Other News In Brief

SDLP Calls On Executive To Fund Casement Park Project

The SDLP has called on the Executive to allocate additional funding for the Casement Park project.

Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty made the call after the SDLP raised the issue with the Finance and Communities Ministers in the Assembly on Monday, 04 November.

Newry & Armagh MLA Mr McNulty said: "It is clear that if we are ever going to get movement on Casement Park then the Executive and the UK Government will have to increase their funding for the project to get it over the line. I raised this directly with the Finance Minister today after the Executive received additional funding from the UK Government this week, but her response was non-committal, while the Communities Minister blamed budget pressures.

"We are all well aware of the financial challenges facing the Executive, but Ministers cannot deny they have been provided with additional funding from the Budget last week and political decisions will need to be made around how that budget is spent. Our main focus must be on rebuilding our decimated public services, but the redevelopment of Casement is long overdue and Ministers must explore every avenue to drive this forward.

"There is still bitter disappointment at missing out on the Euros, but we must now put all of our energy into delivering a fit for purpose home for the GAA in Antrim. The failed Euros bid cannot be an excuse to let Casement once again fall by the wayside and we will continue working with the GAA and all interested parties to get this stadium built."

DUP's Jim Shannon Raise NI Air Connectivity In House Of Commons

Raising the issues of reliability in ai connections between NI and the UK, DUP MP for Strangford, Jim Shannon, has asked an Urgent Question to the Transport Secretary in the House of Commons on the frequency of flight cancellations between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and the need for Government to support domestic flight provision within the UK. Jim Shannon said: "Three million passengers used domestic flights within the United Kingdom last year. Of all the routes that operate within the UK, the third and fourth most popular routes where those linking London and Belfast. The popularity, and the need, for regular and reliable flight options is clear.

"Therefore, it is deeply concerning that we are faced with challenges with the reliability of these vital services. Only yesterday, we had another example of a flight being cancelled between Belfast and London. This flight had people travelling for urgent health care, for business, for holiday connections and for family reasons, and yet despite it being cancelled in the schedule in September by the airline, passengers were still able to book onto what was essentially a 'phantom' flight. It simply is not good enough from airlines.

"In the House of Commons, I urged the Transport Secretary to engage with the airlines to stress the importance of connectivity within the UK, and also the requirement to provide paying customers with the service expected. We need reliable, frequent service and yet increasingly we see cancellation and withdrawal of flights."

Belfast Shop Owner Banned from Selling Tobacco and Vapes

A Belfast shop owner has been banned from selling tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products, including e-cigarettes and vapes, for 18 months.

Belfast Magistrates' Court handed down the ban on Tuesday, 5th November 2024, after O'Reilly's on Donegall Street was found to have breached a previous 12-month Restricted Premises Order issued in February 2023.

The shop owner, Mr Michael O'Reilly, pleaded guilty to the breach and was fined £1000, plus £131 in costs. Additionally, a Restricted Sales Order was imposed on Mr O'Reilly, prohibiting him from selling tobacco and nicotine products from any location for 18 months.

The prosecution followed a test purchase conducted by Belfast City Council officers, who successfully purchased a nicotine inhaling product from the shop.

It is illegal to sell tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products to individuals under the age of 18. This case marks the first instance in Northern Ireland where a Restricted Sales Order has been granted to prevent an individual from selling these products.