Business community frustration at Stormont lockdown exit plan

Business owners have slammed the lack of either data or dates in the Northern Ireland Executive's roadmap out of lockdown.

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Subscribe              Mar 3, 2021           Dear reader The fall-out from Tuesday's announcement of a roadmap to recovery by the Stormont Executive has continued unabated today.    So many people were looking forward to seeing how ministers would lift the lockdown in Northern Ireland which was implemented on December 26.    However, those who sensed that information from the Executive would be in short supply were proven right, with the roadmap lacking dates and data and attracting almost universal derision across many sectors in Northern Ireland.    A number of business owners have come forward to criticise the roadmap, with restaurant owners Stevie Higginson of Square Bistro in Lisburn saying he has now "lost all confidence" in the Executive while Ian Clyde of the Bronte Steakhouse in Banbridge saying he now feels at "an all-time low".    The latest statistics released by the Department of Health show that four more people with Covid-19 died in Northern Ireland while another 226 positive Covid-19 cases were diagnosed.    Alistair Bushe   Editor   Want total access to all of our online content? You can subscribe to our website, newsletter.co.uk for just £1 a month 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.             Business owner has 'lost all confidence' in Stormont over roadmap out of lockdown           Business owners have slammed the lack of either data or dates in the Northern Ireland Executive's roadmap out of lockdown.                 Matt Hancock says UK residents will be able to certify they have had a Covid vaccination in future   People will need to be provided with the ability to certify that they have been vaccinated against Covid-19, Matt Hancock has said.           LIVE UPDATES: Coronavirus NI - DUP did not ask for dates to be included in NI recovery plan says Michelle O'Neill - UK variant forces schools to close four weeks after reopening in Italy - Executive recovery plan 'mumbo jumbo' and 'a charade' says top NI restaurateur Michael Deane   The DUP did not ask for indicative dates to be included in the Covid-19 recovery plan for Northern Ireland published on Tuesday.           UK furlough scheme to be extended until end of September - what it means for workers   The furlough scheme will be extended until September, Chancellor Rishi Sunack will announce when he unveils the Budget today (Weds 3 March).           Four more deaths with COVID-19 as the number of people who test positive rises to 226   Another four people have died after testing positive for COVID-19.           P&O Cruises is offering week-long UK sailings this summer - is it realistic?   P&O Cruises is offering a series of week-long sailings from the UK this summer, departing from Southampton.           Young males 'flouted' Covid-19 restrictions at Mid Ulster sports arena   Mid Ulster District Council is investigating floutings of Covid-19 restrictions at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena (MUSA) on the outskirts of Cookstown.                 View more news

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