British secretary: Northern Ireland to go to polls 2nd time this year
October 29, 2022, 9:00 am

British secretary: Northern Ireland to go to polls 2nd time this year

Inspection staff check freight at Larne port. The UK has signalled it will delay implementation of parts of the Northern Ireland protocol

Voters in Northern Ireland will go to the polls for a second time this year as politicians failed to reach an agreement on forming a new devolved government within six months after the May 5 election.

Britain’s Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris announced on Friday (Oct 28) that the snap election will be held but he will reveal the details next week on Friday (Nov 4).

Speaking to journalists in Belfast, Chris Heaton-Harris said he "will be calling an election" as the deadline passed.

Harris added that he is "deeply disappointed" to now be faced with "limited options."

"This is a really serious situation, as of a minute past midnight last night there are no longer ministers in office in the Northern Ireland Executive," the secretary said.

Harris said: "I will take limited but necessary steps to ensure that public services do continue to run and to protect the public finances but there is a limit to what the secretary of state can do in these circumstances."

Sinn Fein finds its voice in Ireland after vote gains ( File photo AFP Ben STANSALL

"I hear it when the parties say that they really do not want an election at all. But nearly all of them are parties who signed up to the rules, the law," he added.

"That means I need to call an election so you'll hear more from me on that particular point next week."

The announcement came after the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) on Thursday (Oct 27) blocked efforts to form a new Executive due to their ongoing stance on the Northern Ireland Protocol – an addendum to the UK’s EU Withdrawal Agreement, which keeps Northern Ireland aligned with EU trade rules to avoid a hard border with Ireland.

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The Northern Ireland Assembly held a last-minute sitting to see if a deal could be struck between nationalist Sinn Fein and the DUP to form the new devolved government six months after the election.

Sinn Fein secured a historic victory in May, winning a majority of 27 seats in Stormont, making it the first nationalist party to take control of the assembly in its century of existence.

According to the Northern Ireland-specific law and the latest election result, a power-sharing devolved government can only be formed under an agreement between Sinn Fein and the DUP.

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Sinn Fein nominated the party’s Vice President Michelle O’Neill as the new first minister, but the DUP has repeatedly refused to nominate a deputy and said it would not change its stance unless the Northern Ireland Protocol is scrapped.

The Northern Ireland Protocol has been a source of tension since it came into force at the start of 2021.

The UK and European Union (EU) are holding talks on a way forward.

But disagreements over the protocol have stopped the Northern Ireland Assembly functioning and mean new elections may have to be held.

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The Northern Ireland Protocol is a trading arrangement, negotiated during Brexit talks. It allows goods to be transported across the Irish land border without the need for checks.

Before Brexit, it was easy to transport goods across this border because both sides followed the same EU rules. After the UK left, special trading arrangements were needed because Northern Ireland has a land border with the Republic of Ireland, which is part of the EU.

The EU has strict food rules and requires border checks when certain goods - such as milk and eggs - arrive from non-EU countries. That's why a new system - the Northern Ireland Protocol - was needed.

EU warns UK against ‘not acceptable’ Northern Ireland deal changes

The border is a sensitive issue because of Northern Ireland's troubled political history. It was feared that cameras or border posts could lead to instability.

The UK and the EU agreed that protecting the Northern Ireland peace deal - the Good Friday Agreement - was an absolute priority.

So, both sides signed the Northern Ireland Protocol as part of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. It is now part of international law.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”