List of essential businesses just fuelled more confusion once it finally emerged: economist

Dr Esmond Birnie, an Ulster University academic and former UUP MLA, was reacting to the News Letter’s story of Tuesday, which revealed the disunity and bungling behind the belated release of the list.

Sam McBride had reported that whilst the DUP leadership wanted any business that can operate safely within the social distancing guidelines to keep running.

Sinn Fein has taken an almost blanket approach, insisting all non-essential firms must close.

It emerged that once the list was finally published on Friday night after weeks of waiting, a blunder meant that the wrong document appeared online.

What the document nonetheless did show however, was that it was to be treated merely to “advice” to businesses which may be thinking of closing, and there was no legal weight which would allow Stormont to shut workplaces which ignore it.

Dr Birnie said: “These are certainly extraordinary times in terms of how to run government and we see how in various ways administration in the London civil service and public sector has been found wanting (virus testing, PPE procurement).

“Here in NI our own unusual multi-party Executive and its departments and agencies is under severe trial as well. The performance of the machinery of government at Stormont is mixed.

“One of the most important things which government can do for the private sector is to provide clarity and certainty about regulation – no one should be in doubt about the rules of the game.

“In at least three respects the way Stormont has handled its list of businesses which should shut during the virus is less than ideal:

“Given divisions between the main Executive Parties it took several weeks to produce.

“When it was finally published it was advisory rather than compulsory (so businesses have still been left to make a judgement call).

“The list published last Friday contained a number of errors. So, at least initially it added to confusion rather than reducing it.”