Shambles at Stormont as NI Covid recovery plan cannot be approved until election of new First Minister

Range of unionists explain why they are not convinced by Leo Varadkar's "mission"

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Subscribe              Jun 16, 2021           Dear reader Leo Varadkar has made an intervention on the future of Northern Ireland which has not surprisingly antagonised unionists.   The Republic's Tanaiste and former taoiseach controversially claimed that Irish unity could come in his lifetime and that it should be a "mission" of his party, Fine Gael, to press for unification.  However, criticism of his comments, which were made at a time of high political sensitivity, has predictably come from across the unionist spectrum.  The Secretary of State Brandon Lewis also expressed his "surprise" at the comments, stressing that it was important to "dial down any rhetoric, particularly at this time of year, I think it is unhelpful and ill-advised". Sensitivities continue around both the Northern Ireland Protocol, with Brexit minister Lord Frost taking questions from MPs on the subject today, and the Irish language.  Veteran DUP MP Sammy Wilson warned Mr Lewis against any move to implement Irish language at Westminster, thus bypassing Stormont.  Mr Wilson's comments to the News Letter came on Tuesday night, and significantly today Economy Minister Paul Frew was singing from a similar hymn sheet, warning Mr Lewis not to "do anything that would undermine devolution at this time". Alistair Bushe Editor Want total access to all of our online content? You can subscribe to our website, newsletter.co.uk for just £1 for 3 months - and it couldn't be easier.   Signing up will get you faster-loading articles, fewer adverts and access to exclusive content and events when we run them. To learn more, visit our Subscriptions page here.               Shambles at Stormont as NI Covid recovery plan CANNOT be approved without new First Minister           A Northern Ireland recovery plan cannot be approved by the Northern Ireland Executive because there is no First Minister in place.                 New antiviral treatment found to reduce risk of death in patients with severe Covid   A new antiviral drug shown to save lives in patients admitted to hospital with Covid could offer a new lifeline to those who get the most ill from the virus, researchers have said.           Unvaccinated people travelling from GB to Republic of Ireland must now self-isolate   People arriving in the Republic of Ireland from Great Britain must self-isolate for 10 days under new rules.           Brandon Lewis tells of surprise at Tanaiste Leo Varadkar's comments on Irish reunification   Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Brandon Lewis, said he was surprised when he learned Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said he was confident of Irish reunification within his lifetime.           Leo Varadkar Irish unity plan: Range of unionists explain why they are not convinced by Fine Gael leader   A range of unionists have explained why they are far from convinced by Irish unity proposals made bby Fine Gale leader Leo Varadkar.           Up to 12 witnesses in case against soldier murder accused John Downey 'are already dead'   Potential witnesses in the case against a pensioner charged with murdering two British soldiers 49 years ago are no longer alive, a court heard on Wednesday.           Private security regulator to challenge district judge over Jamie Bryson case   A private security regulator is to legally challenge a district judge as part of its case against loyalist activist Jamie Bryson.           Plea to pensioners: check that you are getting the Pension Credit to which you are entitled   The UK has never paid our pensioners more.                 View more news

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