News

Job Retention Bonus

The Chancellor also announced the Job Retention Bonus. This is a one-off payment of £1,000 to employers for every furloughed employee who remains continuously employed through to the end of January 2021. Employees must earn above the Lower Earnings Limit (£520 per month) on average between the end of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme...
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Bus and Coach Industry “on its knees” and requires immediate financial support from the Executive

#saveourcoachindustry The Bus and Coach industry in Northern Ireland has called on the Northern Ireland Executive to support them financially as a priority. Over 30 coach providers from across Northern Ireland arrived at Stormont from Titanic Quarter earlier this morning to take their appeal to the heart of the...
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Rebuilding the Northern Ireland Economy

Economy Minister Diane Dodds on rebuilding the Northern Ireland economy. Any economy experiencing months of lockdown would suffer as a consequence and it is an unfortunate inevitability that we will, in the immediate term at least, see an increase in unemployment as a result. However, the local economy will recover. The issue is how fast that...
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Joint Statement by the Department of Health and the Police Service of Northern Ireland

The regulations on social distancing were introduced quickly for very good reason. In an ideal world, they would have received detailed scrutiny at the Assembly before becoming law. Unscrupulous traders profiteering by exploiting Covid-19 warned Unscrupulous traders profiteering by exploiting Covid-19 warned However, we are not living in an ideal world at present. The overriding priority at...
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COVID-19 £25,000 Business Support Grant Scheme

£25,000 BUSINESS SUPPORT GRANT SCHEME FOR THE RETAIL, HOSPITALITY, TOURISM AND LEISURE SECTORS APPLICATION

A one-off grant of £25,000 is available to the ratepayers of businesses in the Retail, Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure sectors operating in a premises with a rateable value of £15,001 or up to £51,000. This is the rateable value on the...
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Minister’s statement to the Assembly Ad Hoc Committee

As Economy Minister, my role right now is to try and mitigate the worst impacts on our economy by protecting as many livelihoods as possible. By doing this, I believe, we will safeguard the economic foundations on which our recovery must be built. This is the reason why we are working hard to distribute over £400m...
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Economy Minister highlights alternative employment opportunities

Economy Minister Diane Dodds has offered her support to people looking for alternative work due to the impact of COVID-19 on jobs across Northern Ireland

The Minister said:
“I want to reassure businesses and workers that my department is working hard to support you through the uncertainty of the current economic situation.”
Mrs Dodds said that there...
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Mallon urges the public to support frontline workers

Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon is urging the public to stay safe and follow the guidance, as essential workers continue to maintain valuable services for the whole community. Speaking today Minister Mallon said: “This is not an easy time for any of us and we all need to play our part by staying at home and following government...
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Payments in Small Business Support Grant Schemes to start early next week

The first payment in the Small Business Support Grant Scheme will be made on March 31, if not before, Economy Minister Diane Dodds said today. The Minister also announced that an online portal, set up to support the payments, went live today. The portal provides the facility for business to register their bank details in order...
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