Paul Givan

Northern Ireland’s Covid rules scrapped and replaced with guidance

Health Minister Robin Swann has ripped up Northern Ireland’s Covid rulebook — with all remaining legal restrictions replaced by guidance from Tuesday.

Along with England, we are ahead of the rest of the UK and Ireland in terms of lifting pandemic curtailments

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Niamh Campbell Opinion Important day for return to some kind of normality

The binning of all legal Covid regulations by Robin Swann means people here are able to enjoy more freedoms than all other parts of the UK bar England.

Health Minister Robin Swann has tested positive for Covid. Credit: Liam McBurney

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Lisa Smyth Opinion Robin Swann left in unenviable position over Covid-19 restrictions

As long as his health allows, Robin Swann — who has tested positive for Covid-19 — is expected to decide whether to ease pandemic restrictions in the coming days.

Stormont parties could agree apology for historical institutional abuse victims in lieu of Executive claims UUP’s Mike Nesbitt

An apology to victims of historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland in the absence of an Executive could be given by the five main Stormont parties agreeing to endorse the statement.

Michelle O'Neill. Credit: Liam McBurney/PA

Covid curbs to stay because of DUP’s ‘antics’, says O’Neill

After leading the charge for Covid restrictions to be lifted, the DUP was yesterday blamed for people in Northern Ireland still having to wear face masks and use vaccine passports.

Moving: Trade from NI to the Republic has improved since the NI Protocol was introduced

New report urges NI firms to exploit ‘unique position’ opened up by Brexit protocol

Northern Ireland needs to make the most of its unique economic position, including exploiting the opportunities offered by the Irish Sea border, according to a report today.

New direction: Deirdre Hargey looking to support Women’s football. Credit: Matt Mackey

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Women’s game in Northern Ireland to be offered slice of the stadia funding pie

Senior men’s football clubs in Northern Ireland are set for a major cut in their financial government windfall — should the £36m sub-regional money eventually come through.

A woman puts on a face covering: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Coronavirus Northern Ireland: What restrictions could be lifted tomorrow?

The Executive was expected to meet tomorrow to review Northern Ireland's remaining Covid restrictions, but due to Paul Givan's resignation as First Minister last week, this cannot take place.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson. Credit: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye

DUP leader Donaldson denies ‘collusion’ between party and Government over legislation aiming to protect Assembly from future collapse

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson last night denied there was “collusion” between the DUP and the Government over legislation that aims to protect the Assembly from future collapse.

Crisis: David Campbell. Credit: Jonathan Porter / Press Eye

Loyalist Communities Council tells UUP to ‘act like unionists’

The umbrella group representing the views of the UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando has called on the UUP to “start acting like unionists” over the Brexit protocol.

Health Minister Robin Swann. Credit: Jonathan Porter / Press Eye

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Lisa Smyth Opinion Now it’s up to one man to find a way out of the Covid rules tangle

Just a few weeks ago, the Executive announced the relaxation of a raft of Covid-19 safety measures and promised more were on the way.

Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill speaks to the media in the Great Hall at Stormont’s Parliament Buildings on Monday. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

Stormont crisis: We must salvage what we can from the chaos caused by reckless DUP, says Michelle O'Neill

Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle O'Neill has said other parties should "seek to salvage what we can from the chaos the DUP has caused", following Paul Givan's resignation.

Give NI crisis the attention it deserves, DUP chief tells Boris

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has called on Boris Johnson to visit Northern Ireland amid the ongoing political crisis.

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Allison Morris Opinion DUP’s Donaldson is gambling with his future and the Union

In the last seven days there have been events that in a normal news cycle would have dominated the front pages for days. Such was the fast pace of developments, many became little more than a footnote in an extraordinary week.

Senior NI medic Dr Alan Stout ‘massively disappointed’ by resignation of DUP’s Paul Givan

A senior Northern Ireland medic has described being “massively disappointed” by the resignation of the First Minister Paul Givan last week, as he said it was “like a balloon being burst” in the health service.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said protocol issues have not been addressed (Peter Morrison/PA)

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Jon Tonge Opinion Gambling with future of NI politics will never pay off

To think that gambling used to be frowned upon by the DUP. The party has now bet big on Collapse in the Protocol Stakes. Given that gamblers win only one in seven times this is a big call.

Stormont’s last ‘securi-cat’ enjoying her retirement after being adopted

In a week full of political departures, the latest long-standing figure to leave Stormont is not another representative or minister, but a cat.

Loggerheads: Sir Jeffrey Donaldson addresses reporters earlier this week. Credit: Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

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Sam McBride Opinion Peculiar moves by DUP hint at party spat undermining sea border strategy

What has emanated from the DUP this week has been a mixture of carefully laid strategy and actions which for now remain inexplicable even to some DUP members.

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A measure of support for DUP’s great gamble in the heartland of unionism

The resignation of Paul Givan as First Minister has plunged Northern Ireland into yet another political crisis.

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Viewpoint Opinion Crisis at Stormont means we all suffer

Here we go again. Another crisis at Stomont – although people are now well-used to such moves that create chaos in our imperfect political institutions.

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Suzanne Breen Opinion Donaldson had no choice, but his risky tactic could backfire

Talking tough without following through had made Sir Jeffrey Donaldson a target for ridicule, but the actions the DUP has taken in the last 48 hours are high-risk.

Belfast Chamber chief executive Simon Hamilton. Credit: Paul McErlane

Political instability the last thing NI needs, says business chief Simon Hamilton

Former DUP minister Simon Hamilton has criticised his old party following the resignation of Paul Givan as First Minister, saying political instability is the “last thing” Northern Ireland needs.

UUP leader Doug Beattie speaking to media at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, on Thursday. Credit: Rebecca Black/PA

Early Stormont election push follows condemnation of resignation of Paul Givan

There has been widespread condemnation of the First Minister’s resignation from across the political spectrum, with concerns about what impact Paul Givan’s departure will have on vital services and legislation.

First Minister Paul Givan announces his resignation at the Crown Plaza in Belfast on February 3rd, 2022 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Paul Givan’s resignation: What happens next?

Following Paul Givan’s resignation as First Minister, the Belfast Telegraph looks at what the next steps will be for Northern Ireland.

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Allison Morris Opinion Paul Givan’s resignation as First Minister will have far-reaching consequences on Stormont legislation

They were two announcements – 24 hours apart – that threaten to send the political institutions into crisis.

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Student numbers drop at Magee despite countless commitments to expand

Student numbers at Ulster University’s Magee campus have declined in the past year at a time when there is public outcry about the long-running failure to expand to 10,000 students.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson as Paul Givan announces his resignation at the Crownplaza in Belfast on February 3rd, 2022 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

As it happened: Paul Givan resigns as First Minister – DUP’s Donaldson says people must ‘have their say’ as Sinn Fein call for early election

A day of high political drama at Stormont has seen Paul Givan resign as First Minister of Northern Ireland and the potential of an early election, with Sinn Fein calling for one and Sir Jeffrey Donaldson claiming it is time for people to “have their say”.

Northern Ireland’s Covid rules scrapped and replaced with guidance

Niamh Campbell Opinion Important day for return to some kind of normality

Lisa Smyth Opinion Robin Swann left in unenviable position over Covid-19 restrictions

Stormont parties could agree apology for historical institutional abuse victims in lieu of Executive claims UUP’s Mike Nesbitt

Covid curbs to stay because of DUP’s ‘antics’, says O’Neill

New report urges NI firms to exploit ‘unique position’ opened up by Brexit protocol

Women’s game in Northern Ireland to be offered slice of the stadia funding pie

Coronavirus Northern Ireland: What restrictions could be lifted tomorrow?

DUP leader Donaldson denies ‘collusion’ between party and Government over legislation aiming to protect Assembly from future collapse

Loyalist Communities Council tells UUP to ‘act like unionists’

Lisa Smyth Opinion Now it’s up to one man to find a way out of the Covid rules tangle

Stormont crisis: We must salvage what we can from the chaos caused by reckless DUP, says Michelle O'Neill

Give NI crisis the attention it deserves, DUP chief tells Boris

Allison Morris Opinion DUP’s Donaldson is gambling with his future and the Union

Senior NI medic Dr Alan Stout ‘massively disappointed’ by resignation of DUP’s Paul Givan

Jon Tonge Opinion Gambling with future of NI politics will never pay off

Stormont’s last ‘securi-cat’ enjoying her retirement after being adopted

Sam McBride Opinion Peculiar moves by DUP hint at party spat undermining sea border strategy

A measure of support for DUP’s great gamble in the heartland of unionism

Viewpoint Opinion Crisis at Stormont means we all suffer

Suzanne Breen Opinion Donaldson had no choice, but his risky tactic could backfire

Political instability the last thing NI needs, says business chief Simon Hamilton

Early Stormont election push follows condemnation of resignation of Paul Givan

Paul Givan’s resignation: What happens next?

Allison Morris Opinion Paul Givan’s resignation as First Minister will have far-reaching consequences on Stormont legislation

Student numbers drop at Magee despite countless commitments to expand

As it happened: Paul Givan resigns as First Minister – DUP’s Donaldson says people must ‘have their say’ as Sinn Fein call for early election

Northern Ireland parties furious as DUP casts Stormont into chaos

Mark Bain Opinion Tectonic plates have shifted and left Poots thinking he should have been careful what he wished for

Suzanne Breen Opinion How mighty have fallen as big beast Poots runs out of road