Green Party Urge DUP To 'Step Back From The Brink'

Following reports that the First Minister Paul Givan is set to announce his resignation, the Green Party NI Leader Clare Bailey has urged to DUP to "step back from the brink".

Clare Bailey said: "The last thing the people of Northern Ireland need is a manufactured political crisis. The DUP must now step back from the brink.

"The Executive is still to agree its first three-year budget. The Executive has also left £100m unallocated in the January monitoring round, and the £55m fuel poverty alleviation scheme still needs to be finalised. Without an Executive being able to meet, key decisions which need to be taken to financially support some of our most vulnerable people in the midst of the ongoing pandemic and cost of living crisis will not be taken.

"This week, the Assembly has been debating some of the most important legislation it has ever considered, the Green Party NI securing majority support for an ambitious net-zero emissions target. Green MLAs also have Bills in the system to support survivors of domestic abuse and to ensure women's right to access abortion healthcare is protected. Ensuring that this crucial legislation is passed will remain the focus of the Green Party NI.

"Northern Ireland deserves better than the division and uncertainty of the five-party Executive system. It's time for a radical change in the way we do politics here."

Alliance: DUP Playing Cynical Party Politics With People's Lives And Livelihoods

The DUP is playing cynical party politics with people's lives and livelihoods, Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA has said.

Mrs Long was speaking ahead of a statement later by First Minister Paul Givan, in which he is expected to announce his intention to resign.

"Without a First Minister, the Executive is unable to meet. We then have a zombie Executive, unable to bring new legislation, initiate significant new policy or take any action requiring an Executive decisions," she said.

"That has potentially dire implications for vital public services, given we have yet to agree a budget for next year. Without certainty on future funding, progress on tackling hospital waiting lists and implementing much-needed health reforms, recovering courts from Covid backlogs, and a whole raft legislation, from integrated education to climate change to protecting victims of sexual offences and human trafficking could all be jeopardised, and more.

"The people of Northern Ireland gave a resounding message during the last political impasse – they want devolution, with locally-accountable politicians taking decisions in the public interest. They want to see politicians focused on delivering for them.

"The DUP have still not learned that lesson and it's ordinary people who will pay the price for this cynical electioneering."

New Smoking Legislation 'A Landmark Day' For NI

The introduction of legislation banning smoking in vehicles, where children are present, has been described as "a landmark day" by Health Minister Robin Swann.

From today, the regulations will extend smoke-free provisions to private vehicles in certain conditions. Those conditions, which must all be met, are: a child or children are in the vehicle, and there is more than one person in the vehicle, and the vehicle is enclosed. It will be an offence to smoke in such a vehicle and will also be an offence for a driver to fail to prevent smoking in a smoke-free private vehicle.

Minister Swann said: "I am delighted to see that this legislation has now become a reality. Its introduction represents a landmark for myself as Minister, the department, and for all those who have campaigned so hard for its introduction.

"It will reduce the risk of smoking to our loved ones, particularly children, protecting them from the harm caused by inhaling second-hand smoke and of equal importance, it also sends out a clear message of our determination to tackle the dangers of smoking which kills thousands of people each year in Northern Ireland.

"I hope it can also provide a spur to smokers to give up smoking once and for all.”

Minister Swann continued: "It is important that smokers are aware of the new regulations and realise that if you smoke in a car or other vehicle while a child is there, or if you're the driver and you allow someone to smoke in these circumstances, you will be committing an offence which carries a hefty penalty.”

In addition it is also now an offence to sell nicotine inhaling products to children and to purchase, or attempt to purchase, such products on behalf of a child (a proxy purchasing offence). These offences mirror current offences relating to tobacco sales.

The Minister concluded: "In addition to the potential long-term health implications of nicotine vaping by teenagers, there are also concerns that the use of such products may act as a gateway into smoking."

The sale of products such as e-cigarettes or vapes to children, and the purchase of them on behalf of children, can lead to significant penalties and, for repeated offences, retailers can be banned from selling such products for up to three years.