Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Fan support for bug-hit O’neill
Tips on helping partially sighted
DEALING with the pandemic has fasttracked the rebuilding of working relationships derailed by Stormont’s power-sharing crisis, Northern Ireland’s leaders have said.
Covid-19 struck the region less than two months after the restoration of devolution following a three-year political row between coalition partners the DUP and Sinn Fein.
First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’neill, who now lead the new five-party coalition, said they have learned to “differ well” during the coronavirus emergency so that inevitable disagreements do not divert attention from common goals.
The leaders said the fact both their mothers were admitted to hospital during the crisis has also created common ground.
Mrs Foster revealed the crisis has hastened the development of working relationships.
She said: “I don’t think there’s any doubt about that, because when you are faced with something like that you just have to put other things to one side and just get on with the common issue, the big issue of trying to save lives and protect the health service, and that’s what really drove us from late March onward.
“There’s nothing more important than trying to protect life, so obviously that’s the critical issue.
“And there has been the intensity of trying to deal with modelling coming through, and being told what’s going to happen, and if we don’t take action this is going to happen, and if you do take action it might be less bad.”
Ms O’neill believes her party and the DUP have both gained a better understanding of each other during the last few months.
She added: “We were literally just through the door again, just trying to bed things down whenever it hit.
“You’ve heard Arlene joking that we’re nearly practically part of the one family now because we’ve been working that closely together.
“I think the necessity to deal with the pandemic has meant that we have all learned how to work together and perhaps there’s a greater understanding of each other.
“Perhaps that’s another positive in the middle of everything.”
The pair acknowledge the impact of the shared experience of coping with the hospitalisation of their mothers.
Mrs Foster said: “The fact both of our mothers were in hospital with non-covid issues, obviously there’s the humanity around all of that.
“When you are working with somebody every day, of course you have to get on, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.”
NORTHERN Ireland fans have been sending their best wishes to former manager Michael O’neill following his positive test for Covid-19.
The resulted emerged before his current club Stoke City were due to face Manchester United in a behind-closeddoors friendly on Tuesday.
The 50-year-old will be in self-isolation for at least a week.
The official Northern Ireland Twitter page said: “We wish Michael a speedy recovery.”
Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters’ Clubs chairman Gary Mcallister added: “I’m sure my fellow Northern Ireland fans will join me in sending our very best wishes to Michael at this time.”
Glentoran, who O’neill played for from 2002 to 2004, tweeted: “Sending our best wishes to Michael O’neill for a speedy and full recovery.”
JUST one in five people would be totally at ease helping someone with sight loss because of social distancing, a charity has found.
Guide Dogs NI said lifting lockdown restrictions brings new challenges for people who are visually impaired – and their canine companions.
It has launched a campaign – Be There – with advice for the public to give support while keeping a safe distance.
The charity added people with sight loss were worried about access to essential services like supermarkets and public transport.
Head of operations Fiona Brown said: “We hope these three tips are the first steps in offering to assist someone who is blind or partially sighted.”
The advice is:
Keep your distance, but don’t disappear Say hello and offer your help, and Describe the scene.