Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

A Belfast High Court ruled on Monday that civil servants cannot make major decisions normally taken in Northern Ireland by Ministers. A judicial review there ruled that civil servants had no power, in this case to approve a planning application, but the expectation is that it is likely to have consequences for other significant administrative decisions. It is clear the Westminster Government is consumed by Brexit. There seems to be little progress in restoring an Executive in Northern Ireland. Is there any initiative under way by Government to facilitate the restoration of power-sharing and an Executive in Northern Ireland or are we going to face a situation where there is simply no effective authority to implement normal administrative procedures in the North of the island?

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