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COUNTING IS UNDERWAY in Northern Ireland following yesterday’s Stormont Assembly election, but once the count is done and dusted, the real work of forming a Government starts.
This election could see Sinn Féin become the largest party in the North for the first time ever, while Alliance appears to be making significant gains today at the expense of the DUP.
The First Minister for Northern Ireland has always been a unionist.
Under the rules, the first minister and deputy first minister are the joint heads of Government of the Northern Ireland Executive.
While Sinn Féin would gain no more authority if it displaces the DUP as the largest party and its Stormont leader Michelle O’Neill assumes the first minister’s job, it would symbolically signify a big change of order.
There has been speculation that the DUP might refuse to accept the prospect of Sinn Féin taking the First Minister role.
Sinn Féin Vice President Michelle O’Neill said it would be “absolutely unfathomable” to tell the electorate that a new Executive would not be formed following the election.
Sticking point
While there is much focus on who takes the two top jobs, the real sticking point for DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, and perhaps for the formation of any Government, is the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Donaldson has said he will turn up on day one after the election, but will not form an Executive until concerns around the Northern Ireland Protocol are dealt with.
When asked this morning if he was optimistic that a Government could be formed, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney replied “it can be difficult”.
He told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that he will be working with all the parties in Northern Ireland to address the issues around the protocol, acknowledging that more flexibilities are needed.
What happens after today?
Despite the issues around the first ministerial role and the protocol, the newly elected Assembly that emerges today must meet within eight days and will be asked to nominate a first and deputy first minister.
However, there’s unlikely to be agreement, meaning we are probably in for long and protracted talks over the coming weeks and perhaps even months.
If the DUP refuses to nominate a Sinn Féin deputy first minister, the Stormont ministers from the last Executive will continue in their jobs for another six months.
If there is no Executive formed after six months, a new election could potentially be triggered.
If there is no agreement on Government formation, the Assembly and the Executive cannot function, which could ultimately result in a return to direct rule from London.
If no Executive is formed, it effectively leaves the North in limbo, with the Assembly having no power to sign off on key decisions such as budgetary matters or create new laws.
Stormont has been out of action of sorts on a number of occasions. The “cash for ash” scandal resulted in a three-year hiatus in 2017.
The formation of a Government in Northern Ireland could be painstakingly slow after today’s count, but with everyday issues like the cost of living up front as one of the big election issues this time around, the hope is it will get off the ground sooner rather than later, for everyone’s sake.
Speaking this afternoon, after being elected on the first count to his constituency, Donaldson was asked about leaving Westminster behind him.
“Well, I’ve made my position clear on that. I’ve been deemed elected. Let’s wait for the final declaration and as I’ve said, my party officers will meet, we’ll discuss the next steps in this process as to how we can most effectively apply pressure to bring about the objectives that we need, which is a stable Northern Ireland, a stable economy and our political institutions up and running, provided the Protocol is dealt with,” he said.
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My first time getting it from tomorrow and I’m so thankful it’s available, the workplace were originally going to pay us only 50% of our contracted hours which was just not something some staff on 8 hour contracts could live on, especially when they work a lot more than 8 hours a week. Retail, even as management, is precarious!
@Whatever: I was on it from the middle of March last year until the end of December as my job is still closed but thankfully got a college placement co-op position for the next 8 months so I am off it now. Was very grateful to receive the PUP, glad it’s there for ye now being laid off again
@Whatever: As self employed I applied last year and was told NO. Now I eat beans, no heat, food or help. No one cares.
@Paul Somers: why was that? I know a few self employed people that got it. My brother and husband included
@Paul Somers: had you a tax return completed and paid for the previous financial year? If you completed a return in October/November 2019 for the 2018 tax year you should have got it. If you only started your business in 2019 you should qualify once you submitted a return for that year.
@Laura Clayton: I honestly don’t know, I pay tax and the vat. Got scared, and now sitting in the house with thermals and a wooly hat. I would love a cuppa
@Derdaly: yes I did
@Paul Somers: you should be entitled to it keep contacting your local social welfare office they will get it sorted for you. I was waiting 5 weeks for mine to come through but I got it eventually with persistence
@Brian Byrne: gave up but thank you
@Paul Somers: honestly don’t give up Paul keep at them daily until they sort it for you. I sent in the postal application and applied online through the social services portal. It was all sorted eventually.
@Paul Somers: That might be why you never got it. If you want it it’s there for you as long as you provide what’s required of you.
@Seán O’Loughlin: it’s embarrassing
@Paul Somers: You were told lies. I’m self employed and on the full PUP.
@Paul Somers: paul I’m self employed and I’m on it since March last year. I had to apply 3 times because it never went through online. The last time I posted it in and was eventually back dated to the 1st time I applied. You are 100% entitled to it. Hope thing get better for you soon.
Heard of some people being denied loans because they claimed pup. Thought it wasn’t meant to affect your credit rating?
@Brian Dunne: yeah that is true. Iv heard of people having their mortgage application rejected because one of the joint applicants were on PUP. Even with employer letters saying their job is secure and available for the person to return to. I don’t know if it effects your actual credit rating, but banks will not lend to people on social welfare and PUP is social welfare no matter what way you break it down. Its a joke
@Eoin Jackson: and before people start blasting the banks as the big bad wolves for that strategy, that is mandated by the CBI, which in other words, is basically mandated by the government.
@Eoin Jackson: yup – that was the case for me and my husband last April. We were both on Pup and both had letters confirming future employment and BoI pulled our approval. They’d issued it in February and we were sale agreed on a house and everything. That all fell through.
Ended up going to the credit union. Their deal isn’t great and you’ve to have a 30% down payment (Christ) but they signed off on it for us while both on Pup. In our own house now since November and I’m still on pup. Husband back at work but laid off on the wage subsidy scheme. We are well able to afford the mortgage repayments but there’s not a chance we could have afforded to rent a place
@Brian Dunne: it affects affordability not credit rating, so no surprises that people were refused a loan due to a lower income
Cash nixer bonanza
@MickN: Mor on. It’s keeping the wolf from the door for so many people.
@Seán Óg: Aye right…
@Mike: Dead on
Where do I sign up?
Went on the PUP in November because of redundancy.. started a new job today. Happy days!
Banks are very hard to deal with this lockdown. I tried to get a 2 month freeze on the mortgage as it’s going to be 2 months until I’m back up and running. Spent an hour filling in the online form. Looking now for last years earnings. Accountant letters etc. etc. What’s last years accounts got to do with being out of work this year due to a pandemic. I think the government should be doing more with the banks like last lockdown.
Serious question: Do people living in Northern Ireland, if working in the south, get paid PUP from the Irish Government?
@David Connell: only available to people with pps /prsi no. You have to supply details in order to qualify
And the reports of the country bouncing back later this year and the housing market being strong.
What a load of bs
@billy bound: I’m in construction and I’m up the walls. That includes every construction friend I know. Covid has made things busier not quieter.
If you get OAP and out of work you don’t qualify, even if you pay taxes
@Margaret Deacon: why should you get pup if you weren’t working in the first place.
When do they transfer to jobseekers (aka regular dole)?
And still you’ll get another tax demand at the end of this year like most people did in the last 2 weeks
when the chickens come home to roost this place will be worse than 2008.
If you are getting OAP but still working before Covid hit and were paid on PAYE basis, as far as I know, you are entitled to PUP. However if OAP and self employed and NOT on PAYE system, (just taxed at end of year when returns are made)then no PUP. Anyway this is what happened 2 of my friends who were in each situation as described
have your say