Ensuring that greater protection is provided to service animals in Northern Ireland moved a step closer this week, Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister, Edwin Poots has said. If agreed by the Assembly, the Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill, known as ‘Finn’s Law’, will provide service dogs here with the same protection as […]
The final report from the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition (FICT) has been published. First Minister Paul Givan comments, “I welcome the publication of the FICT report following the significant work of the Commission, who have considered a range of complex issues. “It is right that the public have […]
The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) has published a report on Covid-19 related deaths in Northern Ireland. The report shows that there were 3,692 deaths involving Covid-19 in Northern Ireland between 1 March 2020 and 31 October 2021, accounting for 13.0% of all deaths in this period. Age-standardised mortality […]
After last year’s Lockdown Christmas, a survey by Age NI reveals that spending Christmas with friends and family is more important than ever before for older people. 75% of those surveyed by the charity agreed this year’s festivities will take on special significance, however, the fear of Covid continues to cast a shadow. […]
Health Minister Robin Swann has confirmed a major expansion of NI’s COVID-19 vaccination programme to help meet current and forthcoming demand for booster doses. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) this week recommended the phased extension of the booster programme to all adult age groups. It advised that boosters should now […]
Police are appealing for information following a road traffic collision in Newry yesterday, Tuesday 30 November, 2021. Inspector Frances McCullough says, “The collision took place just after 6 pm in the Armagh Road area. “It involved a black Land Rover and a male pedestrian. “The pedestrian, aged in his 50s, was […]
All Agenda for Change staff working in Health and Social Care will receive the 3% award which was recommended by the NHS Pay Review Body. The award will see HSC pay points increase by 3% and will be backdated to 1 April 2021. This award represents an estimated increase of approximately £88.24million on […]
41-year-old Audrius Silinskas has this week been sentenced to eleven years for two counts of rape of a woman at Newry Crown Court. Detective Constable Mallon explains, “The woman, in this case, displayed immense courage in seeing this investigation through to a successful conclusion. “I hope that her tenacity and resolution to […]
