Monthly Archives: September 2015

Malone Road, south Belfast: Safety measures to be reintroduced after fatal crash

The Department for Regional Development (DRD) is to reinstate safety measures at a fatal accident black spot on a main road in Belfast. It has emerged that an original crash barrier was removed, even though the Roads Service could not find out why it had been put there in the first place. It had been in place following a fatal crash in 1977. It was removed three weeks before Enda Dolan died after he was hit by a van on the Malone Road last October. According to documents received through a Freedom of Information request made by the BBC, officials from the DRD Roads Service – now called Transport NI – ordered the barrier to be removed, even though they were unable to find out why it had been originally put there. ‘Horrible accident’ The documents show communication between officials discussing the barrier. One asked: “Have you been able to … Continue reading

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Beggs Visits Boots Carrickfergus

East Antrim Ulster Unionist Party representative Roy Beggs MLA has recently visited Boots community pharmacy in Carrickfergus at Marketplace. The Assembly member was told of the work that the store does within the community as part of their ‘caring for our community’ campaign in Northern Ireland. Roy Beggs MLA said “ While visiting the store, I heard of the good work that the local pharmacist Rory O’Neill does within the community as part of education programmes, in particular the work that he has done with the allotment holders at Eden. I also met with Marie Smith, Pharmacy Manager NI for Boots who advised of the services that Boots can deliver, including minor ailments, smoking cessation, medicine use reviews and substance dependency services, which could alleviate strain and pressure from our GPs and hospitals.” Attached picture shows Mr Roy Beggs MLA with Rory O’Neill and Marie Smith from Boots, Carrickfergus

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Tributes paid to the late Joan Drummond MBE

Tributes have been paid to former UUP Mayor of Larne Joan Drummond MBE, who passed away at the age of 77 on September 10. Mrs Drummond served on Larne Borough Council from 1989 to 2005, and was awarded an MBE in 2000. East Antrim UUP MLA Roy Beggs Jnr described Mrs Drummond as a “wise and calming influence” in local politics. He stated: “It is with great sadness, that I have learned that Joan Drummond MBE has passed away. “She was a wise and calming influence in local government in Larne for many years. “Her approach to politics was based on service to the community and trying to help the most vulnerable. “She lived and worked in the heart of Craigyhill, and all her voluntary work associated with the Linn Community Centre revolved around helping and improving her local neighbourhood. “I know she was held in very high regard right … Continue reading

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Beggs slams timing of announcement of proposed closure of Whiteabbey Minor Injuries Unit

Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs has accused the Northern Health Trust of capitalising on the difficulties at Stormont by announcing a consultation to close Whiteabbey Minor Injuries Unit less than 24 hours after the Health Minister announced his intention to resign. The East Antrim MLA said: “I and the staff in Whiteabbey Hospital have feared from the initial temporary closure last year that permanent closure of the Minor Injuries Unit was always going to be the likely outcome. From the time when the first announcement was made the unit has effectively been stripped out making closure inevitable, despite weak denials from the Trust and the Minister. “The Trust and the former Minister had been waiting to make this statement for several months so I am in no doubt that the timing of this consultation on permanent closure is deliberate. Simon Hamilton had barely announced his resignation before this announcement was … Continue reading

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Private Members Business: Waiting Lists Crisis

Mr Beggs: I support the motion. There are 375,000 people waiting. These are citizens who are in ill health and may well be suffering along with their family. That represents 20% of the population, which is quite stark when you think about it in those terms. This would not be tolerated in England, Scotland or Wales, so why do we tolerate it in Northern Ireland? The DUP, which controls the Health and Finance Departments, is exposed for its underfunding of the health service and failure to act on the warnings that were given by Michael McGimpsey when he indicated what lay ahead with the Budget that was approved by many who are now complaining. I recall a clinician talking recently about the situation in the health service, and he compared it to an airport where the aeroplanes were being parked on the grass or on the tarmac and were not … Continue reading

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