Other News In Brief

Greens Welcome ICJ Ruling On South Africa's Genocide Case Against Israel

The Green Party NI has welcomed an International Court of Justice ruling in South Africa's genocide case against Israel.

The ICJ confirmed sufficient evidence exists to continue investigating South Africa’s case against Israel relating to the Genocide convention. Emergency measures include Israel must take measures to prevent acts of Genocide in the Gaza strip & that Israel must allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Cllr Flynn said: "An entire population in Gaza is now in an emergency phase of food insecurity, they are being denied access to basic essentials like food, water, electricity and a safe home to live in, they face a catastrophe as the bombs continue to drop, disease spreads and healthcare services collapse. An important part of this ICJ ruling demands Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Western leaders including the UK and US governments must do more to bring about an immediate ceasefire, including stopping all arms sales to Israel in direct violation of UK domestic and international law."

Cllr Flynn continued: "I welcome this ruling by the ICJ and emergency measures including an order for Israel to prevent acts of Genocide against the Palestinian people. This is an important moment in the campaign to stop the ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Gaza strip, the ICJ has made clear its intention to continue an investigation into Israel’s actions under the genocide convention and this ruling must be upheld by Israel and the international community. The Green Party is a party of peace, non-violence and social justice and we will continue to stand against the genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people."

Alliance Concerned Over Reduction In Infrastructure Investment

The Alliance Party has raised concerns that the amount of social housing available will be curtailed by a reduction in investment into infrastructure.

The party's housing spokesperson, Kellie Armstrong MLA, has raised the issue with the Department for Infrastructure following indications that a significant reduction in the NI Water budget could result in an inability to connect new builds.

The Strangford MLA has said: "The number of people presenting as homeless due to the lack of suitable accommodation across Northern Ireland is rising at a deeply alarming rate.

"In NI, over 45,000 people are currently on the waiting list for social housing. Any barrier to delivering enough homes to meet this demand will place even more people in unideal temporary accommodation situations, and further continue a downward spiral of crisis. We have already seen a reduction in the number of new social homes as a result of the restricted budget brought in by the Secretary of State.

"Everyone deserves safe, secure, and stable housing. I am calling on the Head of the Civil Service to ensure all departments produce an impact report showing how NICS consider the inter-departmental implications of one department’s decisions, only exampled by DfI’s limit on NI Water threatening to delay crucial NI Housing Strategy targets from being achieved.

"A cut in one area has a ripple effect across other departments and this must be fully recognised and considered at each decision-making juncture."

DUP's British Citizenship Rights Bill Passes Second Reading

A DUP Bill on British citizenship rights has passed its second reading in the House of Commons.

The Bill, proposed by DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson, seeks to extend provision for British citizenship, including the right to hold a British Passport, to those born in the Republic of Ireland since 1949 and who have then settled in and made Northern Ireland their home.

Speaking in Parliament, Gavin Robinson MP said: "The Belfast Agreement sought to address issues of identity. Whilst it was accepted and acknowledged that Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom was constitutionally settled, those with a competing aspiration could not only avail of Irish identity, the Republic of Ireland government afforded them the opportunity to attain Irish Citizenship. Some hold that citizenship singularly, whilst others happily enjoy dual citizenship of both the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

"What was not settled however was reciprocation in the other direction.

"Our history and relationship is inter-twinned and this Bill seeks to provide the final piece of that relational jigsaw. Anyone born in the Republic of Ireland but who lives within the United Kingdom and satisfies the residency test should be able to avail of UK Citizenship."

Referring to the prominent example of the DUP's Lord Hay of Ballyore, Mr Robinson added: "He was born in Donegal yet has lived for the overwhelming majority of his life in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. He served on his local council from 1981. He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1998 and served as the Speaker of the Assembly from 2007 to 2014. That year, he was elevated to the House of Lords and to this day, remains a Peer of this Realm and legislator in our Parliament. Yet he isn't a British Citizen.

"And the question is this; Should anyone in that position, serving practically, materially and productively be expected to pay a naturalisation fee of £1,580 and complete a 'Life in the UK' citizenship test? The notion that they should have to do so is offensive, contrary to the spirit of reciprocation offered through the Belfast Agreement in 1998, blind to our history and ignorant of the legal reality.

"We also know from the 2021 Census figures that there are some 40,400 people living in Northern Ireland who were born in the Republic of Ireland. Furthermore, we know that circa 32,000 of them were born after 1948 and therefore could avail of this Bill.

"To quote the former Labour MP for Thurrock and great friend of Northern Ireland, Andrew MacKinlay when he debated this point in 2009, 'We have an opportunity, which the House will probably not have again for some years, to right a wrong, provide parity of treatment for people who are Irish…. And allow them to identify with their Britishness'."