern Ireland of recent trade deals, and a new intended partnership agreement with the European Union.

It has been a momentous month – both for Northern Ireland and for the entire United Kingdom. First came the Government’s trade deals with India and the USA which will open up new opportunities for Northern Ireland exporters.

Next, on Monday, the UK played host to the first-ever UK-EU summit at Lancaster House in London as we set out to build a new partnership with the European Union. In recent years, our relationship with the EU has – at times – been strained, but in an era in which global instability is rising, it makes sense to build stronger ties with our European friends and neighbours.

And then, on Thursday, we marked the anniversary of the referenda on the 1998 Good Friday Agreement held in Northern Ireland and Ireland. By voting ‘yes’, the people chose and secured a chance for peace in Northern Ireland; a peace which has lasted in the almost three decades since and helped pave the way for Northern Ireland’s transformation. It was an agreement which remains to this day proof of the power of courageous political leadership, and people’s willingness to compromise in hope of a better future.

The agreement with the European Union will help to create growth and lower household bills across the UK as a whole.

It is a particularly good deal for Northern Ireland. Our economy is already vibrant – think of our aerospace, life sciences, manufacturing, and film and television industries – and this agreement will further help Northern Ireland which experienced stronger growth than the United Kingdom as a whole last year. Peace has delivered real economic benefits.

Of particular significance will be the deal we reached on agrifood and plants, which will smooth flows of trade, ease the frictions for businesses and protect the UK internal market. Applying the same rules across the UK will give businesses greater certainty, and mean we can eliminate paperwork and mandatory identity and physical checks on goods moving under these arrangements.

All of this will save up to £1 million a month for those firms using the ‘red lane’ and we’ll see a real difference in garden centres, with bans on so-called ‘high risk’ plants being eliminated – a commitment made in Safeguarding the Union – and plants being able to move within the UK without barriers.

This deal will also maintain Northern Ireland’s unique access to both the UK and EU markets and the advantages that the Windsor Framework offers to businesses and the economy. So, it’s no surprise that businesses have welcomed it. The Ulster Farmers Union called it ‘a major step forward for Northern Ireland’s agri-food industry’. The Horticultural Trades Association have said that their sector will save millions. And big name retailers such as Asda and M&S have praised the removal of frictions too. The message is clear from business – this is good news for Northern Ireland and good news for you.

The other outcomes of Monday’s summit are also good for Northern Ireland. Our new security and defence partnership with the EU will support our national security and the aerospace, defence and space industry which is already home to more than 9,000 jobs in Northern Ireland. Our closer law enforcement relationship with the EU will help prevent crime. Closer cooperation on decarbonisation and energy will lower prices and make our country greener and more resilient. And it’ll become easier to travel to mainland Europe through e-Gates.

Northern Ireland’s prosperity is intrinsically linked to its strong relationship with the rest of the UK, and it can only benefit further from our new partnership with the EU. The steps we are taking will bring practical benefits, and Monday’s summit makes me even more confident that Northern Ireland’s economy will continue to flourish as a thriving and growing part of the UK.

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 16 May 2025.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Hilary Benn MP, has announced the reappointment of Justin Kouame to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

Background

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (the ‘NIHRC’) was created by the Northern Ireland Act 1998, as part of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

The NIHRC was established in 1999 and operates as an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Northern Ireland Office.

Its powers and duties are set out in legislation, and it operates in compliance with UN General Assembly resolution 48/134 (the ‘Paris Principles’) on National Human Rights Institutions. The NIHRC’s functions include keeping under review the adequacy and effectiveness in Northern Ireland of law and practice relating to the protection of human rights and promoting understanding and awareness of the importance of human rights in Northern Ireland.

Further information about the work of the Commission can be found at: https://nihrc.org/about-us

A biography for Justin Kouame can be found at: https://nihrc.org/about/who-we-are/our-people/justin-kouame

Terms of Appointment

• This position is part-time for a period of three years ending on 31 August 2028.
• The position receives a fixed annual remuneration of £7,500.
• The position is not pensionable.

Political Activity

All appointments are made on merit and with regards to the statutory requirements. Political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity in defined categories to be made public.

Mr Kouame has declared that he has not been politically active in the past five years.

Regulation

The appointment is regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointment (OCPA).

Statutory Requirements

The Secretary of State makes appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in accordance with the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 15 May 2025.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland visits food distribution company, PRM, as figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency show the Northern Ireland economy grew faster than the UK as a whole in the final quarter of 2024.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland today [Wednesday 14 May] visited PRM, a leading food distribution company based in Lisburn. While there, he learned more about the significant growth the company has seen from having the benefit of dual market access provided under the Windsor Framework. This status, unique only to Northern Ireland, allows the free movement of goods between Northern Ireland and Great Britain and the EU.

PRM has said that dual market access to both the UK and EU is a major factor behind its growth strategy, which over the past year has enabled it to commit to a £15m investment in its Lisburn headquarters paired with the creation of 40 additional jobs.

The NI Composite Economic Index (NICEI) from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) shows that in each of the five sectors it tracks, Northern Ireland grew in output between October and December 2024. Output rose by 0.9% in Q4, contributing to a yearly growth in output of 3.6% across NI. Whilst for the UK overall, Q4 growth was 0.1% and yearly growth was 1.4%.

Today’s visit follows the Prime Minister’s recent announcement of two new trade deals with the US and India. Both deals will open up new export opportunities for businesses across Northern Ireland, providing them with full market access to two of the world’s largest economies and enabling them to grow further and thrive. Sectors said to benefit the most from these trade deals include agricultural food products, biotechnology manufacturing and whiskey.

Speaking after his visit, the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, said:

“PRM’s expansion is a great example of how dual market access is helping Northern Ireland’s businesses to expand and create more jobs.

“With full access to both the UK and EU markets, and now new trade opportunities with the US and India, Northern Ireland  is uniquely placed for success.

“These are tangible  benefits that are strengthening Northern Ireland’s economy and creating prosperity.”

Philip Morrow, CEO and Founder of PRM Group, said:

“While Brexit brought with it understandable apprehension, there’s no doubt that the Windsor Framework has unlocked unique advantages for businesses and individuals in Northern Ireland.

“We have found ourselves in a very favourable position perfectly positioned between the UK and EU with full access to both markets. That’s an enviable place to be, and it’s been instrumental in shaping our investment decisions and future growth.

“At PRM, it’s allowed us to commit £15 million to expanding our Lisburn headquarters and create over 40 new jobs. Businesses here have been handed the key to the best of both worlds and that’s something we should champion, celebrate and capitalise on.”

Our Plan for Change sets out a bold vision for Northern Ireland’s economic future – to go further and faster in driving growth, attracting investment, and putting more money in the pockets of working people. Expanding international trade, cutting red tape and supporting innovation are key pillars to this plan.

The government continues to operate the Duty Reimbursement Scheme, allowing companies to claim back any additional duties paid on goods deemed “at risk” of entering the EU, ensuring fairness and competitiveness.

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 8 May 2025.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn MP marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day by opening a special World War II exhibition at Antrim Castle Gardens.

VE Day is an occasion to remember the huge sacrifice made by that great generation so that we might live in peace and freedom.

That is the message from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn, who has commemorated VE Day with a number of visits around Northern Ireland.
Today, (Thursday 8 May), marks 80 years since Victory in Europe Day when the Second World War came to an end in Europe. The long anticipated news resulted in millions celebrating the end of the war, with street parties, dancing and singing across the country.

Mr Benn marked VE day by officially opening a special World War II exhibition at Antrim Castle Gardens, hosted by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. He then travelled to the Ulster Aviation Society, where he met with Fred Jennings, a World War II Veteran.

The Secretary of State also took time to visit the NI War Memorial Museum, which focuses on Northern Ireland’s role in the Second World War and the impact that the war had on its people.

He finished his day of VE Day commemorations by attending a Service of Remembrance with Thanksgiving at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh.

At the end of his engagements, Mr Benn said:

VE Day 80 is our opportunity to remember and to honour the extraordinary courage of that great generation of World War Two veterans.

Today should remind us all that the cost of peace must never be forgotten. As we hear the stories of those who served and express our profound gratitude to them, let us remember that it was their sacrifice that enabled us to live in peace and freedom.