Concerns Raised Over Delays To Strule Education Campus

Concerns have been raised over ongoing construction delays to the Strule Education Campus project in Co Tyrone.

In June, Northern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley announced £140m of UK Government funding was being allocated to help deliver the scheme, which has been delayed until at least 2022.

During a recent meeting with the Department of Education, Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley said she highlighted the impact of the delay on local schools, who now face the prospect of having to carry out maintenance work as they continue to wait on the project's completion.

"The department assured me that the procurement issue which has impacted on the timeline for completion will be resolved and that there will be progress on the project soon," the West Tyrone MP said.

"The procurement process had been suspended as there is only one applicant for the main works contract. The department is now considering whether to proceed with the current applicant or to restart the tendering process."

Once completed, the Strule Project will be the largest shared educational campus in Northern Ireland, bringing together over 4,000 pupils.

No-Deal Brexit Would Devastate NI's Agri-Food Sector - SDLP

SDLP MLA for Mid Ulster Patsy McGlone has warned that a no-deal Brexit would devastate the agri-food sector in Northern Ireland.

The SDLP Agriculture Spokesperson, Mr McGlone said: "Recent comments by right-wing Brexiters in Britain have suggested that a no-deal Brexit is an outcome that some politicians would welcome.

"The reality is that a no-deal Brexit would have a catastrophic effect on the North and in particular the agri-food sector that is a vital part of our economy.

"A no-deal Brexit would rip up all of the promises given to the Irish Government and the EU regarding the avoidance of a 'no hard border' on the island of Ireland.

"With a no-deal Brexit, on March 30th 2019 no agri-food products could be imported into the EU because the necessary certified national body to approve those products would no longer be recognized.

"Any certification system put in place would require checks at the new EU border. The current frictionless trade in food and other products would become a bureaucratic and expensive nightmare for farmers and other producers.

"Unless the British Government was to decide to unilaterally give up all the tests and procedures for goods coming into the UK, and hope that the EU would do the same, this would be the reality of a no-deal Brexit."

Call For Irish Language Speakers Rights To Be Respected

The rights of Irish language speakers must be respected if fresh efforts to restore the power-sharing institutions are to be successful, Sinn Féin MLA Raymond McCartney has said.

The Foyle MLA was commenting after attending a protest in Derry at which Gaelgóirí voiced their opposition to the latest comments by former First Minister Arlene Foster ruling out an Irish Language Act.

Mr McCartney said: "The rights of citizens, whether it is Irish speakers, women, victims or the LGBT community, their rights must be respected.

"Sinn Féin will continue to demand an Acht na Gaeilge and we will continue to demand equal treatment for all sections of our society.

"We will certainly enter any new talks to restore the power-sharing institutions in good faith but the simple fact is that those talks can only be successful if they deliver equality, rights and respect for all."

(CD)