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Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins has told the Assembly’s Infrastructure committee that hourly bus services from Newry to Dublin should be reinstated. The Newry and Armagh MLA stated: “In 2019 there was an hourly bus service from Newry to Dublin and Dublin Airport. “Currently, Translink’s 2021-2022 timetable only has services from Newry to Dublin every […]

East Belfast Ulster Unionist MLA Andy Allen MBE has called for Stormont and Westminster to explore ways of helping consumers affected by the announcement of major increases in household energy costs. Mr Allen said: “I am shocked and concerned by the announcement that more than 235,000 SSE Airtricity and Firmus energy customers across Northern Ireland face […]

Health Minister Robin Swann has announced the launch of Northern Ireland’s new alcohol and drug strategy. Speaking during a visit to the Recovery Garden in Ards Community Hospital, the Minister said: “The aim of this new strategy is to prevent and reduce the harm related to substance use in Northern Ireland. The strategy has been co-produced […]

Finance Minister Conor Murphy has extended emergency protection for business tenants having difficulty paying rent on commercial leases as a result of the pandemic until March 2022. The special provision in the Coronavirus Act 2020 which was first applied at the end of March 2020, is being extended once again, until March 2022, giving a […]

Detectives are appealing for information following the report of a stabbing at a property in Armagh on Wednesday night, 8 September. Detective Sergeant Wilson said: “Police received a report of a disturbance at a house in the Ballynahone Crescent area of the city just before 9pm. “Officers attended to find a man with injuries to […]

Firmus energy has announced gas tariffs in the Ten Towns Network area will increase by 35% from 1 October. It says this reflects the increase in gas commodity prices which, it says, have risen by 170% since April 2021. The Consumer Council says the news will affect approximately 55,000 domestic customers. It means the yearly […]

Sinn Féin MLA, Liz Kimmins, has said that ordinary people are now feeling the impact of Boris Johnson’s latest broken promise as the British Government move to increase National Insurance contributions by 1.25% The MLA made the comments after it was confirmed that the British Government would increase National Insurance contributions while suspending the so-called […]

The Ulster Unionist Party’s Health Spokesperson, Alan Chambers MLA, has said the major funding boost heading for Stormont as a consequence of Boris Johnson’s allocation of £5.4bn for the NHS in England, must be ring-fenced and earmarked for the local health service. Alan Chambers said:  “The UK Government has clearly recognised the devastating impact Covid […]

SDLP MLA Justin McNulty has hit out at ‘irresponsible figures within political unionism and their enablers in the media.’ The Newry & Armagh Assembly Member has said, ‘I know I can speak for many people across our area when I say that the recommendations contained within the South Armagh Policing Review were received like a […]

Education Minister Michelle McIlveen has today hailed a £21m investment in the provision of education for special schools. A total of 17 special schools will benefit from the funding providing 61 additional classes, the recruitment of approximately 60 additional teachers and 145 additional classroom assistants. The Minister was visiting the Harberton North campus in Fortwilliam one […]

A Newry man accused of armed robbery of a store in Warrenpoint has been granted bail despite objections from police. Giving evidence, a constable informed the court that the 32-year-old had been bailed on suspicion of “two other armed robberies in the district”. James Alan Kennedy, of Loanda Crescent, appeared charged with robbery, possessing a […]

Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon has announced the roll out of Phase 2 of the part-time 20mph speed limit schemes at 106 schools across Northern Ireland. This takes the total number of schools benefiting from this new road safety scheme introduced by Minister Mallon to 209. Making the announcement, Minister Mallon said:  “I’m delighted that phase 1 of […]