Categories
Community Crime Government Stormont

Organised Crime Task Force Praised

Justice Minister Naomi Long has praised the partners represented on the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) for delivering a series of successful operations, including significant seizures of drugs, cigarettes and counterfeit goods. Speaking during a visit to the PSNI Cyber Crime Centre in Belfast to mark publication of the 2020/21 OCTF Annual Report, Naomi Long […]

Categories
Community Government Health Stormont

Health Minister Welcomes ‘Dáithí’s Law’

From 2023, adults in Northern Ireland will be considered potential organ donors unless they choose to opt out or are in an excluded group. The Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill, which passed the final stage of consideration in the Assembly today, will be known as ‘Dáithí’s Law’ in recognition of five-year-old Dáithí Mac […]

Categories
Business Election 2022 Government Stormont

Success of £11m Covid Business Grant Programme Praised

Economy Minister Gordon Lyons today praised the Covid-19 Productive Investment Capital Grant (PICG), which supported 103 businesses to invest in new technology and processes to improve efficiency and resilience. The scheme was developed by Invest Northern Ireland to help businesses to adapt to, and recover from, the challenges of Covid-19. It received £11million of funding […]

Categories
Business Election 2022 Government South Armagh Stormont

Procurement Changes Will Benefit Local Companies – Murphy

Finance Minister, Conor Murphy has announced a series of changes to public procurement which will bolster local supply chains, protect human rights and maximise opportunities for voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors. The changes include a new policy for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations. Making the announcement during a visit to Clearer Water, social […]

Categories
Community Election 2022 Government Health Stormont

Health Minister Announces Further Funding for Mental Health Support Projects

Health Minister Robin Swann has announced funding of more than £250,000 for three organisations providing vital mental health support for local communities in South and West Belfast as part of the Mental Health Support Fund. Greater Shankill Partnership has been awarded £97,762, Women too Windsor Project is receiving £93,000, and Compass Counselling CIC is receiving […]

Categories
Community Government Health Stormont

Swann Announces Additional £6.02m for Mental Health Support Fund

Health Minister Robin Swann has announced an additional £6.02m for the Mental Health Support Fund which will enable charities and organisations across Northern Ireland to enhance the vital support and help on offer. Organisations which have been successful in their applications for funding from the Mental Health Support Fund will be informed in the coming […]

Categories
Campaigns Daisy Hill Election 2022 Government Health Stormont

McGrath: Emergency Care Waiting Times Show Worsening Situation in Health Service

SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath has said the latest emergency care waiting time statistics show the worsening situation in the North’s health service.   Mr McGrath was speaking after the Department of Health published the statistics for October to December last year, following a number of delays. He said it was completely unacceptable that patients […]

Categories
Election 2022 Government Politics Stormont

The Protocol Must Go in All Its Parts!

The Protocol must go in all its parts  Extract from speech by TUV leader Jim Allister at anti-Protocol rally in Dromore “There is no escaping or fudging of the constitutional consequences of the Protocol. It not only directly challenges Northern Ireland’s position within the U.K., but is incompatible with it. “By its very fettering of […]

Categories
Election 2022 Government Health Newry Stormont

Abortion Services Must Immediately Be Commissioned for Women in North – Kimmins

Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins has said abortion services must immediately be commissioned for women in north.  The Newry and Armagh MLA was speaking after a High Court judge ruled the British Secretary of State has the legal authority to direct the establishment of abortion services in the north.  Liz Kimmins said:  “Earlier this week, […]

Categories
Community Election 2022 Government Health South Down Stormont

McGrath: Health Reform Must Be Key Focus of Next Executive

SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath has said that reforming the health service must be a key priority of the next Executive. Mr McGrath was speaking ahead of taking part in a health discussion panel at the SDLP Spring Conference on Sunday. South Down MLA Mr McGrath said: “The past two years have really taught everyone […]

Categories
Community Election 2022 Government Stormont

Minister Freezes Housing Executive Rents

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced a freeze in Housing Executive rents in order to support residents in the face of the cost-of-living crisis. Announcing the move, the minister said: “As Communities Minister my priority is to support people, particularly the most vulnerable, who are facing soaring fuel and household bills. “So today I am announcing […]

Categories
Community Government Health Stormont

Vaccine to be Offered to 5-11 Year Olds

Children aged 5-11 who are not in a clinical risk group are now to be offered the opportunity to receive a covid vaccination following updated Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice. JCVI has advised that all children aged between 5 to 11 will be offered two 10 mcg doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 […]