Peter Robinson: NI Executive needs a new strategy to tackle coronavirus

Writing in his News Letter column, the former DUP leader says that “a hokey-cokey approach to lockdowns cannot be the answer”.

Although recognising the difficulty of the Executive’s task, Mr Robinson said that “some may question the Executive’s priorities or the fairness of them”. He said: “Now is the time to produce a long-term sustainable plan. The strategy needs a workable pathway for all elements and sectors in our society. There will be a price to pay if we do this, and a greater one if we do not.”

Mr Robinson’s comments come as the Executive yesterday failed to agree on whether the current restrictions will stop entirely next Friday or be even partially extended – leaving businesses, especially those which need to order perishable produce, in limbo. The lack of a decision came despite the Chancellor extending furlough until March – a vast financial commitment.

Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill insisted that there was not disagreement within the Executive, but the News Letter has been told by a source that there is a fundamental divide – with Health Minister Robin Swann recommending a two-week extension of the current restrictions and the DUP opposing that.

Yesterday the Department of Health confirmed another 516 positive cases of the virus, and 12 more deaths. The number of new cases is down significantly from the figure of 822 a week earlier, and about half that of the 1,042 a fortnight ago. But it is still hugely above the 78 new cases registered on September 10.

Writing in today’s News Letter, Mr Robinson warned about growing public frustration with frequently-changing rules: “The public have for the most part played their part and accepted the guidance and advice proffered, but there is growing resistance to lockdowns and more and more public impatience with shifting rules and guidance.

“It is vital to keep the public on-board because, unpopular as it may be for those who heedlessly want to get on with their lives by ignoring the danger of Covid, the price for getting the province functioning again will be accepting limitations and restrictions on how we live within a functioning Covid world.”

He added: “Rules must be logical, understandable, and simplified ensuring the multiple messages from other regions outside Northern Ireland do not obscure what has to be done here.”

Arguing against a cycle of rolling lockdowns, the former DUP leader said: “Business cannot survive on a stop-start basis. Business planning and viability requires certainty”.

He called for an expansion of the track and trace system and also urged the Executive to re-examine the size of school classes, saying: “If some areas of life require restrictions including a reduction in the usage of facilities, then I am having a difficulty understanding why such controls are not to apply in schools. Class sizes and pupil hours need to be considered.”

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