Other News In Brief

SF Renews Call For Govt To Scrap Legacy Bill

Sinn Féin has called on the British government to "live up to its previous commitment" to scrap the cruel Legacy Act.

Mid Ulster MLA Emma Sheerin said: "Sean Brown's family have fought for over 27 years to establish the full extent of the events which led to his murder.

"Today's ruling in the High Court is a vindication of the Brown family's efforts and their determination to not give up fighting for the truth.

"The British government must live up to its previous commitments and scrap the Legacy Act in full.

"The majority of families have been clear that they have no confidence in the ICRIR, and nor does the body have the necessary powers to deliver truth and justice.

"The only way to establish the full extent of what happened to Sean Brown is through an independent statutory public inquiry.

"This was recommended by the Coroner in March and was also supported by the PSNI, the GAA and others.

"The British government must move beyond their acts of bad faith, and finally live up to their commitment to work with families on an agreed way forward for legacy by a return to the key principles and mechanisms agreed at Stormont House."

SDLP Calls For 'All-Island Animal Cruelty Register'

An all-island animal cruelty register is the only way to keep animals out of the hands of abusers, SDLP Opposition AERA Spokesperson Patsy McGlone has said.

Speaking during an Assembly motion on creating a register on Tuesday, SDLP Opposition AERA Spokesperson Patsy McGlone has said: "The SDLP has spent many years campaigning for improved animal protections in the North. In 2021, we brought forward a petition with thousands of signatures calling on the then AERA Minister to work with the Justice Minister to introduce an all-island animal cruelty register. Despite initial support, the AERA Minister later said such a register would not be possible, blaming financial and logistical issues. "This motion has been brought forward today by the DUP today, the same party whose Minister rejected such a scheme. While I welcome the party's support for the issue and desire to protect animals, I question the ability to do this without a register that works on an all-island basis. The cross-border nature of criminal activities such as dogfighting, badger-baiting, and illegal puppy-farming, demands it. A register restricted to the North could also allow people banned from owning animals in the North to purchase them over the border and vice-versa and without proper systems and information sharing in place it could be very easy for abusers to exploit this.

"Disappointingly the current AERA Minister has also rejected an all-island register. We also see few prosecutions when it comes to animal cruelty and abuse. A change of approach is needed, not just from the Executive, but from enforcement agencies to send a clear message that there will be no hiding place for those who mistreat animals."

'Severe Lack of Investment' In Addressing Homelessness – Alliance

The Alliance Party has raised concerns over a "severe lack of investment" in tackling homelessness in Northern Ireland.

Speaking during an Assembly debate on 22 October, addressing homelessness, South Down MLA Andrew McMurray said: "Homelessness is something no one should have to experience and is a major issue that urgently needs to be tackled in Northern Ireland. As of June, the Newry, Mourne and Down council area alone experienced a 115% increase in people experiencing homelessness since March 2014. In addition to this, there are many more 'hidden homeless' people who are not registered with the Housing Executive and who have yet to seek support.

"Unfortunately, the housing sector is failing to provide adequate accommodation to many of those who are experiencing homelessness due to a lack of resources and social housing. This issue is not exclusive to my own constituency but one that affects people across NI. We simply don't have nearly enough social homes to accommodate those who are vulnerable and have no place of residence.

"I recently met with charities and organisations in my constituency, such as MACSNI and The Simon Community, to discuss the very valuable work they do in supporting individuals and families during an extremely vulnerable point in their lives.

"Nevertheless, it should not fall solely on these organisations to provide shelter and support for those who are homeless. The Housing Executive has a statutory responsibility to provide accommodation and support to people who meet the criteria. However, the Housing Executive is unfortunately facing many pressures due to the lack and inconsistency of funding and is failing to provide adequate support to many of those in need.

"Homelessness can creep up on anyone on short notice and it's an issue that needs to be taken a lot more seriously. Factors such as the lack of affordable housing, the cost of living crisis, mental health, debt and shortage of social housing all play a role in exacerbating homelessness. It is time we see a plan that will address these issues and invest in tackling homelessness in NI."