Other News In Brief

UUP Calls For Emergency Summit On Lough Neagh Crisis

The Ulster Unionist Party has called on the NI Civil Service to convene an interdepartmental, cross-agency summit to address the Lough Neagh algae crisis

The party's Environment Spokesperson, Tom Elliott, has written to the Head of the NI Civil Service, Jayne Brady, calling for the emergency summit.

Mr Elliott said: "We appreciate that DAERA has taken some action with the creation of a Water Quality Steering Group, but action cannot be taken by one Department alone.

"The blue-green algae blooms at Lough Neagh are incredibly alarming, and I have written to the Head of the Civil Service to ask her to call for an emergency summit of the relevant Executive departments, arms-length bodies and other stakeholders to plot a way forward for the good of all.

"These organisations need to be kept informed and involved in the process of tackling this emerging crisis."

'Not Acceptable' Belfast Trust Has Yet To Find Replacement For Meals On Wheels – Alliance

The Alliance Party has said that it is "not acceptable" that Belfast Trust has yet to identify a replacement for its meals on wheels service, which is due to end in less than two weeks.

The Belfast Trust resource, which provides meals to sick and disabled people, will be withdrawn by the end of September thanks to the contractor pulling out. Around 160 people are estimated to be affected.

Having confirmed that the Trust has no alternative arrangements are in place, Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister: "The news about the meals on wheels service ending is extremely concerning, given how many people rely on it.

"But that has been compounded by the confirmation from Belfast Trust it is still carrying out a review to establish alternative arrangements and none are yet in place. Time is running out. This is an essential service for many of my constituents and is yet another massive blow to many people here.

"There is no doubt the Trust's lack of communication around the axing of the service has exacerbated the problem for many people. That is not acceptable and neither is removing a vital service vulnerable people rely on or not having a replacement lined up already.

"The Trust needs an alternative service put into place and it needs to do so now."

SF Host European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee At Stormont

Sinn Féin has hosted a delegation of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on a visit to Stormont on Monday, 18 September.

The delegation included Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs David McAllister and Chair of the Delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly Nathalie Loiseau.

Speaking after the meeting, the Sinn Féin Brexit spokesperson, Declan Kearney, said: "I was delighted to meet with a delegation of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee today. I commended the Committee on its consistent engagement with political and civic leaders in the north, and addressed the huge importance of the Peace Plus official announcement just last week. I also stressed the need for ongoing and close working partnership between this region and the EU. 

"The committee is currently working on a report on the implementation of the Windsor Framework.

"I strongly welcome that members of the committee restated their support for the Windsor Framework and the restoration of our political institutions.

"The Windsor Framework is now an integral part of the protocol and is widely supported across the north, in Westminster and the EU. 

"The British Government has made it very clear that further renegotiation of the Windsor Framework is not plausible and that the matter is settled. This is the unambiguous position of the European Commission.

"I pointed out that in a time of such economic difficulty for workers and families and endemic crisis across public services, it is beyond belief that the DUP appears determined to undermine the significant potential granted by the Windsor Framework to the north's economy.

"It is time for that party to end its anti-democratic boycott of the assembly and return to the power sharing institutions. We need a return to power sharing and the North/South institutions to realise the potential of the Windsor Framework, and create the political stability needed to begin addressing the scale of crisis across our public services."