Other News In Brief

No-One Should Have to Face Online Abuse - SF

Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon has said no one regardless of what they do should have to face online abuse and there is an onus on everyone to condemn it.

She said: "People in public life are often targeted with online abuse, threats, harassment and intimidation but no matter how often it occurs it should never be tolerated.

"I am aware that colleagues and representatives from other parties have faced what is often vile, disgusting, and misogynistic abuse.

"No one, regardless of what they do, should be expected to put up with abuse.

"There is an onus on all of us public life, from across all parties to come together and to condemn it.

"Service providers also have a responsibility to make their platform a safer and less toxic space for everyone."

'Tony Blair Correct On Political Will' - Sir Jeffrey

DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP has said when even Tony Blair accepts the protocol has failed, it should be a wake up call for the pro-protocol parties.

Sir Jeffrey said: "The Protocol threatens our place in the United Kingdom, endangers jobs for our people, drives up costs for consumers and reduces choice on our shelves. We’re making progress but we need to keep moving.

"We will examine these proposals against our seven tests but in stating "it is not a matter of technical work but political will and leadership". Tony Blair is correct. He is also correct to say that the protocol is a bad deal and is undermining the Good Friday Agreement. The EU should take note and recognise the harm the protocol is doing to political stability in Northern Ireland. The political will to get a solution which respects Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom has been absent for too long.

"The Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly must be built on stable foundations. These institutions only have value if they enjoy the confidence and support of the people they were established to serve. Not one unionist MLA supports the Protocol. That makes it impossible for powersharing to operate on the basis of cross community consensus."

Call For PSNI To Act Over Whatsapp Group

SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin has said the PSNI must act over a WhatsApp group in which serving officers shared sexist messages.

She was speaking after a BBC Spotlight investigation revealed the officers also shared pornographic and racist messages.

A number of the officers involved are currently being investigated for their conduct.

Foyle MLA Ms McLaughlin said: "I was horrified by the revelations in the BBC Spotlight programme. That serving police officers are sharing material of this kind a group with their colleagues raises serious questions about their behaviour and judgement.

"Sadly, we know that misogyny and sexism is still all too prevalent of our society, but we should expect better from our police officers than to be openly contributing to this scourge. This also reiterates concerns about the current culture within the PSNI when officers felt free to act in this manner, just last year we learned that a number of officers had been subjected to investigation over sexual misconduct.

"Whatever the outcome of these investigations, the PSNI and Chief Constable Simon Byrne need to send a clear message that behaviour of this kind will not be tolerated within our police service."