Alliance Welcomes Harland & Wolff Deal

The Alliance Party has welcomed the news that shipbuilder Navantia will take over Harland & Wolff shipyards, just in time for Christmas.

It has been confirmed that Spanish shipbuilder, Navantia, will buy all of Harland & Wolff's four shipyards, securing jobs and shipbuilding into the future.

Alliance Infrastructure Spokesperson East Belfast MLA Peter McReynolds said: "This is fantastic news for the historic site in East Belfast. My Alliance colleagues and I have spoken regularly with unions about any potential deal and the impact uncertainty was having on staff.

"Today's deal is welcome and we must now support staff on the site to ensure their terms and conditions are maintained following the transition.

"I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to our staff and unions for their invaluable input and unwavering commitment to preserving Harland & Wolff's reputation on the world stage."

Five Belfast Men Sentenced For Drug Offences

Five men from Belfast were sentenced at Laganside Crown Court on Thursday 19th December for various drug offences.

Mark Magee, 35, received a 25-month sentence, with half to be served on licence, for being concerned in the supply of Class A controlled drugs.

Colin Baine, 40, was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, for possessing criminal property and possession of Class A controlled drugs with intent to supply.

George McMaster, 29, was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment, with half to be served on licence, for being concerned in the supply of Class A controlled drugs.

Rodney Gourley, 29, was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, for being concerned in the supply of Class B controlled drugs.

Detective Inspector MacCionáoith, from the Police Service's Organised Crime Branch, said: "In the early hours of 20th August, 2022, officers conducting routine patrols in the Hillsborough Gardens area of Belfast stopped and searched a vehicle with four men on board.

"Cash and a quantity of cocaine were located, and the men were subsequently arrested. Following examination of the men's phones, it was determined that they were all involved in drug dealing offences."

Detective Inspector MacCionáoith continued: "I hope that the investigation and today's sentencing demonstrates how we, along with our partner organisations, remain committed to disrupting the activities of those involved with illegal drugs. This criminal gang were involved in a major drugs operation, within which they participated in the organised exploitation of vulnerable groups within our community for their own financial gain.

"We're grateful to the public for their continued support and would ask anyone with information, or concerns, to contact us on 101."

Budget Shows 'Inability To Make Difficult Decisions' – O'Toole

The latest budget shows the Executive's "inability to make difficult decisions", SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA has said.

O'Toole said that despite a significant uplift in funding from the UK Government, the budget was more of the same.

The South Belfast MLA said: "There are a number of positive initiatives within this budget, which much like the budget itself, have been long overdue. There is welcome investment in a childcare strategy, violence against women and girls and a just transition to protect our environment, but it's impossible to escape the fact that this budget will not help solve the problems we are facing around healthcare, housing, education, public services and other key areas.

"Nobody expected this budget to solve all of our problems overnight, but this was rushed out before Christmas and we are not seeing the change of direction needed. To look at this budget, you would never think the Executive had received its biggest financial uplift in many years and the use of this money is questionable. Even in positive moves around childcare, the Executive has not ring-fenced all of the money handed out by the UK Government from their own spending in that area.

"This budget is about putting a sticking plaster on our failing public services rather than delivering the vision and transformation needed to change things for the better. It is totally devoid of any meaningful link to the Executive's own Programme for Government and they have repeatedly shown they are incapable of taking tough decisions. Instead of dealing with our most pressing problems, every Minister fights for their own small piece of the pie.

"The Finance Minister claims this budget is about 'doing what matters most', it looks more like the Executive doing what's easy, kicking the can further down the road and paying lip service to the desperate need for transformation of our public services instead of delivering it."