Other News In Brief

Health Minister Extends Deadline For Public Health Bill Consultation

The Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, has announced a consultation on a new Public Health Bill for Northern Ireland has been extended by two weeks until 14 October 2024.

This extension will help maximise the number of responses on the proposed legislation.

The planned bill will replace the 1967 Public Health Act, ensuring Northern Ireland can respond to a wider range of severe threats to public health.

While the 1967 Act focussed on infectious diseases, the new bill will also cover infection and contamination from biological, chemical and radiological sources. This updating of the legislation to cover all hazards will bring NI legislation into line with the rest of the UK.

The Health Minister said: "I would encourage any individual, group, or organisation with a view on the consultation to submit a response ahead of the new closing date of 14 October. This is your opportunity to help shape this important legislation.

"There has been significant public interest in the consultation. As we seek to replace outdated legislation, it is important that we consider all options. I am not in favour of mandatory vaccination even in limited and tightly prescribed circumstances. Nevertheless, it is right that we have a public conversation about all potential options in the public consultation, as we decide what should be in the final Bill to protect us all.

"Unfortunately, there has been some misunderstanding about the planned new bill.

"Any draft legislation emerging from the consultation must go through the Northern Ireland Assembly's normal scrutiny processes, including a detailed review by the Health Committee and an Assembly debate followed by votes of the full Assembly.

"It is important we have vigorous debate on the proposed legislation, which is why I welcome the strong interest in the consultation.

"I am determined that the planned Bill will strike the correct balance between the state’s responsibility to protect the public’s health, our collective responsibility to protect each other, and the autonomy, rights and dignity of individuals. The public consultation process and the subsequent Assembly scrutiny processes will help us achieve that balance."

Drugs Seized In West Belfast Search Operation

Detectives from the PSNI's Organised Crime Branch conducted a search at a house in west Belfast on Thursday 19th September as part of an ongoing investigation into drug related criminality. As a result of the search, officers recovered suspected class A drugs with a street value of approximately £35,000 along with a replica firearm, a blank firing firearm, a quantity of cash and other drugs related paraphernalia.

Detective Sergeant Foley said: "The items seized will now be subject to forensic examination and our investigation will continue. I would like to appeal to anyone with information, or concerns about the supply or use of illegal drugs in their area, to call us on 101. It might seem insignificant, but report this information to us and we will investigate it. It could make all the difference."

Information can be provided by calling police on 101, or make a report online via www.psni.police.uk/report or, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Alliance's Paula Bradshaw Marks 'World Peace Day'

Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Paula Bradshaw has said that this year's International Day of Peace (commonly known as "World Peace Day") is more resonant than ever, and that it reinforces the need to devote efforts to the ideals of peace.

The Day came into being at the 36th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 1981.

The South Belfast MLA stated: "The UN unanimously endorsed a resolution 43 years ago requiring us, each September, to dedicate ourselves to 'commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace'. Both 'within and among' all nations and people.

"This requires us to commit ourselves to peace in all viable ways, both at home and in terms of any influence we may bear on conflict and instability elsewhere.

"In some ways, we in Northern Ireland have become a beacon for peace, given how far our society has come in only three decades or so. However, we also know how fragile this is, and how there remain those among us who continue to stoke division and promote conflict. Ongoing racist and xenophobic attacks here in Northern Ireland only reinforce the need to devote ourselves to the ideals of peace within our own community.

"We are also seeing an alarming growth of instability elsewhere, with appalling conflicts ongoing in the Middle East, Ukraine and parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and ongoing threats elsewhere. Seeking peace can often be seen as the soft option, but in fact the promotion of compromise and reconciliation is the hard work to which we need to commit ourselves.

"Let us therefore use this World Peace Day to reinforce our commitment to peace within and among all communities both at home, and around the world."