Other News In Brief

Chase Named New Official Banking Partner Of The IFA

Chase, the digital bank, has been announced as the Official Banking Partner of the Irish Football Association.

Chase will be working with the men's, women's, youth and disability national teams across a four-year period. And the partnership will see the Chase logo appear on training kit worn by the men's and women's teams.

The three other football associations in the UK – The FA in England, the Scottish FA and the Football Association of Wales – have also signed partnership agreements with Chase, which is the consumer banking business of US-headquartered JP Morgan Chase & Co, a leading global financial services firm.

Through the Home Nations partnership Chase will be supporting individuals across the UK from low income and low socio-economic backgrounds by providing access to fully funded coaching qualifications and free learning tools, helping to develop transferable skills for life on and off the football pitch. More details will be revealed when the programme is launched in the coming weeks.

Deborah Keay, UK Chief Marketing Officer at Chase, said: "Football has the unique ability to drive positive societal change, bringing together millions of people across every corner of the UK.

"We are excited to be working with the Home Nations to use the power of football to support individuals and communities across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

"We recognise there are barriers that can make obtaining coaching qualifications difficult for many. By supporting individuals with access to the right resources and tools they need to succeed, we can help people develop key life skills on and off the pitch that will have a positive impact on their lives."

UUP Health Spokesperson Welcomes Progress In Resolving Health Service Pay Dispute

UUP Health Spokesperson, Alan Chambers, has welcomed the major progress made towards settling a pay dispute for health service workers.

Mr Chambers said: "The long-standing position of the UUP has been that previously agreed Executive commitments regarding parity on terms and conditions needed to be honoured.

"Whilst that shamefully wasn't possible in recent years in the absence of a functioning Executive, I am really pleased that within only weeks of resuming the role of Minister of Health my party colleague Robin Swann MLA has been able to move so quickly to propose a settlement that includes the full restoration of pay parity with England for health and social care staff covered by the Agenda for Change framework.

"I am hopeful that in the coming days and weeks further announcements might also be made in relation to important settlements such as those proposed by the Doctors and Dentists Pay Review Body.

"Our health workers should never have had to take industrial action in order to receive the pay awards that they deserve. The fact that previous Executive commitments to maintain pay parity between workers here and England fell victim to the collapse of the institutions was nothing short of a disgrace. It was appalling that in recent months workers have found themselves in exactly the same position as they did in late 2019, despite the broad political consensus in early 2020 that parity needed to be reinstated and maintained.

"I am really glad that a proposal is now on the table and that the local unions are giving it a fair wind. I am hopeful that an uplift in pay, combined with further significant one-off awards, will come as some long overdue financial relief for our staff, especially at a time of inflated costs. It was unsustainable for service delivery that we could continue to depend on the goodwill of our health and social care staff, or to retain staff, in the absence of pay parity."

DfE Urged To Step In And 'Reset' Industrial Relations At Belfast Met

The Alliance Party has urged the Department for Economy to "step in and reset industrial relations", following the new that three trade unions have withdrawn their trust and confidence in the executive leadership team of Belfast Met.

Alliance Economy Spokesperson, Sorcha Eastwood, said: "I am deeply worried about the ongoing industrial relations within our further education sector. Issues of pay and conditions have been ongoing for years and if we are to reform and progress the sector it simply needs to be sorted. At this stage, I believe the Economy Minister now needs to direct officials to reset the relationships between colleges and unions.

"Further Education is essential to our current and future economic ambitions, delivering a culture of life-long learning and community building but without a valued and supported staff this isn't possible.

"Now is the time for DfE to be champions for Further Education, to give it a renewed vision, address funding inequalities, and provide clear delineation of the role and functions of universities and colleges."