Other News In Brief

Diana Armstrong 'Deeply Alarmed' Over Rise In Femicide In NI

Ulster Unionist MLA, Diana Armstrong, has said that she is "deeply alarmed by the urgent and escalating issue of femicide in Northern Ireland".

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said: "I wish to express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mary Ward, a victim of a horrific murder in South Belfast. Her tragic death has deeply affected us all. Mary is the fourth woman to be killed in the last six weeks.

"As women, we face unique challenges, and the rise in femicide is a grim reflection of the violence many of us continue to endure. The horrific death of Mary Ward is not just another statistic; it is a devastating example of the failure to protect women across Northern Ireland.

"With the recent development in the ongoing case that she had been a victim of a violent crime before her death, this raises many questions as to the current protections in place to safeguard women. She should have felt safe within her home, in public and broader society. We owe it to her and her memory that we help safeguard women's rights and security within Northern Ireland. I sincerely hope this will be the wake-up call for the Stormont Executive to take immediate and decisive action.

"This is not just a women's issue—it's a societal crisis that demands urgent and decisive action from all of us. The impact of femicide reverberates throughout our society, affecting us all. Everyone deserves to live without fear of violence. It is codified into Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which states that everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security."

Executive Must Act On Hunger And Food Poverty In NI – SDLP

The Executive has been urged to tackle hunger and food poverty in Northern Ireland.

SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan made the call after new research from the Trussell Trust showed around 200,000 people in the North are facing hunger, including 62,000 children.

This is an increase of 21,000 people from 2019/20. West Tyrone MLA Mr McCrossan said: "The growing numbers of people facing hunger in the North should shame our Executive who have done little to tackle this issue since the re-establishment of the Stormont institutions. Behind these statistics are families, including children, who are going hungry because they don’t have enough to eat. Older people who face the choice between paying for heating or food and parents who skip meals so that their children can eat.

"This is not a problem that has sprung up or will be solved overnight. In the last decade we have seen a huge increase in the number of foodbanks springing up here and without this vital lifeline there’s no doubt things would be even worse. We can’t continue to rely on the community sector to step up and support people where the Executive has failed to make any meaningful intervention.

"The SDLP is serious about tackling this issue and at our recent Conference we endorsed becoming a Right to Food party. This campaign wants to see the right to food enshrined in law, funding for community kitchens, universal free school meals and the restoration of holiday hunger payments and these initiatives would make a huge difference here.

"That poverty was not included in the Executive’s Programme for Government priorities and they are still to bring forward a Anti-Poverty Strategy underpinned with targets to tackle these issues shows that they are not treating this with the seriousness it deserves and until they do people will continue to suffer."

Alliance Raise Concerns Over Reports Of School Unable To Afford Hot Meals For Pupils

Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy has called for more information following reports that some primary schools in Northern Ireland aren't currently able to offer hot meals.

The Lagan Valley MLA cited a BBC News report, which claimed that some primary school students in County Down will not have the option of a hot meal due to a range of factors, including kitchen staff shortages.

Michelle Guy said: "For some children and young people, their school lunch may be the only hot meal they get that day. The potential impact that this failure to deliver could have on them is hugely significant, and incredibly concerning.

"We need clarification from the Education Authority and the Department of Education around exactly how many children are being impacted by this, and what steps are in place to ensure it is not a long-term situation.

"This also speaks to the wider issue of resourcing within our schools and the need for the Education Minister to provide further information around the spending decisions he is taking.

"I have asked questions to the Department of Education relating to how widespread this issue is and what is being done to support the schools and pupils impacted, and I hope the answers will be forthcoming."