UK ministers have a “shocking” lack of knowledge about the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland following Brexit, a joint session of four Westminster committees has been told.
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee joined together with the Northern Ireland, Scottish and Welsh affairs committees to hear evidence on the Government’s union capability.
Appearing as witnesses on Thursday were Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and Sue Gray, who recently left the Northern Ireland Civil Service to take up a Whitehall role as second permanent secretary of the Cabinet Office.
MPs asked about the workings of the Northern Ireland Protocol, designed to protect the peace process by avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland.
UK ministers have a “shocking” lack of knowledge about the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland following Brexit, a joint session of four Westminster committees has been told.
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee joined together with the Northern Ireland, Scottish and Welsh affairs committees to hear evidence on the Government’s union capability.
Appearing as witnesses on Thursday were Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and Sue Gray, who recently left the Northern Ireland Civil Service to take up a Whitehall role as second permanent secretary of the Cabinet Office.
MPs asked about the workings of the Northern Ireland Protocol, designed to protect the peace process by avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland.
UK ministers ‘have shocking lack of knowledge about Northern Ireland Protocol , Westminster committees told A sign by unionists against NI Protocol on Main Street in Larne. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire Jonathan McCambridge, PA 20 May, 2021 17:53
UK ministers have a “shocking” lack of knowledge about the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland following Brexit, a joint session of four Westminster committees has been told.
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee joined together with the Northern Ireland, Scottish and Welsh affairs committees to hear evidence on the gGovernment’s union capability.
Appearing as witnesses today were Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and Sue Gray, who recently left the Northern Ireland Civil Service to take up a Whitehall role as second permanent secretary of the Cabinet Office.
UK ministers have shocking lack of knowledge about Northern Ireland Protocol aol.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from aol.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Civil Service to recruit 500 new staff in response to high level of vacancies Finance Minister Conor Murphy (centre) with some current EO1 and EO2 grade civil servants (L - R): Jill McKendry, Louise Boyd, Debra Rice and Shaun Buchanan). Ryan McAleer Related stories
THE Civil Service is to recruit 500 new staff as the public sector organisation continues to grapple with several thousand vacancies.
The shortage was linked to recruitment challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The permanent secretary said the health of his officials was suffering, in part due to a 25 per cent vacancy rate within the department.