Other News In Brief

Exploris Aquarium To Close

Alliance Councillor Kieran McCarthy MLA has criticised the 'shameful' decision by the DUP at Ards Borough Council that will see the Exploris Aquarium close its doors for good.

Based in Portaferry, the aquarium will now close after a private investor pulled out of the project. Mr McCarthy, also the MLA for Strangford, said the move will have a devastating impact on tourism in the area.

Mr McCarthy said: "This is a shameful decision by the DUP to close one of Northern Ireland's main tourist attractions.

"The loss of the Exploris centre will deprive Northern Ireland of its only aquarium. It is a valuable educational resource, not just for the Strangford area but the whole region.

"The DUP Tourism Minister has also failed to properly invest and promote the aquarium that has resulted in a potential private investor pulling out. This will have a lasting, devastating impact on Strangford and the whole of Northern Ireland."

Call For Fuel Rebate Scheme To Be Brought Forward

SDLP MP for South Down has called for the British Chancellor to bring forward plans to extend the fuel rebate scheme to rural areas such as South Down.

Ms Ritchie said: "I am pleased that the Treasury has accepted from the first batch of evidence that there is a case for extending the existing fuel rebate scheme for islands to more remote inland areas such as Newry and Mourne but this process needs to happen quickly as local people and businesses continue to be put under severe financial pressure by high fuel prices.

"If they have not already done so I would encourage local fuel retailers who have been contacted by the Treasury to provide their submission as soon as possible to speed this process up by proving that these areas are similar to the islands in terms of pump prices and distribution costs. It will then be up to the British government to make the necessary representations to the European Commission and then to instate this policy with immediate effect."

Balmoral Pharmacy Re-Opens

Health Minister Edwin Poots has officially re-opened Balmoral Pharmacy on Belfast's Upper Lisburn Road.

The pharmacy has undergone a major refit and now includes a private consultation room for the delivery of additional clinical services.

Minister Poots said: "I am delighted to officially mark the re-opening of the newly refurbished pharmacy which will bring real benefits to the residents in the surrounding area.

"Under Transforming Your Care (TYC) and at the core of my vision for our health and social care system is the need to raise the quality of care, improve outcomes, and enhance the patient experience.

"I recognise that the provision of safe, high quality pharmacy services that meet the needs of the community has a key role to play in delivering this vision."

(CD/JP)