Other News In Brief

Work To Start On £75,000 Road Project In Portadown

Work on a £75,000 road scheme in Portadown is to start on Tuesday, 20 March.

The scheme, which is expected to be completed in six weeks, will improve forward visibility and horizontal alignment including localised road widening in the vicinity of Knocknamuckly Lane.

The road will be closed fully from 20 March for approximately six weeks.

Signed diversions will be in place via Knock Road and Bleary Road for traffic travelling from Gilford Road towards Drumnacanvy and via Long Lane for traffic traveling towards Gilford.

Call For Parties To Get Back to Govt

Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has echoed the sentiments of Chartered Accountants Ireland that parties should prioritise health, education and jobs, and get back to work around the Executive table, as she cautioned yesterday's budget allocation will do little for workers in the health and social care sector.

Responding to comments from Chartered Accountants Ireland Chair Pamela McCreedy, the South Belfast MLA said the ongoing impasse meant some politicians were shirking their responsibilities to deliver health transformation, education reform and a balanced budget.

"Entering any coalition government requires compromise, and an unwillingness to face up to that fact suggests some in high positions are not listening to people in the health sector, in education, and in business who say this impasse cannot continue but local and accountable decision making is urgently necessary.

"Even this budget, which at least has been brought forward to give time for the administration to prepare and make efficiencies, does little for example for people in the Ambulance Service, who have not received the same uplift as those elsewhere in the UK for over a year now. When people see such blatant unfairness, it is inevitable morale will plummet with implications on everyone."

Sinn Fein Called To Clarify Position Over Budget

SDLP Deputy Leader Nichola Mallon has called on Sinn Féin to clarify its position after Máirtín Ó Muilleoir said the Party was "relaxed" about the UK Government setting a budget for Northern Ireland in London.

She said: "There is no ambiguity for the SDLP. A budget set in London, directed and delivered by the British Government and the DUP, is direct rule.

"Máirtín Ó Muilleoir's comments that Sinn Féin is 'relaxed' about our budget being set in this way signifies a considerable softening of Sinn Fein’s position on British involvement in the north’s affairs.

"Sinn Féin's leadership needs to clarify if they agree with Máirtín Ó Muilleoir. They should also explain that if setting a budget in London instead of on Irish soil isn’t direct rule – what do they believe direct rule is?"

(CD)