Northern Ireland News for December 2001

Northern Ireland News, Dec 20, 2001
Lifeguard involved in search for car suspects
Three people have been arrested after the coastguard became involved in the search for suspected car thieves. The incident happened during the early hours of Thursday morning when police attempted to...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 20, 2001
Adair parole decision is delayed
A decision on whether the prominent loyalist paramilitary Johnny Adair should be granted Christmas parole has been delayed. A High Court judge was set to decide on Thursday December 20 whether Mr Ada...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 20, 2001
Essential local hospital improvements now possible
Minister for Health and Social Services and Public Safety, Bairbre de Brún has announced that essential equipment in a number of local hospitals will be upgraded or replaced. The Minister unveiled a ...
Business News, Dec 20, 2001
Business success relies on effective investment
According to the Department of Trade and Industry there is a positive relationship between effective capital investment (Capex) and company performance. The Capex Scoreboard, the annual report publis...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 20, 2001
Don’t let the spirit spoil the festive fun
The Health Promotion Agency has issued a warning to Christmas and New Year revellers concerning the use of alcohol. Research carried out by the Agency revealed that 7 out of 10 adults in Northern Ire...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 20, 2001
Pay increases for health professionals
The Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Bairbre de Brún, has said that she would be matching the pay awards announced earlier this week for doctors, dentists, nurses and profession...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 20, 2001
First visits for Employment and Learning Minister
Carmel Hanna has undertaken her first official engagements as the new Minister for Employment and Learning. The Minister visited Lisburn JobCentre where she met with both staff and users of the exten...
Business News, Dec 20, 2001
Datapol aims to help beat growing employee fraud
Datapol, a leading reference and screening business for employers, has recently expanded its work that aims to help stamp out growing employee fraud. Colin Carslake, who has 21 years experience in th...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 20, 2001
Eight men due to appear in Dublin High Court
Eight men arrested by Gardai investigating dissident republican activity in the Ireland were due to appear before the anti-terrorist Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Thursday, December 20. The men...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 20, 2001
Strabane vision sets example for others says Durkan
The establishment of the Strabane 2000 initiative means that the town has set an important example for others to follow, Deputy First Minister, Mark Durkan has said. Mr Durkan was speaking during a v...
Business News, Dec 20, 2001
UK organisations “ill-equipped” to deal with drug abuse
Nearly half of UK organisations do not have a formal policy to tackle the problem of drug and alcohol abuse at work. This was revealed in the findings of a survey Alcohol and Drug Policies in UK Orga...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 20, 2001
Children’s rights are priority says Durkan
Deputy First Minister, Mark Durkan has promised to protect children’s rights, meet children’s needs and include children’s voices. Mr Durkan was speaking following a meeting with Mr Olara Otunnu, the...
Business News, Dec 20, 2001
Barclays Bank appoint Spring as online recruitment specialists
Barclays Bank, one of the UK's largest financial services groups, have appointed IT recruitment specialist, Spring to manage the provision of IT and clerical contract and temporary staff. Using ‘hy-p...
Business News, Dec 20, 2001
PeopleMaps personality profiling goes online
Delivering on-line psychometric assessments to jobseekers a new partnership offers the world’s first commercial, end-user focused, on-line personality profiling service. The new PeopleMaps service at...
Business News, Dec 20, 2001
Be sure to keep the best when restructuring
Recent months have seen many companies re-structuring programmes and the collapse of Enron highlights the chaos that can be created during difficult times. Whether re-structuring or trying to salvage...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 20, 2001
Sinn Féin to discuss Omagh report with Police Ombudsman
Sinn Féin MP for West Tyrone Pat Doherty is to meet with the Police Ombudsman on Friday. The meeting with Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan has been called in order to discuss the findings of her report in whic...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2001
Leading loyalist in Finucane case disappears
A leading loyalist from Belfast who was being questioned by the Stevens team investigating the murder of Pat Finucane has reportedly gone missing from his home. Ken Barrett allegedly disappeared at t...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2001
President Bush praises peace process
United States President George Bush has praised the peace process, hailing it and the people of Northern Ireland as a "beacon of hope" for divided societies across the world. US Ambassador to the UK,...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2001
US ambassador criticises Adams’ Cuba visit
The American ambassador to the UK, William Farish, has criticised Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams’ three-day visit to Cuba. Mr Farish voiced his concerns while he was attending a Christmas gala event...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2001
NI Hospice votes in completely new ruling council
Members of the Northern Ireland Hospice have voted in a new seven-strong ruling council at their Annual General Meeting. The outgoing seven-member council, which sacked former director Tom Hill in Oc...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2001
HSENI call for caution when working near power cables
The Health and Safety executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has renewed its call for strict controls to be put in place by contractors when working under live overhead power cables. The latest call ...
Business News, Dec 19, 2001
Littlewoods reduce losses in first half report
UK retailer Littlewoods has announced they are making good progress in reviving the business as the company revealed a reduction in losses for the first half of the year. The company posted a loss o...
Business News, Dec 19, 2001
Motorola to cut over 9,000 jobs worldwide
BBC News has reported that US telecoms equipment maker Motorola is to cut 9,400 jobs worldwide over the next 12 months. The BBC has reported that this latest round of restructuring will hit 4,000 sta...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2001
Police Ombudsman and Chief Constable in talks
Northern Ireland Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan and the Police Ombudsman, Nuala O’Loan, have held talks over the Omagh bomb inquiry. A public row between Sir Ronnie and Mrs O'Loan broke out last...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2001
House of Commons votes to allow Sinn Féin offices
The House of Commons has voted to allow the four Sinn Fein members office space and access to allowances enjoyed by other MPs. Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith condemned the decision saying that...
Business News, Dec 19, 2001
Winter blues hit South East housing
According to a report issued by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), house prices in London and southeast England remain volatile as the market continues to fall, while prices in the nor...
Business News, Dec 19, 2001
Job difficulties for the 'Celtic Tiger'
The Industrial Development Agency (IDA) in the Republic of Ireland has reported a net loss in jobs provided by foreign companies for the first time in 15 years. Figures from the IDA showed that 13,00...
Business News, Dec 19, 2001
John Menzies to cut jobs as travel sector remains slow
John Menzies has announced the axing of 1,200 jobs from the company’s airport services division. Menzies, blaming the decision on the general slowdown in the travel market, said that around 200 jobs ...
Business News, Dec 19, 2001
Study shows office art can promote productivity
A recent study has revealed that art in the office could lead to a better working culture, more relaxed staff, and improved productivity. According to research commissioned by printer manufacturer Le...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2001
Court of Appeal supports Saville inquiry soldiers
The Court of Appeal has ruled that the former British soldiers will not have to give evidence to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry in Northern Ireland. The decision handed down on Wednesday means that the Sa...