Opposition parties say pushing out Covid-19 emergency powers to November is a step too far
Stephen Donnelly has said he will amend the law so that a three-month extension in November is the only one permitted. By Christina Finn Tuesday 25 May 2021, 3:32 PM 3 hours ago 8,855 Views 18 Comments
Opposition members have called for earlier dates for the review.
Image: LEAH FARRELL; RollingNews.ie
Image: LEAH FARRELL; RollingNews.ie
HEALTH MINISTER STEPHEN Donnelly has said he will propose to amend the Government’s emergency laws for Covid-19 restrictions to ensure that there are no “rolling powers” for extensions.
His comments come as a number of Opposition parties have raised concerns about the extension of the emergency powers until November.
Donnelly hopes emergency powers extension is last one rte.ie - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rte.ie Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
May 1, 2021 12:00 pm
Just transition, along with “many” of the targets, “is an optional extra” in the new climate bill, according to deputy Richard Boyd Barrett.
Speaking in the Dail this week on the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021, the People Before Profit TD said that the bill is “littered” with the phrase ‘as far as practicable’.
“It is a constant refrain,” the deputy said. “It is stated that, as far as practicable, we will do this, that and the other.
“If it is not practicable, we will not be doing it. In spite of all the references to climate justice, the single reference that the minister [Eamon Ryan] was forced to put in, which was not included in the first draft in the context of the just transition, is that of ‘as far as practicable’.
The ousting of Arlene Foster as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) will lead to a difficult and turbulent period ahead â not alone for the operation of the Northern Ireland protocol, but also for North-South relations, senior politicians, diplomats and commentators have said.
Diplomatic sources believe itâs âgoing to be difficult for a period to comeâ. They have taken the decision by the Northâs Minister for Agriculture Edwin Poots â the frontrunner to succeed Foster â to boycott a North-South ministerial conference as ânot a great signalâ.
âWhoever comes in is not going to portray themselves as less staunch than Arlene. Where do they go?â