20 December 2010

Other NI News In Brief

Be 'Snow Ready': MLA

Robin Newton, an East Belfast DUP MLA said as the winter snows fall and getting around becomes dangerous or at least difficult there is a need to invest in ways of handling these severe weather situations. "With forecasts of a prolonged severe cold spell, massive damage to the economy, the closures of schools, cars slowly skidding along the roads or at a standstill, dangers to the pedestrians, especially the older population, a more strategic approach needs to be taken to this arctic like weather. We now need to look at our overall investment in dealing with extreme weather conditions; increased planning and investing for such Arctic like climate conditions is vital," he said.

Post Restraint!

Royal Mail is to put on extra deliveries in NI to cope with the back-log caused by the severe weather. Up to 14,000 extra evening delivery rounds are planned for Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Around 2m UK homes are expected to receive an evening delivery in the coming week.

Gritters Attacked

SDLP East Derry MLA John Dallat has condemned those responsible for attacking a gritting lorry and its driver at Ballykelly on Thursday. "This is a despicable thing to do to front line services and those responsible should be utterly ashamed of themselves. Gritting lorries provide an essential service and attacks on them are putting the wider community's personal safety in danger," he said, urging parents who have children off school to be aware of their actions and make sure they act in a responsible manner at all time in the poor weather.

Nurses Need Pay Deal

An East Belfast Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle has expressed anger at the lack of progress regarding providing back pay for nurses at the Ulster Hospital. The information on the delay emerged from two answers to written questions Chris submitted to the Health Minister Michael McGimpsey. "They appealed this and in August 2009 were successful and were awarded band III. Essentially, they have been waiting for back pay dating back to 2004 for over a year now. Our nurses aren't asking for much, and this delay is a real kick in the teeth for them. I am calling on the Minister to personally push this issue with the Trust and get it sorted immediately," he insisted.

(BMcC/GK)