Other News In Brief

SDLP Calls For Changes To Enterprise Bill

SDLP MP for South Down, Margaret Ritchie, has called for changes to the Enterprise Bill at Westminster to prevent businesses losing millions of pounds each year through cash retentions.

She said: "In 2015 Northern Irish businesses lost £40m through an out-dated and ill-suited cash retention system. It is putting serious strain on many local small and medium sized businesses, and as it stands this won't change for another ten years.

"The Government's long overdue review of the retention system aims to eliminate these losses by 2025. That is simply not soon enough for many small businesses who will continue to lose money through upstream insolvencies or by becoming so frustrated by this inefficient and bureaucratic system that they give up trying to recover their money."

Man Fined For Waste Offences

A man has been fined for three breaches of waste management legislation.

Peter Antony Burke, who lives in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland, was fined £225 plus court costs of £148 and a £15 offenders' levy at Antrim Magistrates' court.

Officers from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) visited the site at Largy Road, Crumlin on 05 February 2014, where a quantity of waste tyres was deposited and stored on site without the relevant waste authorisation. Mr Peter Burke, operating as BBR Recycling, did not hold the relevant waste management licence or an exemption to deposit or store waste tyres at this location.

Forfeiture was granted for the first time to the NIEA in respect of a 7.5 tonne goods vehicle seized on site on 5 February 2014 under The Controlled Waste (Seizure of Property Regulations) (Northern Ireland) 2013.

Joint Approach Needed To Oppose British Exit From Europe - SF

Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney has said a joint approach from political parties and civic society is required to oppose a British exit from Europe.

Mr Kearney said: "The simple fact is that a Brexit is the opposite to the interests of local people.

"Those of us who recognise the dangers inherent in a Brexit now need to bring increased momentum to our arguments.

"Opposition to a Brexit needs to be expanded into widespread and representative common ground.

"Those political parties, social partners and civic stakeholders who are of one mind on this issue across Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England should coalesce and speak with one voice against Brexit.

"A joint civic and political platform opposing Brexit is required."

(CD)