Other News In Brief

SF Repeated Their Call For Govt To Replace Lost EU Funding

Sinn Féin have repeated their call for the UK government to meet its commitment to fully replace lost EU funds.

As community groups warned of job losses and the loss of vital skills and training services, the party's economy spokesperson Caoimhe Archibald said: "The British government's failure to replace lost EU funds could result in devastating job losses and cuts to vital community services.

"It's not acceptable that local projects who provide services to vulnerable people, create jobs and provide opportunities for young people, are now left at a cliff-edge with no certainty on what comes next.

"Failure to fully replace this money and the delay in rolling out the Shared Prosperity Fund has placed groups in a precarious position.

"I would urge the British government to honour its commitment and restore lost EU funds and not to make our communities the latest casualty of the Tories' calamitous Brexit mess.

"Local departments also need to step up and work with groups, extend existing funding for a year on a pro-rata basis to allow organisations to transition to the new funding and use this period to develop a longer-term scheme.

"Ministers in an Executive would be able to ensure this happened, the vital work of these groups should not be collateral damage for the DUP's blockade of the institutions.

"Community and voluntary workers need an Executive up and running now and all parties working together around the table to provide support for these groups."

UUP Welcomes Supreme Court Protocol Judgement

The Ulster Unionist Party {UUP} has welcomed a Supreme Court ruling highlighting the "legitimate concerns of Unionists".

Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA said: "In handing down their findings the Court articulates many of the inconsistencies created by the Protocol. The judgement today must give the UK Government pause for thought as negotiations continue. They must work to undo the damage done by agreeing to the Protocol in 2019 and replace it with an agreement that restores Northern Ireland’s place within the UK Internal Market.

"While this is no longer a matter for the courts, the judgement today demonstrates that the concerns of Unionism about the Protocol and the damage it stands to do to Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom are legitimate. These concerns cannot simply be shrugged at. That the Supreme Court recognises that the Protocol suspends a part of the Act of Union should be a matter of considerable concern for all those who believe in our Union, whether they be in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland or Wales.

"We have been clear from the outset that the Protocol was unacceptable to Unionists. We must have a say in our future. It is not acceptable for those who were the architects of the Protocol to preside over negotiations with no input from those most affected. If we are to find a way out of this mess, then it must be acknowledged by both the EU and the UK that trying to negotiate over the heads of Northern Ireland will simply not work and will only exacerbate an already fragile situation."

Fares Increase Will Punish The Worst Off In Society – SDLP

SDLP Infrastructure Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has said that a fares increase from Translink will punish the worst off in society.

Mr Durkan was speaking after Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris directed Translink to raise prices, with a 7% increase being put in place.

Foyle MLA Mr Durkan said: "At a time when families across the North are finding it harder than ever to pay their bills, put petrol in their cars and food on the table, I struggle to understand what the NI Secretary is hoping to achieve by rolling back the SDLP's previous commitment to freezing public transport fares and heaping further pressure on people at what is already a difficult time.

"This is a Tory government that allows energy companies to make huge profits while the public pays the price and it's ridiculous that they would rather impose additional costs on people here than make these companies pay their fair share. Tory austerity is negatively impacting every aspect of life here and without an Assembly or Executive in place we are at their mercy.

"I understand the pressures Translink face and the efforts of their staff, but when we are encouraging people to use more sustainable forms of transport and to leave their cars at a home the last thing we should be doing is creating further barriers and hiking prices. We know how harmful vehicle emissions are to our environment and if we're serious about tackling the climate emergency then we need to take steps to make cleaner modes of transport more accessible, not less.

"Many in our society rely on public transport, particularly our younger and older generations, to get them to school, work and important appointments and it's deeply disappointing that they now face further costs as a result of this decision."