Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I’M MAKING A STATEMENT
Bradshaw backtracks on family trip to Italy Foster to stop joint briefings with O’neill over funeral probe
THE Alliance Party’s health spokeswoman will not proceed with a foreign holiday if Stormont guidance continues to advise against non-essential travel.
Yesterday, Paula Bradshaw, who sits on the Assembly’s health committee, said she intended to go ahead with a trip to Italy at the weekend.
But hours later the South Belfast MLA issued another statement saying she would not take the break if the current guidelines remained in place.
The Executive’s coronavirus advice is not to travel abroad unless it is essential.
Mrs Bradshaw said: “Like many people, I have a holiday booked – in my case to Italy.
“I should be clear when I said I would operate within the guidance – that obviously includes not travelling if the regulations and guidance at the time state I should not do so. That is currently the case.
“It is important everyone, particularly in representative roles, adheres both to the spirit and letter of that guidance.”
Mrs Bradshaw has a pre-booked holiday at an all-inclusive hotel in Italy.
When asked about the trip yesterday, she said she intended to proceed with it, having weighed up the Stormont guidance in place.
At that point, she insisted she was not breaking any laws or being disrespectful to anyone who was working to suppress the virus in Northern Ireland.
She told the Nolan Show: “A lot of people are going on holidays, a lot of people will be doing the same as we’re doing.
“I just felt we’ve spent so much time in lockdown, we’re going to an all-inclusive resort, we will be respectful when we get there and we’ll spend some peaceful time as a family.”
ARLENE Foster has indicated she will not deliver joint public health messages with Michelle O’neill until investigations into Bobby Storey’s funeral conclude.
However, the DUP leader would be prepared to make joint announcements alongside the Deputy First Minister on other Executive issues, such as plans for the region’s economic recovery.
On a visit to Ballymena, Co Antrim, yesterday, Mrs Foster also said a date for reopening of indoor pools and spa facilities, and the remainder of pubs, should be taken at a meeting on Thursday.
She added she would be willing to consider a proposal from health experts to make face coverings mandatory in shops, but was not sure the issue would be tabled at the discussions.
The First and Deputy First Ministers held regular joint press conferences throughout the pandemic to update the public on the Covid-19 emergency.
Mrs Foster halted that practice in the aftermath of the controversy around the attendance of Ms O’neill and other senior Sinn Fein figures at the funeral of the IRA veteran on June 30.
Ms O’neill has denied claims she and her colleagues breached Stormont’s coronavirus regulations and guidance on funerals and public gatherings by attending an event that saw hundreds line the streets of West Belfast.
Police are probing the alleged breach and rival politicians have also demanded an Assembly standards inquiry.
Mrs Foster was asked about the likelihood of a resumption of joint messaging with her Sinn Fein counterpart on a visit to Galgorm Spa and Golf Resort yesterday.
She said: “I think it’s difficult around the public health message because there are investigations ongoing both by the police and indeed in the Assembly in relation to whether regulations and guidance were breached.
“Setting aside that, in terms of public announcements we still have a lot of work to do in terms of economic recovery, in terms of societal recovery, we have a mental health subcommittee coming up as well, so we’ll continue to do the work that we need to do for all of the people of Northern Ireland.
“But there is a difficulty and I think everybody has acknowledged that around public health messaging. “I think it’s important that we continue to do the work. That’s what we’re continuing to do.
“We will, of course, not have as many Executives [meetings] over the summer months, but it’s important that we continue to get the message out and that the investigations are allowed to have their space to take place.”
On her visit, Mrs Foster toured a £2million redevelopment of the Galgorm’s Thermal Village and Spa. It came amid calls from hospitality representatives for the Executive to give the go-ahead for hotels to reopen their pool and spa facilities.
The First Minister said she expected a “definitive timescale” would be agreed by ministers on Thursday.
She was also asked about her position on face coverings in shops.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael Mcbride and Health Minister Robin Swann are anticipated to ask the Executive to make the wearing of coverings mandatory in retail outlets.
Mrs Foster said: “Of course, if the Chief Medical Officer brings a paper which has medical evidence behind it, then of course, we will look at that.”