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07/12/2022
Other News In Brief
Supreme Court Decision To Uphole Safe Acess Bill Welcomed
Sinn Féin has welcomed a decision by the Supreme Court to uphold the Safe Access Zones Bill passed by the Assembly earlier this year.
Mid Ulster MLA Emma Sheerin said: "The Supreme Court has today recognised that Safe Access Zones, and legislation passed by the Assembly, does not breach people’s right to protest.
"Patients and their families should not face harassment and intimidation when accessing healthcare.
"This is a progressive step forward to protect women and healthcare workers."
Police Officers Are Not Immune To Cost Of Living Emergency - SDLP
SDLP Policing Board member Mark H Durkan has said that police officers are not immune to the cost of living emergency.
Mr Durkan was speaking after it emerged that the PSNI has launched a review after resignations among new recruits doubled in two years.
He said that newly recruited police officers deserve a fair wage and that he hoped the outcome of the review would be a pay rise that acknowledges the situation facing new officers.
Mr Durkan said: "To address this situation we need to acknowledge the situation facing our new officers and ensure that they are adequately supported and this includes in their wage packets. The salary paid to new officers does not take into account the significant risks they take every day as part of their job, with many putting their lives on the line due to the security threat in the North. The role the police service plays in our communities is an important one and an incredibly difficult one.
"If we want to attract the best candidates to join the police and keep them throughout their career then we need to pay them a fair wage. These officers are not immune from the pressures facing families across the North when it comes to paying their food, fuel and energy bills. The PSNI’s budget is under severe pressure, but we need to prioritise our staff, without them there is no police service. This is yet another situation we will struggle to address due to the DUP's boycott of the institutions leaving us at the mercy of a Tory government."
The Outcome Of COP15 Is Crucial To Help Secure A Future For Nature - Alliance
The outcome of COP15 will be crucial not just in terms of tackling the climate crisis but also in helping secure a future for nature, Kate Nicholl MLA, Chair of the All Party Group on Climate, has argued ahead of the event.
The United Nations biodiversity conference, COP15, is being held from 7 to 19 December in Montreal, Canada.
"COP15 is a momentous opportunity to secure a new global deal to protect our natural environment," she said.
"For decades scientists and experts have sounded the alarm over how climate change is leading to an unprecedented decline in animals, plants, and other species, and threatening ecosystems. In 2021, Alliance backed the Environment Bill which outlined plans to address environmental challenges including biodiversity loss, climate change, and waste and pollution of the air, water and land.
"We have an incredibly narrow window of opportunity to deliver on the promises of the Environment Bill, halt biodiversity loss by 2030, and reverse its decline by 2050. We may never have this chance again. However, yet too many political leaders are still failing to meet the challenge, or even show up.
"I am disappointed that the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, is not planning to attend COP15. Especially considering this Tory government has failed to deliver on a long list of environmental promises, and is determined to press ahead with the Retained EU Law Bill, which puts over a thousand pieces of environmental protection law in jeopardy.
"It is also regrettable that with the absence of a functioning Executive and Assembly, the opportunity for elected representatives from Northern Ireland to be at the table is being squandered.
"It is essential we get round the table again and scale up ambition to protect and restore our precious natural world."
Sinn Féin has welcomed a decision by the Supreme Court to uphold the Safe Access Zones Bill passed by the Assembly earlier this year.
Mid Ulster MLA Emma Sheerin said: "The Supreme Court has today recognised that Safe Access Zones, and legislation passed by the Assembly, does not breach people’s right to protest.
"Patients and their families should not face harassment and intimidation when accessing healthcare.
"This is a progressive step forward to protect women and healthcare workers."
Police Officers Are Not Immune To Cost Of Living Emergency - SDLP
SDLP Policing Board member Mark H Durkan has said that police officers are not immune to the cost of living emergency.
Mr Durkan was speaking after it emerged that the PSNI has launched a review after resignations among new recruits doubled in two years.
He said that newly recruited police officers deserve a fair wage and that he hoped the outcome of the review would be a pay rise that acknowledges the situation facing new officers.
Mr Durkan said: "To address this situation we need to acknowledge the situation facing our new officers and ensure that they are adequately supported and this includes in their wage packets. The salary paid to new officers does not take into account the significant risks they take every day as part of their job, with many putting their lives on the line due to the security threat in the North. The role the police service plays in our communities is an important one and an incredibly difficult one.
"If we want to attract the best candidates to join the police and keep them throughout their career then we need to pay them a fair wage. These officers are not immune from the pressures facing families across the North when it comes to paying their food, fuel and energy bills. The PSNI’s budget is under severe pressure, but we need to prioritise our staff, without them there is no police service. This is yet another situation we will struggle to address due to the DUP's boycott of the institutions leaving us at the mercy of a Tory government."
The Outcome Of COP15 Is Crucial To Help Secure A Future For Nature - Alliance
The outcome of COP15 will be crucial not just in terms of tackling the climate crisis but also in helping secure a future for nature, Kate Nicholl MLA, Chair of the All Party Group on Climate, has argued ahead of the event.
The United Nations biodiversity conference, COP15, is being held from 7 to 19 December in Montreal, Canada.
"COP15 is a momentous opportunity to secure a new global deal to protect our natural environment," she said.
"For decades scientists and experts have sounded the alarm over how climate change is leading to an unprecedented decline in animals, plants, and other species, and threatening ecosystems. In 2021, Alliance backed the Environment Bill which outlined plans to address environmental challenges including biodiversity loss, climate change, and waste and pollution of the air, water and land.
"We have an incredibly narrow window of opportunity to deliver on the promises of the Environment Bill, halt biodiversity loss by 2030, and reverse its decline by 2050. We may never have this chance again. However, yet too many political leaders are still failing to meet the challenge, or even show up.
"I am disappointed that the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, is not planning to attend COP15. Especially considering this Tory government has failed to deliver on a long list of environmental promises, and is determined to press ahead with the Retained EU Law Bill, which puts over a thousand pieces of environmental protection law in jeopardy.
"It is also regrettable that with the absence of a functioning Executive and Assembly, the opportunity for elected representatives from Northern Ireland to be at the table is being squandered.
"It is essential we get round the table again and scale up ambition to protect and restore our precious natural world."
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
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23 June 2016
Police Officers Disciplined For Failing To Tell Doctor About Woman's Head Injuries
Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
Police Officers Disciplined For Failing To Tell Doctor About Woman's Head Injuries
Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
14 December 2018
Police Disciplined Over Coleraine Pub Fight
PSNI failings compromised an investigation into off-duty police officers involved in a fight with members of the public, the Police Ombudsman has found.
Police Disciplined Over Coleraine Pub Fight
PSNI failings compromised an investigation into off-duty police officers involved in a fight with members of the public, the Police Ombudsman has found.
31 August 2012
Four Men Arrested For Dissident Activity
Four men have been arrested in Newtownabbey on suspicion of dissident republican activity. PSNI officers detained the men on Thursday evening aged 30,35 and 46. They are being questioned in Antrim police station.
Four Men Arrested For Dissident Activity
Four men have been arrested in Newtownabbey on suspicion of dissident republican activity. PSNI officers detained the men on Thursday evening aged 30,35 and 46. They are being questioned in Antrim police station.
29 April 2009
Hamill Inquiry Witnesses To Be Screened
The Robert Hamill Inquiry has ruled that witnesses who are serving or retired police officers may give their evidence from behind a screen. However, they will not be granted full anonymity. This ruling has been made in response to applications for such screening on behalf of a number of former or still serving police officers due to give evidence.
Hamill Inquiry Witnesses To Be Screened
The Robert Hamill Inquiry has ruled that witnesses who are serving or retired police officers may give their evidence from behind a screen. However, they will not be granted full anonymity. This ruling has been made in response to applications for such screening on behalf of a number of former or still serving police officers due to give evidence.
21 July 2006
Man questioned following arms find in Coalisland
A 42-year-old man has been taken in for questioning following a series of searches in Coalisland in County Tyrone which uncovered firearms and a sum of money. The cache is thought to be connected to dissident republican activity.
Man questioned following arms find in Coalisland
A 42-year-old man has been taken in for questioning following a series of searches in Coalisland in County Tyrone which uncovered firearms and a sum of money. The cache is thought to be connected to dissident republican activity.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Rain clearing away east by early evening with some clear spells but a few showers likely to affect the North coast and other areas towards dawn, remaining breezy and mild overnight. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
