Other NI News In Brief

Cigs Vending To Go

The NI Health Minister Edwin Poots has announced the next steps for the introduction of controls on regulating the sale of tobacco products. He reaffirmed his commitment to introducing regulations to ban the display of tobacco products at point of sale and sales from tobacco vending machines. "By removing displays of tobacco products from view in shops, and preventing children from accessing them through vending machines, we are building upon measures already in place aimed at reducing the prevalence of smoking," he said. Commenting on when the regulations would be introduced, the Minister said: "After taking into consideration views from stakeholders during the consultation process, and in view of the ongoing legal challenges to the equivalent regulations in England, I have decided that the display ban regulations will not be commenced in Northern Ireland until Spring 2012 at the earliest. With regards to regulations banning tobacco sales from vending machines, I hope to introduce these from February 2012.

Local Govt Reform 'On Way'

The Stormont Environment Minister Alex Attwood has pledged local government reform is a key priority following a meeting with Omagh District Council. The Minister met with elected representatives to discuss Local Government reform. The meeting provided a platform for the Minister to respond to Councillor's concerns and discuss the timetable for reform. "The reform of local government is a key priority and remains very much at the top of my agenda. I am aiming to get Executive agreement to a timetable for reorganisation sooner rather than later to create certainty across the local government sector and with those Departments that wish to transfer functions," he said, on Tuesday.

Fraud 'Jailed'

A man was convicted at Enniskillen Magistrates' Court this week for claiming benefits he was not entitled to. Cyril Quigley, 38, of Sylvan Hill, Lisnaskea was given three months imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to pay court costs of £31 for failing to declare employment while claiming Job Seekers Allowance totalling £2,506. Mr Quigley is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

POs Win Backing

NI Rural Development Minister Michelle O'Neill has met with Consumer Focus Post to discuss developments in postal services and the post office network in the north of Ireland. At the meeting the Minister outlined her desire to support rural post offices and to ensure the needs of rural communities are fully considered as part of the future provision of postal services. "It is a place to meet up with neighbours and catch up with local news. This opportunity for social interaction is of enormous benefit to some of the most isolated and vulnerable groups in rural areas and can help address feelings of exclusion and isolation," she said. "The Post Office local services initiative which allows postal services to operate from the property of an established village shop is currently being trialled in a number of locations throughout, but, I have concerns about the lack of privacy afforded to users under this model and the reduction in the range of services being provided in rural areas."

Illegal Waste Goes South

Work began on Tuesday to return thousands of tonnes of illegally deposited waste in Co Down to the Republic of Ireland. Officials from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and Dublin City Council have started supervising the process of returning an estimated 10,500 tonnes of waste from the site adjacent to Pats Road Ballymartin after an agreement between Dublin City Council and the NIEA to repatriate illegal waste was made in June 2009. This is the third site so far to see waste repatriated. The process to remove the waste is estimated to take up to ten weeks to complete. The waste will be excavated and repatriated to a fully authorised landfill site in the Republic of Ireland. For more details, see: 'Waste Matters' For RICS As Recycling Falters

Navan 'Pipe Bomb' Blast Man Hurt

A man has been injured in a suspected pipe bomb explosion at his home in Navan, Co. Meath. The incident happened around 8am at the man's home in Beechgrove. It is understood that the device exploded when the man opened his door to leave the house. The man received minor injuries and was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda for treatment. The blast also caused minor damage to the front door of the house which has been closed-off for a technical examination.

(BMcC/KMcA)