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The DUP has vetoed a proposed one-week extension to Northern Ireland\u2019s circuit-break lockdown.<\/p>\nThe DUP has vetoed a proposed one-week extension to Northern Ireland\u2019s circuit-break lockdown.<\/p>\n
All the other executive parties had backed the proposal from health minister Robin Swann, proposed in a bid to end an executive stalemate on restrictions.<\/p>\n
Those same parties voted down alternative proposals from DUP economy minister Diane Dodds that would have led to a partial reopening of the hospitality sector.<\/p>\n
Divisions at the head of the power-sharing administration have been laid bare over recent days as ministers struggle to agree new pandemic response measures.<\/p>\n
The DUP had already vetoed a proposal from Mr Swann to extend the current circuit-break by two weeks, despite the other four executive parties again backing the move on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
During a third executive meeting in three days on Wednesday, Mr Swann suggested a one-week extension of the measures, which have forced much of the hospitality sector to close.<\/p>\n
It is understood the one-week proposal was designed to buy some time and avoid the cliff edge of the current regulations lapsing at midnight on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The DUP again vetoed the proposal using a contentious voting mechanism. It comes after late-night meetings on Monday and Tuesday broke up without agreement.<\/p>\n
The executive\u2019s two main parties \u2013 the DUP and Sinn F\u00e9in \u2013 are engaged in a claim and counterclaim spat amid a failure to reach consensus ahead of the looming end of the current circuit-break.<\/p>\n
The DUP is understood to be furious at Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s decision to back Mr Swann\u2019s proposal of a two-week lockdown extension.<\/p>\n
It believes Sinn F\u00e9in backtracked on an apparent pledge to endorse the reopening of cafes and restaurants.<\/p>\n
DUP sources believe Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s Dublin powerbase intervened and forced a change in direction north of the border.<\/p>\n
DUP First Minister Arlene Foster said her partners in government had to explain why they had changed position.<\/p>\n
The claims have been robustly rejected by Sinn F\u00e9in, with the party insisting it was acting in line with medical and scientific advice.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in’s Michelle O\u2019Neill said: \u201cLast night at the executive we were warned by the chief medical officer (Dr Michael McBride) that any easing of the current restrictions would cause \u2018excess deaths\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe advice was stark and clear \u2013 if we don\u2019t keep current restrictions in place for another two weeks, more people will die.”<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in MP Michelle Gildernew branded the DUP move to veto the extension \u201cmadness\u201d.<\/p>\n
During Tuesday\u2019s executive meeting, Alliance Party justice minister Naomi Long was particularly critical of the deployment of the cross-community vote \u2013 a mechanism designed to protect minority rights in a post-conflict society \u2013 to torpedo health regulations.<\/p>\n
Northern Ireland\u2019s four-week circuit-break lockdown ends at midnight on Thursday, at which point regulations that have forced the closure of much of the hospitality sector will fall away.<\/p>\n
The administration is facing mounting criticism for failing to tell businesses whether they will be able to reopen on Friday.<\/p>\n
A further eight new Covid-19 linked deaths were announced in Northern Ireland on Wednesday, with 791 new cases of the virus.<\/p>\n