Delivering the Executive’s 2020/21 budget, Finance Minister Conor Murphy announced a real term increase for all Departments. The Budget allocates £12.2 billion of Resource funding and £1.6 billion in Capital funding. Recognising the impact of Covid-19, Minister Murphy said, “Development of this budget began before the onset of Covid-19 and has been overshadowed […]
Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA today introduced the Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill 2020 to the Assembly. The Bill will create a new domestic abuse offence for Northern Ireland which will capture patterns of controlling and coercive behaviour, as well as physical abuse, against a partner, former partner or family member. The […]
Chief Social Worker Sean Holland is urging people to look after their mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus outbreak. Speaking to Newry Times, Mr Holland said, “To support the fight against Covid-19, we have all been advised to stay at home and while we understand that this is absolutely the right thing to do […]
Economy Minister Diane Dodds has proposed to amend legislation to allow workers in Northern Ireland unable to take holiday leave as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak to carry over their annual leave to the next two leave years. The change to the Working Time Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 legislation would bring Northern Ireland in […]
A list of schools that are open for the educational supervision of vulnerable children and key workers’ children is now available online. Schools are open only to allow staff to organise remote learning for their pupils and to make provision for supervised learning for these children up to the end of Year 10. […]
Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon is urging the public to stay safe and follow the guidance, as essential workers continue to maintain valuable services for the whole community. Speaking to Newry Times, Minister Mallon said, “This is not an easy time for any of us and we all need to play our part by staying at […]
All DAERA angling waters are to be closed with immediate effect in the continuing fight against the spread of Covid-19, Fisheries Minister Edwin Poots MLA has announced. “The message is clear to our anglers, many of whom are in the older age group, stay safe – stay home,” the Minister said. “We know […]
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard has called on the Department for Health to urgently address what he described as “growing fears within the residential and nursing home sector that they are being cut adrift” as the healthcare system responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking to Newry Times, the South Down MP said, “I’ve spoken with […]
The expansion of Primary Care Covid-19 centres continues across Northern Ireland this week. Yesterday saw the opening of GP-led centres in Belfast, Dungannon and Banbridge. Further centres will open later this week in Antrim, Coleraine, Newtownards, Lisburn, Downpatrick and Enniskillen. The first centre opened last week in Derry. The situation will be kept […]
Ulster Bank NI has taken the decision to freeze overdraft interest at current rates for personal customers for at least three months, to give customers peace of mind in a worrying time. The bank has also removed all other overdraft fees and charges, meaning that all customers who use their overdraft for the three months […]
