Categories
Education Politics

Staff Shortages & High Rate of School Absences Disrupting Educational Development were Entirely Preventable – Aontu

Aontú Education Spokesperson, Gemma Brolly, expresses frustration and disappointment at the failure to act in order to prevent the current staff shortage and high rate of school absence, which have led to pleading for all available staff and calls for Circuit Breakers. Rep Brolly: “At the beginning of September, principals and school staff found themselves […]

Categories
Community Politics

Action Plan to Address Shortage of Taxi-Drivers Implemented

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has decided to bring forward a range of measures to address a shortage of taxi-drivers. The Minister will legislate for a 7.6% increase in the maximum taxi fare and will introduce a support package for new drivers. This follows a targeted consultation in September with the industry and representative consumer bodies. Minister […]

Categories
Community Politics

Minister Commissions Welfare Mitigation Review

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced the appointment of an Independent Advisory Panel to review welfare mitigation measures in the north. The Independent Advisory Panel will be chaired by Les Allamby, former Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. Mr Allamby will be joined by independent panel members and departmental officials with expertise […]

Categories
Lurgan Politics

SDLP Backs Missing Persons Day for North

SDLP Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly has backed calls for a missing persons day to be established in the North.  Mrs Kelly was speaking after the family of missing Co Down woman Lisa Dorrian spoke about the importance of missing persons day in the South and called for a similar occasion in the North.   Upper […]

Categories
Education Politics

Aontu Disappointed at Failure to Prevent Staff Shortage and High Rate of School Absence

Aontú Education Spokesperson expresses frustration and disappointment at failure to act in order to prevent the current staff shortage and high rate of school absence, which have led to pleading for all available staff and calls for Circuit Breakers. “At the beginning of September, principals and school staff found themselves swamped with administrations of contact […]

Categories
Armagh Newry Politics South Armagh

Flags, Identity and Culture Report a Waste of Time! – TUV Newry and Armagh

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister: “At over 160 pages it will take time to study fully the report published this afternoon but it would appear from an initial reading that there is precious little here in terms of agreed solutions to any issue. That being the case, the public are entitled to regard it […]

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Lurgan Politics

Workers & Families Benefiting From Protocol Protections – O’Dowd

Sinn Féin Upper Bann MLA John O’Dowd has said figures published by Britain’s Office of National Statistics highlights once again that the Protocol is benefitting the north and blunting some of the worst impacts of Brexit. Mr. O’Dowd said:   “The latest statistics from the ONS show that the north has performed better economically than […]

Categories
Armagh Community Newry Politics South Armagh

McNulty: Hargey Is Failing the Homeless!

SDLP MLA Justin McNulty has said Sinn Féin Minister Deirdre Hargey is failing the homeless and urged her to get to grips with the housing crisis.   He was speaking after the Department for Communities published its housing bulletin for July-September 2021.   It showed 4,026 households presenting as homeless during that period, with building […]

Categories
Health Politics South Down

McGrath: Lyons’ Recklessness Putting Public at Risk

SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath has said DUP Economy Minister Gordon Lyons’ reckless proposal to scrap the agreed vaccine certification scheme will put the public at risk. Mr McGrath said that by refusing to introduce mitigations like vaccine certifications the Economy Minister was risking collapse in the health service and further restrictions being introduced which […]

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Politics

Allister Addresses Sinn Fein First Minister Threat at Belfast Rally

Speaking at a TUV rally in support of selected TUV Assembly candidates in Belfast – Ron McDowell in North Belfast and John Ross in East Belfast – Jim Allister directly addressed the issues of a Sinn Fein First Minister and inter-unionist transfers. “Going forward into the Assembly election it is imperative that all unionist parties […]

Categories
Agriculture Politics

Northern Ireland Joins Global Climate Action Network

Edwin Poots MLA, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, says Northern Ireland joining the Under2 Coalition and signing up to the new Memorandum of Understanding is a significant step in the region’s climate change journey and will help to drive forward climate action. The Minister made the comments following his participation in an event at […]

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Politics

Victims and Survivors of the Glenanne Gang Meet With the Taoiseach

Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín TD, Aontú Deputy Leader Cllr Denise Mullen, and survivors and families of the victims of the Glenanne Gang, met with an Taoiseach Micheal Martin at government buildings today to discuss justice for the victims of British collusion, and efforts to oppose the proposed amnesty for British crimes in the North. Cllr […]