Alliance: PM Response To Sue Gray Report 'Pathetic'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's response to the Sue Gray report has been described as "pathetic" by Alliance MP Stephen Farry.

Sue Gray said there was a "failure of leadership" at Downing Street, allowing parties to take place while lockdown restrictions were in place. Ms Gray said she could not publish a full report at present, given an ongoing police investigation.

Dr Farry said: "The response by the Prime Minister to the Sue Gray update was pathetic.

"Apologies are too little, too late. The flippantly of some answers and the refusal to address some straightforward questions by Boris Johnson suggests he is not really that sorry.

"The actual Sue Gray report does need to be published at the earliest opportunity. But there is already enough evidence in the public domain Covid rules were broken on a frequent basis and most people recognise the Prime Minister has lied to the public and misled Parliament.

"The Prime Minister has done nothing to improve standards in public life. Rather, long-held norms are being sacrificed to protect the interests of one man who can't do the honourable thing. Boris Johnson must resign as Prime Minister."

Green Party Seek To Raise Criminal Age Of Responsibility

Green Party NI MLA and Justice Committee member Rachel Woods has submitted an amendment to the Justice Bill to raise the criminal age of responsibility in Northern Ireland.

The Green Party NI MLA for North Down said: "At 10 years of age, Northern Ireland has one of the lowest ages of criminal responsibility in Europe, something that has been repeatedly criticised by the United Nations.

"The latest medical and scientific evidence, especially what we know about brain development, shows us that 10-year-olds cannot be held criminally accountable for their actions. Yet, in Northern Ireland, they can be formally charged and held criminally responsible, creating generations of young people with criminal records, with no chance to have their ‘slate wiped clean' at 18.

"Despite the overwhelming evidence and expert advice in favour of raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility, the five-party Executive has repeatedly failed to legislate on this. I hope that my amendment will be selected for debate, giving the Assembly the chance to vote on this much needed reform. It's time for MLAs to stand up for children and young people's rights."

SDLP Propose Making St Brigid's Day A Public Holiday

The SDLP have called for St Brigid's Day to be made a public holiday in Northern Ireland.

The party's East Derry MLA Cara Hunter made the call after the Irish government confirmed it would make February 1 a holiday from 2023 to remember those who died during Covid-19 and recognise the contribution of frontline workers.

It would also be the first public holiday both North and South named after a woman.

Ms Hunter said: "Following a similar decision in the South, I think making St Brigid's Day a public holiday in the North would be a fitting tribute to frontline staff who sacrificed so much during the Covid-19 pandemic and an opportunity to remember all those who sadly passed away during the past two years.

"Our frontline staff, from doctors and nurses to bus drivers and binmen put themselves and their families in harm's way during the pandemic to ensure that people could get the medical treatment they needed, so that they could get to school and work and to keep vital services running. We would not have been able to get through this difficult period without them. It is only right that their sacrifices are recognised.

"Many families right across the North lost loved ones in extremely difficult conditions during the pandemic. People were unable to grieve in the traditional way, attendance at wakes and funerals were strictly limited and many were forced to die alone without the support of their family due to the restrictions in place. The pain and anguish from this will reverberate through our society for some time and I think it would be very meaningful for families to have a day where they can come together and remember those they have lost.

"Creating the first public holiday on the island of Ireland named after a woman would also be significant. We have heard much discourse in recent weeks and months about the role Irish women play in our society and the need to challenge outdated and misogynistic attitudes. There is a need for greater equality and parity and I think naming a bank holiday after St Brigid, the female patron saint of Ireland, would send a powerful message about how far we have come, but recognise the work still to be done."