Tag: Northern Ireland Office

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 31 March 2023.

Eighteen projects across Northern Ireland will receive more than £57 million through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to help support people into work.

Thousands of people across Northern Ireland will be supported into work as the UK Government confirms funding for transformational projects to tackle economic inactivity, boost job opportunities and grow the local economy.

Eighteen projects across Northern Ireland will now receive more than £57 million through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to help support people into work, compared to the £42 million competition value announced in December. Delivered in partnership with approximately 80 joint bidders or community partners, this means around 100 organisations in total will receive support.

The successful bids will support over 25,000 economically inactive people in Northern Ireland – offering them support to find high quality jobs. Charities, voluntary and community organisations, businesses and colleges will all play a vital role in supporting people into employment as the UK Government takes back control of funding previously run by the European Union.

Decisions taken by UK Ministers mean that additional funding has been allocated from the Northern Ireland UKSPF funding pot to enable projects to reach more people while also continuing their vital work and allowing for a greater range of delivery across all parts of Northern Ireland. The UK Government has confirmed that all organisations can start planning to use the funding from April when current money from the European Social Fund ends.

Announcing the new UK Government funding, Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison said:

We are making the most of opportunities outside the European Union to deliver for people in Northern Ireland.

It is fantastic that organisations have come together in new partnerships to deliver creative solutions to economic inactivity through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. In recognition of the huge impact charities, businesses and colleges are having on the ground, I’m delighted to announce that we are boosting the original funding pot for this competition by an additional £15 million to help them support even more people into fulfilling jobs.

This is an important milestone in the investment we are making to level up Northern Ireland and the whole of the UK.

The successful projects were allocated following a fair and open competition that organisations across Northern Ireland bid into for a share of the cash.

The new funding has been allocated from the £127 million UK Shared Prosperity Fund for Northern Ireland, which succeeds EU structural funds. The UK Government has been working closely with local partners to direct funding where it is most needed.

Successful projects being announced today include:

• Action Mental Health and six partners including Mencap, NOW Group and the Royal National Institute of Blind People will receive around £12 million to deliver an innovative programme of specialist employment preparation and training for over 4,500 people across Northern Ireland with significant disabilities or health conditions who face multiple barriers in accessing employment.
• Triangle Housing Association and its partners will provide intensive wrap-around support for economically inactive people, including women, those with disabilities, neurodiversity, autism and/or mental health issues to move towards sustained employment. The project will benefit from almost £4.8 million to support each person with holistic, wrap-around support through ongoing assessment and a personal development plan.
• Network Personnel Limited, along with its partners, will receive around £2 million for a partnership targeting economically inactive people through holistic interventions to increase their skills levels, move closer to mainstream provision, and take steps to secure sustainable employment or self-employment. Delivering across Mid Ulster, Mid and East Antrim, Antrim and Newtownabbey, Fermanagh and Omagh, Causeway Coast and Glens and Derry City and Strabane council areas, it plans to support over 1,300 people over the next two years.
• NIACRO will receive over £1.5 million towards a project to support over 1,500 people across Northern Ireland with convictions in prison and the community to find sustainable employment over the next two years. Services will include one-to-one mentoring, employability support, advice and training.
• Women’s TEC and its partners will support women across Belfast and the rural Newry, Mourne and Down region, through their £872,000 ‘Building Futures’ project. The aim of the programme is to support women furthest from the labour market to feel confident, motivated and empowered to find and sustain employment, improving their confidence, self-efficacy, and life and work skills.
• Extern Northern Ireland’s ‘Moving Forward Moving On’ project will receive £648,000 to provide intensive mentoring and employability support to young people in Belfast and Antrim and Newtownabbey who are furthest from the job market. It will include accredited courses in employability skills, life skills and personal development, as well as mentoring support and soft skills training

Northern Ireland Secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris said:

The £57 million funding will support the vital work of community and voluntary organisations, enabling them to support people in Northern Ireland into secure and sustainable employment.

Through its People and Skills strand, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will invest in skills training and interventions to support economically inactive people in Northern Ireland. This is key to boosting productivity and harnessing Northern Ireland’s growth potential.

Each organisation will today receive a notification setting out any project conditions that they need to meet before funding will be released.

The money confirmed by UK Government to improve economic activity represents 45% of the total UKSPF allocation for Northern Ireland, in recognition of the need to tackle the high levels of economic inactivity across Northern Ireland compared with the UK average.

This builds on the UKSPF Investment Plan published last year, which was developed in close collaboration with partners in Northern Ireland including representatives from the voluntary sector, local councils, businesses and higher education. The investment is designed to improve pride in place, increase life chances and support growth by investing in key priorities for Northern Ireland.

The press release issued by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 23 March 2023.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris has today (Thursday 23 March) launched important new educational resources for pupils in Northern Ireland and across the UK as part of the programme to mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

During a visit to Carrickfergus’ Ulidia Integrated College, whose pupils became the first in the UK to use the new materials, the Secretary of State attended an assembly using the materials to tell the story of the journey to the world-renowned peace deal, and its continuing role today.

The free, optional resources support secondary school and college teachers in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales to give an assembly on the Agreement using a short animated video, and to lead a follow-up classroom discussion.

They have been developed independently by The National Archives and in collaboration with academics, teachers and other experts, with consultation from curriculum and school bodies across the UK. This first group of resources will be followed later this year by classroom materials.

During the visit to Ulidia Integrated College, the Secretary of State viewed the new Assembly video resource alongside pupils and teachers, before discussing with the young people what the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement anniversary means to them. He then met with pupils using the new materials for classroom discussion.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris said:

“Thanks to the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, Northern Ireland’s young people have grown up in peace and safety, looking forward to a future of hope and opportunity.

“That’s why I’m incredibly proud to launch this new education package, which will give young people in Northern Ireland and across the UK the chance to deepen their appreciation and understanding of the Agreement’s benefits and encourage them to engage with this historic anniversary.

“It’s particularly relevant that I’m launching this initiative in an integrated school, a symbol of reconciliation, which the Agreement promoted.”

Jeff James, Keeper and Chief Executive of The National Archives said:

‘This important resource gives young people the opportunity to study and discuss the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement using material from the original documents. It allows students to consider topics that affect them and their communities, at a level which is meaningful to them and to gain an understanding of how important the Agreement is.’

UK Government Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon said:

“The 25th anniversary of the signing of the Agreement is significant not just for Northern Ireland but for the whole of the UK.

“It is absolutely right that we recognise the progress that has been made since 1998 and these free, optional resources for school assemblies can help build an understanding of our complex history.”

Teachers, and those who wish to use the free educational resources developed by The National Archives, can download the materials here.

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 15 March 2023.

Secretary of State for NI, Chris Heaton-Harris MP is in Washington D.C. to mark St. Patrick’s Day and engage with key partners in the US on NI issues.

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 14 March 2023.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Chris Heaton-Harris MP, has announced the temporary appointment of Sarah Ling as the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland in accordance with section 14(5) of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962.

The appointment will commence on 3 April 2023 and run for a maximum period of three months until a new Chief Electoral Officer is able to take up the role.

Biography

Sarah Ling currently performs duties as deputy to the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland and was deputy returning officer for Belfast constituencies at the last Assembly elections. She is a former Electoral Service Manager for the London Borough of Croydon and consultant for the Association of Electoral Administrators working on the delivery of elections (combined Parliamentary, Local and Parish 2015, Police and Crime Commission 2016, EU Referendum 2016, Parliamentary 2017, European Parliamentary 2019, Parliamentary 2019 and various by elections). She is also a former head of Registration Reform and Canvass Reform in the Cabinet Office.

Regulation

This appointment is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

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.

Sarah Ling has declared no political activity in the past ten years.

The press release issued by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 2 March 2023.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Chris Heaton-Harris MP, has announced the appointment of Fiona Ross as a Non-Executive Board Member at the Northern Ireland Office.

Ms Ross will take up her appointment with effect from 1 March 2023.

Biography

Fiona Ross is chair of the Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), Ireland’s Public Transport Provider. She served on the Board of the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) for two years before being appointed in August 2021 to chair the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board. She also holds non-executive positions with Rail, the Scottish Government, and private enterprises including SphereInvest and Smith & Williamson Europe and acts as independent advisor to the Mayor of Bristol City Council.

Terms of Appointment

• The position is part-time for a term of three years.
• The position attracts a fixed remuneration of £10,000 a year for a time commitment of approximately 15-20 days a year, including supporting the work of the department’s Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee.
• The position is not pensionable.

Regulation

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

Political Activity

Non-Executive Board members are appointed 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 to be made public.

Fiona Ross has declared that she has not been politically active in the last five years.

The press release issued by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 20 February 2023.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Chris Heaton-Harris MP, has appointed six Commissioners to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

Neil Anderson, Lisa Caldwell,  Duane Farrell, Jarlath Kearney, Carmel McKinney and Stephen Matthews will take up their appointments with effect from 1 March 2023.

Background

The Equality Commission was established in 1999, as part of the implementation of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. It took over the functions of the Fair Employment Commission, Equal Opportunities Commission, and Council for Racial Equality and Northern Ireland Disability Council.

The Commission’s powers and duties derive from a number of statutes which have been enacted over the last decades, providing protection against discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, race, religion and political opinion, sex and sexual orientation. It also has responsibilities arising from the Northern Ireland Act 1998 in respect of the statutory equality and good relations duties which apply to public authorities.

In addition, the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 gave new powers to the Commission, effective from 1 January 2021, to monitor, advise and report on, and enforce the Government’s commitment to no diminution of certain rights, as set out in Article 2 of the Protocol.

The Commission is funded and sponsored by The Executive Office. Further information about the work of the Commission can be found at: https://www.equalityni.org/Home

Terms of appointment

• These positions are part-time for a period of three years ending on 28 February 2026.
• The positions receive a fixed annual remuneration of £5,000.
• The positions are not pensionable.

Biography of Appointees

Neil Anderson was formerly the Head of NSPCC in Northern Ireland. Neil has a career history of general management and HR across a variety of organisations and sectors. He is currently the Deputy Chief Commissioner (DCC) at the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

Lisa is Director of External Affairs at Belfast City Council. Previously, she was Head of Communications and Engagement at the Social Security Agency, Northern Ireland. She is a Fulbright Scholar and Fellow at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR). Lisa previously acted as Secretary for Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland and Treasurer of CIPR Northern Ireland Committee and currently sits as member for Northern Ireland on the board of the FundRaising Regulatory.

Duane Farrell has been working in the Community and Voluntary sector in Northern Ireland for over 20 years. During that time, he has worked within the LGBT community, as well as with older people and children and young people. In these roles, he has developed services, led campaigns and worked to influence legislation and policy. Currently he is the Chief Executive of Relate NI.

Jarlath Kearney is a strategy advisor in the public sector. Currently a regular columnist with The Irish News, he has previously served as a Board Member of the Arts Council NI, Special Advisor to the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Ministerial Policy Advisor in the NI Assembly and a National Expert for the European Commission’s TAIEX Programme in relation to public institutional transformation and legislative reform in the Balkans.

Carmel McKinney has held a number of senior roles in education, including Chair of the Belfast Education and Library Board. She is currently Chair of the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service Board and an independent member of the Policing Board.

Stephen Matthews is a former Chief Executive of The Cedar Foundation. Stephen previously served as an Equality Commissioner and was a member of the Audit Committee and rotating chair of the Legal Funding Committee. He also represented the Commission on the Independent Mechanism monitoring UNCRPD Implementation and is an NI Advisor for the Henry Smith Charity.

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. All of the appointees have declared that they have not been politically active in the last five years.

Regulation

The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointment (OCPA) regulates appointments to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

Statutory Requirements

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

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 10 February 2023.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland visited Herstory’s Peace Heroines exhibition in Derry-Londonderry, showcasing women’s pivotal role in the Northern Ireland peace process, as the 25th anniversary of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement approaches.

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 9 February 2023.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP today met NI parties to discuss the issues caused by ongoing governance gap in Northern Ireland, the UK-EU negotiations on the NI Protocol and NI’s challenging budgetary situation.

In attendance were Emma Little-Pengelly MLA and Gordon Lyons MLA of the DUP, Mary Lou McDonald TD and Michelle O’Neill MLA of Sinn Féin, Naomi Long MLA and Stephen Farry MP of Alliance, and Doug Beattie MC MLA and Steve Aiken MLA of the UUP, and Claire Hanna MP and Matthew O’Toole MLA of the SDLP.

During the meeting, the Secretary of State set out the next steps concerning Executive formation, following the introduction of legislation in Parliament today extending the period for formation by one year to 18 January 2024. The legislation will also enable the Government to bring this new period to an early end and move to elections sooner, if it becomes necessary.

During discussions about governance in NI, the Secretary of State informed the parties that the quickest and simplest way to implement Dáithí’s Law is to affirm the legislation in the NI Assembly. He has written to the NI parties with a step by step guide to  how they can achieve this.

Discussions also reflected upon the recent passing of the 2022/2023 Northern Ireland Budget Bill as well as the priorities and challenges for 2023/2024 NI Budget with the Secretary of State stating that he will shortly be setting the NI Regional Rate for the next financial year.

The meeting ended with the Secretary of State stressing the importance of restoring the Executive in the interests of people in Northern Ireland.

Commenting after the meeting, Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris said:

It is disappointing that further legislation to extend the period for Executive formation has had to be introduced but I am aware that many people in Northern Ireland are not in favour of another Assembly election at this time.

I’ve been encouraged by my discussions with the parties today but there is no doubt that the absence of a devolved government is having an impact on Northern Ireland with important legislation and public services impacted by the lack of an Executive.

My priority remains the restoration of fully-functioning power-sharing institutions and I will continue to work with the NI parties to ensure this happens as soon as possible.

The press release issued by the Department for Northern Ireland on 9 February 2023.

The UK Government will today (Thursday 9 February) introduce legislation to extend the period for Executive formation.

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 2 February 2023.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP has today announced that an independent statutory inquiry will be established into the preventability of the Omagh bombing in August 1998.

• Independent statutory inquiry to be be established into the preventability of the Omagh bombing
• The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the Omagh Bombing in 1998
• Inquiry will be held in response to a recent High Court judgment

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP has today announced that an independent statutory inquiry will be established into the preventability of the Omagh bombing in August 1998.

This is in response to a High Court judgment that found there were specific issues that gave rise to plausible arguments that the bombing by the Real IRA could have been prevented.

The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the Omagh Bombing in 1998, and four members of the Real IRA were subsequently found liable for the bombing in civil proceedings held in Northern Ireland. This inquiry does nothing to counter these findings, which are clear in who was responsible for this awful atrocity.

The independent statutory inquiry will examine the four issues identified by the High Court; the handling and sharing of intelligence, the use of cell phone analysis, whether there was advance knowledge or reasonable means of knowledge of the bomb, and whether disruption operations could or should have been mounted, which may have helped prevent the Real IRA’s attack.

It will have the full powers provided by the Inquiries Act 2005, including the ability to compel the production of all relevant materials and witnesses and take evidence under oath.

Limiting the inquiry to the specific findings of the High Court will ensure that the Government can comply with its international obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. A final report will be published that will respond to each of the issues identified by the Court.

Work has begun to establish the independent statutory inquiry as soon as possible. The appointment of an inquiry Chairperson will be announced and the inquiry’s terms of reference will also be published in due course.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP said:

“The Omagh bomb was a horrific terrorist atrocity committed by the Real IRA, which caused untold damage to the families of those who were tragically killed and injured. Its impact was felt not just in Northern Ireland, but across the world.

“Having carefully considered the judgment of the High Court, I believe that an independent statutory inquiry is the most appropriate form of further investigation to address the grounds identified by the Court.

“I would like to thank the victims and survivors and all those affected by the Omagh bomb for their patience whilst I have reflected on the judgment and taken into account a range of sensitive, complex and technical factors.”