Other NI News In Brief

Cut Councillors' Allowances: MP/MLA

A Stormont Minister, who is also a Westminster MP, has called for fellow MLAs who are also councillors to take reduced levels of payments for their 'double jobbing' remit. NI Environment Minister Sammy Wilson (pictured) said these councillors/MLAs should have their council allowances cut from the current £9,500. The DUP man said they should only get a proportion of this amount and is considering a change in the law so that councillors who double up as MLAs should get a third or even a quarter of this allowance. Around two thirds of the 108 strong Assembly are currently sitting councillors. However, Mr Wilson who is an MLA, an MP and a councillor says he will not legislate to end the practice of 'triple jobbing'. Like Mr Wilson, many other MPs, including his own party Leader, Peter Robinson, sit in Westminster and draw substantial salaries for both positions.

Cancer Centre Opens

Northern Ireland's first dedicated Cancer Research UK Centre has been launched. It is part of Queens' University and opened this week taking its place as only the third of its kind across the United Kingdom. It will focus on treating bowel, breast and oesophagus cancer by pioneering the latest techniques in radiotherapy, improving cancer diagnosis and developing new, more efficient drugs. Around 7,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Northern Ireland each year and some 3,700 die. The centre aims to be a world leader in developing new treatments with fewer side effects for cancer patients.

Coleraine Crash Two Hospitalised

Two people have been injured in a serious road crash near Coleraine. The accident happened on the Glenkeen Road in Aghadooey around 1am on Tuesday morning. A man aged in his 40s and a woman aged in her 30s were taken to hospital. The road was closed between its junctions with Agivey road and Moneybrannon Road for most of yesterday as a result.

Twice Is Nice At Assembly

A Stormont committee has rejected a suggestion that the First and Deputy First Ministers should answer Assembly questions just once a month. The recommendation comes despite Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness seeking to change from twice monthly questions to once per month which they said would be in line with other Stormont departments.

Booze Spoils Derry Air

Londonderry's top policeman has said that alcohol promotions at a nightclub in the Waterside are to blame for more drink-related violence in the area. Chief Inspector Chris Yates is to lodge an objection to the renewal of an entertainments licence at Red Rooms. He said complaints of criminal damage and assault have increased in the area.

Stress Alert On Recession

Health and well-being and the impact of the current recession on such matters has been highlighted by the NI Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. Speaking at a public policy seminar supported by the NI Economic and Social Research Council the Minister highlighted the importance of developing research in this area to better inform policy decisions. "It is essential that we understand more effectively how and why health inequalities occur between low and high income groups. We must examine more closely why the poor and disadvantaged are more likely to face illnesses during their lifetime than those who are better off," he said.

(BMcC/JM)