Monthly Archives: August 2017

A community group in Ballycarry has vowed to replace signs removed by roads officials recently from lampposts in the village. The signs were put up earlier this year by the local community group which has accused “authorities of turning a blind eye to the speeding problem in the area”. Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs. Now the group has pledged that it will be putting the signs up again. The signs declaring “Kill your speed not a child” were placed around the centre of the village in March after the group felt efforts to have action taken on speeding had “fallen on deaf ears”. The group purchased signs to be located on the approach roads to the village centre, where there were particular concerns for road safety. One member said that the Dalways Bawn Road was being used “as a racetrack” at times, and another cited young drivers doing “donuts” at … Continue reading →

Unionists have slammed Sinn Fein’s John O’Dowd after he warned that a restored Stormont Executive would not bring about a “utopian society”. The Upper Bann MLA was quizzed on the Nolan Show about the absence of an Executive following the announcement that £70m in savings have to be made by Northern Ireland’s five health trusts. He said: “I am being realistic. No on should expect that even if the Executive is back up and running that we are going to have a utopian society and that all the problems of the health service will be resolved.” DUP MP Sammy Wilson said Mr O’Dowd comments displayed an “immature attitude” on the part of Sinn Fein and added: “It once again raises the question as to whether Sinn Fein sees any point in an Executive at all.” Disagreeing with Mr O’Dowd’s assessment that a functioning government could not help resolve the problems … Continue reading →

Mixed views: Caral Ni Chuilin (Sinn Fein) By Noel McAdam August 25 2017 PolIticians have embarked on a new blame game as £10m-a-month spending cuts threaten to engulf the health service. The growing crisis could be averted if the talks to restore Stormont – due to resume in the next few weeks – achieve a deal. The DUP last night blamed Sinn Fein for the £70m in cutbacks. Former health minister Edwin Poots said: “This is the result of not having Stormont in place which is because Sinn Fein is putting other issues above the problems of the health service.” But former Sinn Fein education minister John O’Dowd hit back: “Regardless of whether there is an Executive or not there are still going to be huge pressures on our health services because the Tory government has been cutting public expenditure. “We should not lead the public to believe the return … Continue reading →

Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey speaks at yesterday’s public meeting By Eamon Sweeney August 25 2017 Anger boiled over at a meeting of the Belfast Trust where a draft savings plan aimed at pulling back more than £26 million was outlined. Unison regional secretary Patricia McKeown launched a verbal broadside at trust members, imploring them not to vote for sending their proposals forward to public consultation. “I am calling on non-executive directors in particular not to give approval to these proposals,” she urged. “Send them back to the Department of Health, and if that gets you nowhere go to the Secretary of State. “Make it clear that the health care of people in Northern Ireland should not be a matter of political leverage. “The trust board has to send the message back to the Department of Health that you have a duty of care to the public and legal obligations, … Continue reading →