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Campaigns Daisy Hill Election 2022 Government Health Newry Stormont

Southern Trust Clarifies Scope of Service Downgrade for Daisy Hill

SDLP MLA Justin McNulty has expressed concern that upwards of 1,000 local patients a year will still have to travel to Craigavon for emergency operations despite a clarification by the Southern Trust today that only general abdominal surgeries are to be removed from Daisy Hill. The revelation came after a meeting today between the Southern […]

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Business Election 2022 Government Lurgan Stormont Upper Bann

O’Dowd Votes to Ban Zero Hours Contracts

Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has welcomed progress on a Sinn Féin bill to Ban Zero Hour Contracts being imposed on workers and instead introducing banded hours.   The Bill is designed to ensure no worker is forced to work zero hour contracts unless they explicitly state the arrangement suits them. Speaking in the Assembly during the Bill debate Mr O’Dowd […]

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Crime Election 2022 Government Legacy Politics Stormont

SDLP Raises Serious Concerns About Patterns of Police Behaviour Following Ombudsman Report

SDLP representatives have raised serious concerns about patterns of police behaviour which obstructed justice and prevented effective investigations into sectarian murders following the publication of a Police Ombudsman report into police handling of loyalist paramilitary murders in South Belfast. Policing Board Member Dolores Kelly MLA said that the report, which includes an investigation of the […]

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Armagh Community Election 2022 Government Infrastructure Stormont

Boylan Urges for Better Access to Driving and Vehicle Tests

Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan has said the Infrastructure Minister must urgently address the driving and vehicle backlog. The Newry and Armagh MLA said: “People are continually frustrated with trying to get vehicle and driving tests across the north. “Long waiting times for driving tests has totally stressed learner drivers, especially those who may need […]

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Business Council Government Newry NMD Council South Armagh South Down

Council Strikes 2022/23 Rate Keeping Increase Below 2%

At the Council meeting of 7 February 2022, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council struck a district rate for the April 2022 – March 2023 financial year of 1.95%. The Domestic Rate for 2022/2023 will be 0.4224 pence (2021/2022 equivalent 0.4067 pence). The Non-Domestic District Rate for 2022/23 will be 24.9209 pence (2021/2022 equivalent 23.9970 […]

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Business Election 2022 Government Lurgan Politics Stormont Upper Bann

O’ Dowd : Almac Analysis of Protocol Significant

Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has said that a statement released by Almac Group outlining their analysis of the Brexit Protocol is noteworthy. The Upper Bann representative said:“Almac is one of the greatest economic success stories we have and the fact that it is headquartered right here in Upper Bann is something to be rightly […]

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Business Council Government Newry NMD Council South Armagh South Down

Rate Set to Protect Public Services Across Newry Mourne & Down – Cllr. Ó Muirí

Councillor Barra Ó Muirí, Group Leader for Sinn Féin on Newry Mourne & Down Council has commented on the striking of the District Rate of 1.95%. “Sinn Féin’s priority in the striking of the rate has been to protect and improve public services, and to strike a fair rate for workers and families.  “Last year […]

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Election 2022 Government Health Politics Stormont Westminster

Assisted Suicide Must Not Be Imposed On The North by London – Aontu

Responding to legislative efforts in the House of Lords to legalise Assisted Suicide, Aontú Deputy Leader & Cllr for Mid Ulster, Denise Mullen, has said we must not allow Assisted Suicide to be illegally foisted upon the North in the same way abortion was by London. Cllr Mullen: “This is a highly emotive issue, and […]

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Community Dáil Éireann Government Louth

Fianna Fail Call for Swift Action to Address Long Processing Times for First-Time Passports

Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North West, Aindrias Moynihan has called for swift action to tackle the ongoing issue of lengthy processing times for first-time passport applications. Deputy Moynihan, who questioned the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the issue in the Dáil last week, commented, “We are coming to the point where many families are […]

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Agriculture Business Government Upper Bann Westminster

Lockhart Meets Cross-Party Group of MPs to Rally Support for Red Diesel Rethink

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has met with MPs from across the various Westminster parties this week to garner support for a joint approach to the Treasury for a red diesel rebate rethink.  Carla Lockhart said:  “The debate I hosted in Parliament last week had cross-party support – Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem, SNP MPs all […]

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Community Education Government Lurgan Upper Bann Westminster

MP Praises Bleary Preschool for Positive Impact on Young Lives

Local Member of Parliament Carla Lockhart has visited Busy Bees Pre-School, Bleary, to see the pre-school in action and discuss future support for the work of the school with local young people. Carla Lockhart said: “Busy-Bees Pre-school is a fantastic asset to the community in Bleary and beyond, and a brilliant place for children to […]

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Community Government Upper Bann Westminster

Horrors of Holocaust Must Never be Forgotten – Lockhart

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has joined with MPs from across the United Kingdom in signing the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment, pledging support for Holocaust Commemoration on behalf of the people of Upper Bann. Carla Lockhart said: “Between 1941 and 1945, six million Jewish men, women and children were murdered by the Nazis […]