Other News In Brief

Permanent Secretary's Decision To Approve Hightown Incinerator Was Wrong – SF

Sinn Féin has told the Permanent Secretary for the Department for Infrastructure that his decision to approve the Hightown Incinerator near Glengormley in Co Antrim was "wrong".

MLA Declan Kearney led a party delegation in a meeting with Peter May on Monday, 18 September.

He also raised concerns about the serious impact the plant would have on the greater Hightown and Glengormley areas.

He said: "The decision to approve the incinerator plans flies in the face of widespread community and political opposition. The serious risk to the local environment is well rehearsed, not least the repercussions for the health of the growing local population and the local infrastructure which it serves."

"There are also grave concerns about the nature and timing of the decision taken by Peter May. Questions arise about how such a major, controversial decision can be taken by a senior civil servant contrary to the united opposition of all local elected representatives and 4,000 objectors.

"We raised very serious political concerns about the process used to make this decision at this time. I am dissatisfied with the explanations offered by the Permanent Secretary and his staff and I intend to have further discussions this week on the situation.

"I advised the Permanent Secretary that this issue will continue to be revisited. I also told him that his decision was wrong and should be immediately revoked."

Call For Govts To Produce Joint Proposals

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MLA has said that we are now approaching the time for the Irish and British governments to call time on the Stormont talks by producing joint proposals for a deal.

He said: "As I indicated last week, we are now approaching the time for the two governments to call time on the Stormont talks by producing joint proposals for a deal.

"As co-guarantors of all our political agreements, it is now time that they forcefully step in to forge a deal that can accommodate both the Irish and the British traditions in the North. All parties should then be publically challenged to sign up to them or reject them.

"The public have long since run out of patience with this talks process and they're dead right. If the general mood was originally frustration it has now turned to farce.

"Last week all of us gave the DUP and Sinn Féin space to engage in serious discussions. We were asked to believe that the more positive tone and language of this last number of weeks would lead to a breakthrough.

"By the tone of Arlene Foster's remarks at the weekend those discussions have once more run into the same old stalemate."

Woman Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

A woman has been convicted for claiming benefits she was not entitled to at Coleraine Magistrates' Court.

Joanne Burns claimed Housing Benefit totalling £11,487 while failing to declare capital. She was given 80 hours community service.

The fraud was uncovered following an investigation by the Department for Communities.

Mrs Burns has repaid in full the money wrongfully obtained to the Department.

(CD/JP)