Other News In Brief

UK Government Rejects Calls For NI Tourist Permit Exemption

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick has rejected proposals to make Northern Ireland exempt from the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

The permit is a requirement for those outside the UK and Ireland visiting the UK. This includes international visitors who arrive in Dublin but go on to visit Northern Ireland.

Mr Jenrick claimed an exemption would undermine the entire scheme. He made the comments whilst participating in a debate at Westminster Hall that was called by Alliance MP Stephen Farry. Members of the NI tourism industry have expressed fears that the ETA will discourage visitors coming to Northern Ireland.

Rare Telephone Box To Be Listed In Co Armagh

A rare telephone box in Tartaraghan is set to be listed.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council was informed of the plans by the Department For Communities at a recent meeting of the Council's planning committee.

The increasingly rare box includes the St Edward's Crown Motif which was first introduced in the 1950s following the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

The proposal was discussed by members of the council with support for the plan to list the item. However, concerns were also raised about the need to move the box should the nearby property owner require it.

DUP MLA Challenges Sinn Fein Over Pro-IRA Chanting

DUP MLA Gary Middleton has challenged Sinn Fein over "a failure of leadership" following another incident of Pro-IRA chanting in Londonderry.

The incident took place in a bar in L'Derry following last week's European qualifier match involving Derry City.

Commenting on the incident, The Foyle DUP MLA said: "Those engaging in this type of sectarian chanting are a symptom of a wider problem of IRA glorification and continued attempts to sanitise their actions. It is also due to a failure of leadership, most notably when claiming there was "no alternative" to IRA terrorism.

"Sinn Fein must accept that their continued attempts to blur rights and wrongs of the past is perpetuating this kind of sectarianism. Their words and actions are encouraging a generation who never experienced the realities of IRA terrorism and human rights abuses, to celebrate those actions.

"We have seen such scenes repeated on numerous occasions over the last year alone. Each one however is connected and related. The common thread is the lack of challenge to those who have not just failed to provide political leadership in response to such incidents, but who have fuelled the attitudes at the root of such behaviour."