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Government Politics Stormont Westminster

Return to Double Jobbing for MLAs and MPs

The political foundations of Northern Ireland have been shook as it has been reveal that we could potentially have a return to double jobbing in the North of Ireland. It has been revealed that the Government is proposing an amendment to the Northern Ireland minister’s elections and petitions of concerns bill. Despite the potential dual […]

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Community Crime Government Seanad Éireann

Fianna Fáil Senators Call For Harsher Sentences For Those Who Damage Public Defibrillators

Fianna Fáil Senators Robbie Gallagher and Diarmuid Wilson have brought forward legislation, Life Saving Equipment Bill, that proposes up to five years’ imprisonment and/or a €50,000 fine for anyone convicted of the theft of, or damage to, a defibrillator or life buoy. Senator Gallagher commented, “Over the last number of weeks, there have been attacks […]

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Community Dáil Éireann Government

Minister Catherine Martin Welcomes Events to Mark the Centenary of the Handover of Dublin Castle

On 16th January 1922 at 1.45pm, the last Lord Lieutenant, or Viceroy, of Ireland formally handed over power and Dublin Castle itself, to the new Provisional Government.  The ceremony was concluded within a brief 45 minutes.  This Sunday marks the 100th anniversary of this historic event – one of the most significant in modern Irish history and […]

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Community Government Stormont

£55 Million Energy Payment Support Scheme Announced

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced a £55 million Energy Payment Support Scheme for vulnerable people struggling to meet rising energy costs due to the global fuel crisis. A one-off payment of £200 will be made automatically to around 280,000 eligible people in receipt of specified benefits. The payment will be made through existing payment […]

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Banbridge Community Government Lurgan Portadown Upper Bann Westminster

Emergency Fuel Payments Can Help Local Households in Need – Lockhart

Emergency fuel payments can help local households in need – Lockhart DUP MP Carla Lockhart has urged those across Upper Bann who are in emergency fuel need to apply for the £100 payment made available by the Department for Communities, administered by the Bryson Charitable Group.  Carla Lockhart said: “A number of months ago I […]

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Election 2022 Politics South Down Stormont

McKevitt Demands Executive Ministers Focus on the Job Not Political Games

SDLP Newry, Mourne and Down Councillor Karen McKevitt has said she is frustrated and angry at the continued threats to stability and delivery from the DUP and Sinn Fein. With just four months of this mandate left, the SDLP is calling for the delivery of the agreed New Decade New Approach commitments. Cllr. McKevitt said: […]

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Health Politics Stormont

Statement From the Executive – Be Vigilant!, Get Boosted!, Test and Report!

With community transmission of COVID-19 at an all-time high, the Executive is urging everyone not to let their guard down, get boosted, test and report. The Executive received an update from our medical and scientific advisors on the latest public health situation. As expected, the highly infectious nature of the Omicron variant has led to […]

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Community Election 2022 Politics Stormont

Emergency Fuel Payment Scheme Falls Short of What’s Needed – UUP

The Ulster Unionist Party’s East Belfast MLA and Communities spokesperson, Andy Allen MBE, has raised concerns that the Emergency Fuel Scheme falls short of what’s needed. Mr Allen said: “Following the announcement of the allocation of £2M for an Emergency Fuel Payment Scheme, I repeatedly sought to obtain detail on the scheme in advance of […]

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Downpatrick Election 2022 Health South Down Stormont

McGrath: Cancer Patients Failed Throughout Pandemic!

SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath has said that cancer patients in the North have been continually failed throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. He was commenting after the latest cancer waiting time figures from the Department of Health showed all targets had been missed. South Down MLA Mr McGrath said: “That all targets for the North’s cancer […]