Other NI News In Brief

Taxi Award Won

A Belfast taxi firm fonaCAB has won a prestigious 'Go for Excellence' award at this year's UK-wide annual awards ceremony hosted by GoSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the passenger transport sector. William McCausland, Managing Director of fonaCAB (pictured) explains what it means to have won: "The awards seek to identify and acknowledge companies from across the UK that show a true commitment to learning, skills and career development. It is extremely encouraging to know that our training and development programmes have been acknowledged as some of the best in the UK. In order that the entire fonaCAB workforce has a qualification directly linked to the job that they do, all of our staff receive NVQ training. We are also supporting and working towards the introduction of an accredited vocational qualification for taxi drivers," he said, noting that, to support the personalised service delivered by staff, fonaCAB invested over £500,000 in a state of the art GPS-based dispatch system, to ensure ultimate efficiency in operations.

Cave Hill Gets Voice

Belfast's Cave Hill is an iconic landmark linked to the works of Dean Jonathan Swift - who ministered along the coast near Carrickfergus - with the wind-worn 'face' so clearly defined that it could obviously be the inspiration of the sleeping giant of his book, Gulliver's Travels. Now, a new book is taking transcriptions from those who lived and worked on and around this historic hill to illustrate the true nature of the basalt beauty spot. The Cave Hill story is brought right up to date - including when Belfast Castle was the hub of secret activities to thwart Hilter's U-Boats deadly attacks - right until the time the building was nearly allowed to fall into ruin in the 1970s. Voices from Cave Hill is a beautifully produced book, full of insightful, intimate recollections of a bygone era, and does justice to its subject. See: Cave Hill Voices Heard At Last

Icy Weather Alert For Belfast

Belfast City Council is considering a number of initiatives to help alleviate the difficulties faced by people during prolonged periods of cold weather. And the council, which is one of a small number in NI to have an agreement in place to support Roads Service's gritting operation in the city centre, is seeking urgent talks with the Department to progress its proposed initiatives. Speaking at the recent Strategic Policy and Resources Committee meeting, Councillor Ian Crozier said: "Icy pavements are extremely dangerous and although we recognise that there are not the resources available to grit all footpaths and side roads, we think it is vitally important that authorities look at ways in which the agencies can assist people and communities to help themselves. The Council agreed to purchase the necessary equipment out of its own budget so that some of its mechanical sweepers could be used to clear snow from footways and spread grit to make the city centre and some of the main approaches to the city safer for pedestrians," he said, noting this "has worked well in the city centre during the current difficult conditions but we would like to see more done". "The Council is looking at more ways it could work with DRD in such prolonged cold spells," he concluded.

999 Training Centre Welcomed

A Mid-Ulster MLA, Ian McCrea has welcomed this week's commitment given by the Stormont Executive to earmark funding for the new police training centre in Cookstown. "I am delighted with the announcement by the Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson, that the Executive is to prioritise this capital project to develop a Police, Prison and Fire & Rescue Service Training College in Cookstown. This is good news for the local economy," the DUP MLA said, noting: "It is vital that we ensure that Police, Prison and Fire & Rescue service personnel have the best facilities in which to train."

Death Cert Consultation Opens

Certifying deaths should be "consistent and fair to all bereaved families and sufficiently robust to inspire public confidence" said Health Minister Michael McGimpsey as he launched a public consultation on recommendations arising from inter-departmental review of death certification. A consultation period of 12 weeks is planned starting 17 December 2010 and ending 7 March 2011. "The purpose of this consultation document is to set out recommendations to improve the current process for certifying deaths and to invite views on the proposed options for future arrangements for death certification here. I am determined that people in NI have the same protections and standards of service afforded to those living in other parts of the UK," he said. "I believe it represents a proportionate response to improving arrangements for death certification here, one that takes due account of our existing assurance arrangements and organisational structures."

Cross Border Police Work

Ulster Unionist Assemblyman Leslie Cree, has highlighted the significance of the formal signing of the Cross border strategy between the PSNI and An Garda Siochana. A high level of cooperation already exists between the two police services and this strategy has the effect of formalizing that partnership. The North Down MLA, who is also an Ulster Unionist representative on the NI Policing Board, said: "I have supported a coordinated cross border approach in policing for some time and I would like to highlight the importance of this strategy which formalises the current arrangements which exist between the PSNI and Gardai. Organised crime in all its forms demands a joint response to stamp it out; it does not respect borders, communities or individuals. The cross border strategy firmly cements the cooperation which already exists between the two organisations and for that reason I welcome it as a positive step forward," he said.

(BMcC/GK)