Prince Drinks Bush

HRH Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall brought their stay in Northern Ireland to a close yesterday with a wee drop of home produced whiskey while enjoying a tour of the world-famous Bushmills Distillery. The couple's last engagement was a visit to Palace Barracks at Holywood outside Belfast, where they met personnel and their families from 2 Mercian Regiment. The regiment recently completed a successful tour of duty in Afghanistan before being posted to Northern Ireland.

Empty Home Rating Tackled

DSD Minister Margaret Ritchie's drive to fill vacant homes in the Province has been followed up by NI Finance Minister Peter Robinson requesting public consultation on a new rate policy for such empty homes. The Executive team, including Mr Robinson's department, will welcome views on the potential policy, with the hope of gauging possible financial and social implications of the introduction. Mr Robinson announced the publication of a consultation paper seeking views on the introduction of the rating of empty homes at 100% liability. The First Minister in-waiting said there is a definite need for new measures to be put in place as soon as possible.

Give Up Guns

Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward has again said that all weapons must be set aside to complete the peace. He said they should do so sooner rather than later, as the legal mechanism for doing so will not last indefinitely. At the moment the Independent International Body on Decommissioning oversees the process. However, Mr Woodward said Northern Ireland could only be a normal society when such a body no longer existed. He said the commissioners could not be in Northern Ireland forever - they should go sooner rather than later. Mr Woodward also said the NI Assembly should set a date for the devolution of policing and justice. Mr Woodward was speaking at Queen's University in Belfast where former premiers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern have today been given honorary doctorates.

Cross Border Fishing Discussed

NI Fisheries Minister Michelle Gildernew, along with Executive colleague, Culture Minister Edwin Potts, has met with the Republic's Energy Minister for a North/South ministerial sector meeting, at Dublin Castle. Ms Gildernew welcomed the chance to meet with her Irish ministerial counterpart, Eamon Ryan, on the subject of aquaculture and marine. The delegates came together to discuss operational issues affecting the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission, which is one of six North/South bodies, set-up by the Good Friday Agreement. Minister Gildernew said the meeting was an important step towards enhancing fishing and marine infrastructure within the Foyle and Carlingford Areas and noted steady progress made to ensure that hardship payments were made to those commercial salmon fishermen who gave up their fishing licences within the Foyle Area, for example.

Top Apprentice Rewarded

Patrick Gillian, an engineering apprentice with Fivemiletown Creamery, has been announced as Northern Ireland's Apprentice of the Year 2008. The Apprentice of the Year competition, sponsored by City and Guilds, is open to young people currently on the Department for Employment and Learning's apprenticeship (Jobskills or Training for Success) programmes and showcases excellence in apprenticeship training. Presenting him with his award at a gala event in Belfast's Hilton Hotel, Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey said: "Patrick is an excellent example of the achievement that can be realised when a young person chooses an apprenticeship as a career path to highly skilled employment."

(BMcC)