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15/01/2003
Row erupts over plans for Portadown Mosque
A row has erupted in Mid-Ulster over Unionist opposition to the erection of Northern Ireland's first purpose-built mosque.
Although the small Muslim community in Portadown are looking to build the £200,000 mosque through their own funding, Unionist councillors have voted to delay building claiming local residents would be kept awake by the noise of worshippers and the call to prayer.
Ulster Unionist councillor Fred Crowe also claimed that encouraging Muslims to settle in the area might open the door for "militants" while another councillor went further – suggesting that the mosque could be used by Al-Qaida terrorist cells.
Concern was also expressed that the building could cause sewage problems and heavy traffic on the country road leading to it.
However, supporters of the mosque have claimed that no such problems would occur given that there are, at the most, 200 Muslims in the Craigavon area.
The construction has been delayed but is expected to go ahead in the near future.
Elsewhere, leading Ulster Unionist Dermot Nesbitt has claimed that the Equality Commission in Northern Ireland needs to be reformed or scrapped.
Mr Nesbitt made the remark during an interview in a local newspaper, and claimed that the commission had "mislead" the public in regard to its recent equality monitoring report.
In an opinion piece, the former Environment Minister argued: "The Equality Commission needs careful public scrutiny. That, to date, has not happened. Since an important aspect of its work is seriously questioned, it has presented its own statistics in a misleading fashion, and it has set no performance target by which to be judged – concentrating merely on process not outcome.
"I realise equality is a sensitive issue (but) there are many who still doubt religious equality of opportunity, but it has been comprehensively addressed."
(MB)
Although the small Muslim community in Portadown are looking to build the £200,000 mosque through their own funding, Unionist councillors have voted to delay building claiming local residents would be kept awake by the noise of worshippers and the call to prayer.
Ulster Unionist councillor Fred Crowe also claimed that encouraging Muslims to settle in the area might open the door for "militants" while another councillor went further – suggesting that the mosque could be used by Al-Qaida terrorist cells.
Concern was also expressed that the building could cause sewage problems and heavy traffic on the country road leading to it.
However, supporters of the mosque have claimed that no such problems would occur given that there are, at the most, 200 Muslims in the Craigavon area.
The construction has been delayed but is expected to go ahead in the near future.
Elsewhere, leading Ulster Unionist Dermot Nesbitt has claimed that the Equality Commission in Northern Ireland needs to be reformed or scrapped.
Mr Nesbitt made the remark during an interview in a local newspaper, and claimed that the commission had "mislead" the public in regard to its recent equality monitoring report.
In an opinion piece, the former Environment Minister argued: "The Equality Commission needs careful public scrutiny. That, to date, has not happened. Since an important aspect of its work is seriously questioned, it has presented its own statistics in a misleading fashion, and it has set no performance target by which to be judged – concentrating merely on process not outcome.
"I realise equality is a sensitive issue (but) there are many who still doubt religious equality of opportunity, but it has been comprehensively addressed."
(MB)
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14 November 2003
Equality Commission back joint 'women’s manifesto'
Launched this week in the run up to the Assembly election a women’s manifesto has set out a number of demands in key equality areas that women want the new Assembly to tackle.
Equality Commission back joint 'women’s manifesto'
Launched this week in the run up to the Assembly election a women’s manifesto has set out a number of demands in key equality areas that women want the new Assembly to tackle.
15 March 2017
Drop In Number Of People Claiming Unemployment Benefits
The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Northern Ireland has dropped. The total now stands at 31,600, a fall of 300 in February, according to the latest figures. Employee jobs also increased over the quarter to December 2016 by 0.2%. Manufacturing output also rose in the last quarter of 2016, a rise of 4.
Drop In Number Of People Claiming Unemployment Benefits
The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Northern Ireland has dropped. The total now stands at 31,600, a fall of 300 in February, according to the latest figures. Employee jobs also increased over the quarter to December 2016 by 0.2%. Manufacturing output also rose in the last quarter of 2016, a rise of 4.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A very mild, but mostly cloudy day, although with some bright or sunny spells. It will be mostly dry in the morning, but a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A band of heavier rain will move east during the evening before clearing eastwards after midnight. then mostly dry through the early hours, but a little rain towards dawn. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
