Other News In Brief

£2m Partnership Will Maximise NI 2012 Tourism Opportunities

Tourism Minister Arlene Foster has said an innovative partnership with airlines, ferry operators and airports will help bring more overseas visitors to Northern Ireland.
The Minister was addressing key players in the travel industry, who have come together to participate in a new £2million Northern Ireland Air Access initiative, which will tempt potential overseas visitors by highlighting ease of access, competitive fares and news of the great range of festivals and events taking place here as part of NI 2012.
The Minister also praised Tourism Ireland’s NI Industry Activation Programme, which has significantly increased the number of industry partners participating in promotions around the world in 2012 to help bring the distinctiveness of a holiday here to life for overseas consumers.
Arlene Foster said: “The initiatives on Access and Industry partnership represent important elements in our strategy to maximise the ground-breaking opportunities offered by 2012. Now is the time to redouble our efforts and work together in a completely new and more concerted way than ever before."

Witness M Evidence To Be Included In Murder Trial

A judge at the Constable Stephen Carroll murder trial has ruled that the evidence of a key witness should be allowed to stand.

A male witness, known as Witness M, said Brendan McConville, one of the two accused was at the scene half an hour before the shooting took place.

Mr McConville, 40, and 20-year-old John Paul Wootton both deny the murder.

Ní Chuilín Endorses Sports For All

Sports Minister, Carál Ní Chuilín, has endorsed plans to promote greater inclusion and diversity in sport for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people.
The Minister was speaking at the end of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) History month whose theme for this month was sport.

“I am fully in support of the Executive's commitment to publish a Sexual Orientation Strategy and Action Plan. I am also committed to working with the Rainbow Project to see how DCAL can best contribute to the Action Plan.

“I am pleased that this work is already making progress and that, as a result, SportNI and the Rainbow Project are now actively considering how best to positively promote greater inclusion and acceptance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people in sport.”

(CD/GK)