First Minister Paul Givan, accompanied by DUP deputy leader Paula Bradley and MLA Christopher Stalford, laid a wreath, as did UUP assembly member and veteran Andy Allen, accompanied by MLAs John Stewart and Roy Beggs.
Parliamentary reports show first speaker only - follow this lnk for the full transcription. Articles may come from parliamentary reports, various public news feeds and Google News Search. Content is republished here for context. Copyright is respected and remains with the original author at all times. Original Article:https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-59254451
Bin collections in East Belfast are being missed due to “uneven road surfaces” causing health and safety issues for collection crews.
Belfast City Council is writing to those living in 20 different streets in the area to warn them about presenting their bins properly for collection after they were unable to be collected.
The majority of the streets are off Ravenscroft Avenue, close to Connswater Shopping Centre.
Residents have also been warned about failing to take their bins away after they have been collected, saying that they are causing a health and safety issue and could be removed.
DUP East Belfast councillor George Dorrian said the state of alleyways and bin collection issues are something that is raised with him “time and again” and that solutions need to be found in order to help residents.
He said: “The state of alleyways is a constant issue which is raised time and again. I put forward a motion to Council some time ago asking for it to work with other agencies to find a way to take over those which are ‘unadopted’ and initiate a programme of clearing and repair.
“Unfortunately we are still someway off where I want us to be in this. The recent works in Parkgate show how the problem can be swiftly addressed and improve a community space.
“The majority of people who contact me simply want safe, clean, accessible alleyways. That should be the priority for all those involved.
“This is easily achievable if the will is there”.
The council is to contact those living in the following streets;
Ravenscroft Avenue
Ravenscroft Street
Queen Victoria Street
Bloomdale Street
Westcott Street
Uniondale Street
Ulsterdale Street
Rosebery Street
Batley Street
Elmdale Street
Avondale Street
Lovatt Street
Wynford Street
Moorgate Street
Moorfield Street
Crystal Street
Beechwood Street
Chobham Street
Lena Street
Bloomfield Avenue
A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: “Letters were sent to residents due to some difficulties from our crews in collecting bins in entries behind their properties as a result of the entries’ road surface conditions.
“We have asked these residents to bring their bins to the end of the entry now for collection and would apologise for any inconvenience.”
Parliamentary reports show first speaker only - follow this lnk for the full transcription. Articles may come from parliamentary reports, various public news feeds and Google News Search. Content is republished here for context. Copyright is respected and remains with the original author at all times. Original Article:https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/east-belfast-bin-collections-missed-24121428
At that time, the party’s candidate Daniel O’Connor pulled in 1,769 first preference votes (5.9% of the total) – only just behind UUP man Ken Robinson, who scored 1,881 (6.3%).
“Critical and immediate challenges concerning the economy, health, and education are best addressed through the collective efforts of a devolved government chosen by, and accountable to, its people,” said Ned Price.
Parliamentary reports show first speaker only - follow this lnk for the full transcription. Articles may come from parliamentary reports, various public news feeds and Google News Search. Content is republished here for context. Copyright is respected and remains with the original author at all times. Original Article:https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-61355419
The speaker role attracts an annual salary of £89,500 while deputy speakers receive a wage of £57,500.
But the DUP has blocked the appointment of new speakers to allow the Assembly to start functioning again in protest over Brexit’s Northern Ireland Protocol.
A second attempt by MLAs to restore Stormont on Monday failed after the Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s party again vetoed the election of a new speaker to chair meetings.
The sitting, which followed a recall petition brought by Sinn Féin, was then suspended as further Assembly business cannot be conducted without a new speaker.
In a statement Mr Beggs said: “Under the 2016 Determination, the outgoing speaker and deputy speakers remain in post until the election of new members after an election.
“Given the failure of the new Assembly to elect a new speaker and deputy speakers, I have tendered my resignation with immediate effect.”
Meanwhile the SDLP’s Dolores Kelly, who lost her MLA seat in Upper Bann, is still listed as a member of the Assembly Commission – a body which handles the running of Parliament Buildings.
Members of the commission earn an annual salary of £57,500. No new appointments can be made to the cross-party panel in the absence of a functioning Assembly, according to officials.
The SDLP has been asked whether Ms Kelly intends to retain her post.
There were heated exchanges as MLAs clashed in the chamber on Monday over the DUP refusing to elect a new speaker.
Sinn Féin accused the DUP of “punishing the public”, but the DUP dismissed the sitting as a “stunt” and reiterated its demand for action over the Protocol.
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Outgoing speaker Alex Maskey, who did not seek re-election to Stormont in May, chaired the first attempt to appoint his successor earlier in the month.
The former Sinn Féin MLA was absent on Monday and proceedings were instead chaired by an acting speaker, which under the rules must be the oldest MLA – Alan Chambers of the UUP.
In 2017, Sinn Féin’s Caitríona Ruane faced criticism for remaining as deputy speaker for months after Stormont’s collapse in the wake of the RHI scandal.
The former Education Minister, who had not stood for re-election, said she never anticipated delays in appointing new speakers would be “so protracted”.
She also said her salary had been donated to charities and community groups.
In 2019, former SDLP MLA Alex Attwood quit the Assembly Commission more than two years after losing his Stormont seat.
The party said Mr Attwood had been continuing to attend commission meetings but had been paying back most of the wage.
Parliamentary reports show first speaker only - follow this lnk for the full transcription. Articles may come from parliamentary reports, various public news feeds and Google News Search. Content is republished here for context. Copyright is respected and remains with the original author at all times. Original Article:https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/former-uup-mla-roy-beggs-24111354
