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Business Election 2022 Government Newry Stormont

McNulty Welcomes Murphy U-Turn on Hotel Support

SDLP MLA Justin McNulty has welcomed a U-Turn by Sinn Féin Finance Minister Conor Murphy on support for the hotel industry. Mr. McNulty had publicly rebuked Minister Murphy’s decision to exclude hotels from the Executive’s hospitality support package announced on 23rd December. Speaking after the U-Turn, the SDLP Newry & Armagh MLA commented, “I’m relieved that […]

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Election 2022 Government Politics South Down Stormont

McKevitt: Sinn Féin Ministers Asleep at the Wheel as Families Struggle to Make Ends Meet

SDLP Newry, Mourne and Down Councillor Karen McKevitt said it is unbelievable there was £100m unallocated in the Assembly’s January monitoring round as families struggle with the cost of living crisis. Cllr. McKevitt said Sinn Féin Finance Minister Conor Murphy has failed people who are in need, with the money now at risk of being […]

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Business Election 2022 Government Politics Stormont

Stormont’s Financial Mismanagement on Show

Stormont’s financial mismanagement on show Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:- “The statement from the Sinn Fein Finance Minister on the January monitoring round reveals a number of significant facts:- there is over another £200m extra to Stormont from U.K. Treasury in Barnett consequentials;Stormont departments have been unable to spend all the funds they had, with […]

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Business Government Stormont

Murphy Welcomes Opening of Hospitality Support Scheme

Conor Murphy, Sinn Féin Finance Minister has welcomed the opening of his £40M hospitality scheme Speaking after the announcement Conor said: “My hospitality support package is now open. “This scheme will provide grants of between £10,000 and £20,000, helping over 3,000 hospitality businesses recover from the impact of Omicron. “LPS will contact eligible hospitality businesses […]

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Government Politics Stormont Westminster

EU-UK Negotiations Need to Offer Stability and Certainty as Soon as Possible – UUP

Following reports that European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič wants EU-UK negotiations on the Protocol to conclude by the end of February, Steve Aiken MLA, UUP Finance spokesperson said: “The usually well-informed Tony Connelly of RTE has indicated today that Maroš Šefčovič is seeking to pressurise the UK to conclude negotiations by the end of […]

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Government Politics Stormont Westminster

Withdrawal of Double Jobbing a Victory For Dialogue and Engagement – UUP

Following confirmation by the Prime Minister that plans to bring back double jobbing in Northern Ireland have been withdrawn, Ulster Unionist peer, Lord Empey, said: “This is a victory for positive dialogue and engagement with Government and other parties. You don`t have to threaten to crash the institutions for unionism to have influence with Government. […]

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Community Government Lurgan Politics Stormont Upper Bann

John O’Dowd on Loss of EU Funding

Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has said the loss of EU Funding due to the Tory/DUP Brexit is putting jobs and livelihoods at risk. The Upper Bann spokesperson said: “The Department for the Economy has lost £65 million per year in EU funding as direct result of the Brexit delivered by the British Government and the […]

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Business Government South Armagh South Down Stormont Upper Bann

Omicron Hospitality Payment Scheme Underway

Land & Property Services has begun contacting hospitality businesses to confirm their details to enable the Omicron Hospitality Payment to be made. Over 3,200 businesses will be eligible for a one-off grant payment of either £10,000, £15,000 or £20,000 based on their rateable value. Eligible businesses will include; restaurants, cafés, coffee shops, bistros, snack bars, […]

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Election 2022 Government Health Politics Stormont

Swann Announces Plan for Additional NHS Pay Rise

Following the November announcement of a pay increase of 3% for our wonderful NHS staff. Health Minister Robin Swann has invested in a further 1.5% pay increase. This announcement will enable an overall pay rise of 4.5% for bands 1 to 3 staff and 4% for bands 4 to 7. Speaking via a memo sent […]

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Government Lurgan Politics Stormont Upper Bann

Time For Lockhart to End Brexit Spin – O’Dowd

Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has said that the most recent report by Manufacturing NI highlights the biggest concern for manufacturers is access to workers and not the Protocol, as our local MP Carla Lockhart would have us believe. The report highlights the priority in the current negotiations must be on finding practical solutions to ensure the […]

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Business Community Government Health Politics Stormont Uncategorized

Executive to Relax Covid-19 Restrictions: Here’s the Roadmap and Timeline

The Executive has today agreed an approach for relaxing the measures put in place to manage the COVID-19 Omicron variant. Ministers were updated today by the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Advisor, who have confirmed that we are likely to be past the peak in case numbers, although it remains possible that case numbers […]

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Government Lurgan Politics Stormont

We Need to See Intensified EU-UK Negotiations Providing Outcomes – UUP

Following the joint statement from Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and EU Commission Vice–President Maroš Šefčovič, Ulster Unionist Party Leader Doug Beattie MC MLA said: “Whilst it is welcome that Liz Truss and Maroš Šefčovič have had their first face-to-face meeting in a cordial atmosphere, from the 24th January onwards we need to see more intensity and a laser-like […]