Other News In Brief

Work To Start On Road Resurfacing Scheme In Strabane

Work is to start on a £108,000 road resurfacing scheme in Strabane, Co L'Derry.

The scheme on the A38 Lifford Road will begin on Monday, 24 July, and is expected to be completed by Friday, 08 September.

Western Divisional Roads Manager Conor Loughrey said: "This significant investment will greatly improve the road surface and will serve the local community and visitors to the area for many years to come."

To help ensure the safety of road users and contractors lane closures will be in operation throughout the duration of the scheme. Access for local residents and businesses will be accommodated.

Concerns Raised Over Fanzone Decision

Alliance Councillor Kate Nicholl has described reports that Belfast City Council will fund a fanzone at the Devenish Complex for Celtic fans ahead of tonight's match with Linfield as "concerning".

She said: "If reports are accurate that a large amount of public money has been allocated in this way , then it is definitely time to re-evaluate exactly how decisions involving public money are being taken.

"Alliance has consistently worked to secure greater openness and transparency around all Belfast City Council decisions, and this will be no different. I'm currently seeking answers regarding the £15,000 allocation for the Devenish complex and the Alliance group will be seeking to highlight and overhaul the current process of inadequate funding decisions.

"We can no longer continue to award funding on a whim, to those who are in possession of the relevant information at the right time, or to reward one part of our community over another. Alliance will be working hard to ensure public money is used for legitimate causes that benefit all our citizens."

Plans To Give Republic More MEPs To Represent Irish Passport Holders Slammed

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has warned that proposals to give the Irish Republic more MEPs to represent Irish passport holders in Northern Ireland, would breach the Belfast Agreement, something MEPs and EU leaders have pledged to protect.

Mr Nicholson said: "After last week's embarrassing defeat which saw Sinn Fein's so-called "special status" proposal roundly rejected by MEPs, it is clear that they are desperately trying to make up for lost ground.

"Mr Verhofstadt's throwaway line about giving the Irish Republic extra MEPs post-Brexit to represent Irish passport holders in the United Kingdom, is a ridiculous proposal for a number of reasons.

"Firstly, there is no precedent for this. As was pointed out by the Chair of the Constitutional Affairs Committee, when we leave the European Union, the United Kingdom will be a 'third country'. MEPs from the Irish Republic represent their respective constituencies - it would be legally dubious for them to have a constituency outside of the European Union.

"But more significantly, it would be a clear breach of the Belfast Agreement. In both the negotiating mandate of the European Union, and in the Parliament's own priorities for the negotiation, there is a commitment to protecting the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in its entirety. So this proposal would actually breach the EU's own red lines."

(CD/LM)