Other News In Brief

LED Lighting To Be Installed On A2

New LED lighting is to be installed along the A2 in Bangor.

The £1 million scheme, from the Ballyrobert Road junction to the Springhill Road, is to replace the existing lighting which is over 40 years old.

The new lighting will improve the quality of street lighting in the area, increase reliability and reduce the need for disruptive maintenance visits which will reduce both energy and maintenance costs.

The scheme will be carried out in conjunction with a similar lighting replacement scheme which commenced at the start of July at the Springhill intersection where the existing high mast units are being replaced with conventional lighting columns also using LED light sources.

Traffic management arrangements will be in place throughout the period of the works and diversions will be put in place.

Alliance Welcomes DAERA Report

Alliance Environment spokesperson David Ford MLA has welcomed the publication of the a report into the work of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs' Central Investigation Service and Veterinary Service Enforcement Branch.

The independent inspection by Criminal Justice Inspection (CJI) the looked at the role played by the services in protecting against error and fraud.

"This comprehensive report provides reassurance on the quality of enforcement work carried out by the Government's agricultural staff," said Mr Ford.

"While there are some recommendations for further improving practice, the overall conclusion is the two branches of DAERA provide work of a high quality. This will provide reassurance to farmers the officials are working fairly and impartially, as well as reassuring the general public of the standards of food quality and animal welfare in Northern Ireland.

"During my time as Minister of Justice, I was able to get the Assembly's agreement to add these two branches to the bodies inspected by CJI. This was right because of the significant powers that DAERA officials have in the field of criminal justice, comparable to many of the bodies which are already inspected."

Self-Determination Of The People Of NI Must Be Respected - UUP

Ulster Unionist Finance spokesperson Steve Aiken has said the self-determination of the people of Northern Ireland must be respected.

Steve Aiken was commenting after the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement published a report outlining plans for a United Ireland.

Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA said: "This is a United Ireland wish list dressed up as a Brexit report. Instead of poorly researched and highly biased 'evidence' gathering, politicians in the Republic would be better served looking after their own domestic affairs and dealing with their own considerable European challenges, rather than seeking to undermine the constitutional position of Northern Ireland.

"At a time when all parties should be working constructively together to overcome the challenges and maximise the opportunities of Brexit, this report offers little and in fact is disingenuous by not respecting the wishes of the people of Northern Ireland – you would nearly think that the Republic’s election campaign has already begun.

"The Belfast Agreement is clear, Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom until its people say otherwise. The self-determination of Northern Ireland must be respected. All available data suggests that the majority of people in Northern Ireland are content remaining within the United Kingdom and Brexit does not change that reality."

(CD)