Other NI News In Brief

Step Out For Spring, Says UCF

Sarah Atcheson from the Ulster Cancer Foundation's (UCF) Events Team is encouraging people to 'Step out for Spring' and take part in a UCF walk to raise funds to help provide vital services for cancer patients and their families in Northern Ireland. Sarah is pictured with Paul O'Gara who has registered for the 20 mile Glens of Antrim Walk with his brother Sean to raise funds for the charity.

West Belfast 'Bomb' Evacuation Ends

Residents of the 40 housing association flats that were evacuated because of a hoax bomb in west Belfast have now been able to return. The Army had been called to examine a suitcase which was left at the forecourt of a filling station early this morning. The Stewartstown Road which was closed during the operation has now also been re-opened as the alert was declared a hoax.

Concerns Over Bombardier Losses

An East Belfast DUP MLA - who is also Vice Chairman of Stormont's Employment and Learning Committee - has expressed his concern following the announcement of almost 1,000 job losses at Bombardier. He warned of catastrophic damage to the local skills' base, and as a consequence, the future prospects for skilled manufacturing in Northern Ireland. "The announcement has potentially far reaching consequences for the skills base in east Belfast. It is extremely difficult, when such a high number of posts are lost, to maintain the skill base, which is essential if local companies are to benefit from the upturn when it arrives," he said, calling on the Minister for Employment and Learning to utilise every means at his disposal to cushion the blow, whilst working closely with Bombardier to ensure that future losses can be prevented.

Loyalist Leaders Praised

Paramilitary leaders within the loyalist community helped to calm tensions in the days after the murders of three security force members by dissident republican groups last month, it was claimed yesterday. Secretary of State Shaun Woodward has also said that loyalist paramilitaries could be moving towards decommissioning their weapons. However, he also told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster that he remained committed to "closing down decommissioning legislation" if major progress was not made by August.

MEP Urges Stormont To Grasp EU Opportunities

Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún has called on the Stormont Executive to work closely with the EU institutions to maximise the potential benefit to the local building sector. She was speaking in support of the European Commission's proposal to make energy efficiency and renewable energy investments in housing eligible for funding from Europe through the European Regional Development Fund.

Ards Planning Framework Unveiled

A new framework - that will guide planning decisions on the Ards peninsula and parts of Co Down - has been unveiled by the NI Environment Minister, Sammy Wilson. The Ards and Down Plan 2015 identifies new land in both council areas which will be zoned for housing, industry and other uses. The plan also also looks at measures intended to alleviate traffic problems. The new plan will also protect and enhance natural and built assets in both council areas, identifying important sites for conservation.

Invest NI 'Opens Up' Opportunities For Blinds System

Fourds Ltd, a Draperstown engineering business, has launched a new window blind system with help from Invest NI. The new product is expected to create five new jobs over the next three years. The firm, formed in 2006 by Cormac Diamond, the Managing Director and an experienced engineer, has received Invest NI Product and Process Development (PPD) assistance to develop the black-out window blinds for roof windows and is being helped to market the new product through a range of activities including e-business technology. Mr Diamond said: "Our black-out system features a unique fast fit installation system that we developed in conjunction with Keylite, a major and very successful manufacturer of roof windows."

Aspire To 'Excellence', Dodds Tells Local Builders

Stormont Finance Minister Nigel Dodds has highlighted the importance of promoting best practice and innovation within the local construction industry. Addressing building industry delegates at the launch of the Constructing Excellence Northern Ireland (CEni) Demonstrations Projects, in Belfast, he said: "Given the current uncertainties within the construction industry, it is more important than ever that innovation and continuous improvement remain central to business delivery." Mr Dodds lauded the clients, contractors and designers involved in the four selected demonstration projects, which will share best practice within the industry and encourage local firms to share knowledge and learn from each other in order to perform better.

NI Builders Complete Dublin Hospital

A Northern Ireland building firm has completed work on a prestigious new four-storey medical admissions unit at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital. It took under 12 months from the date the order was placed with Western Building Systems of Coalisland, Co Tyrone until completion of the project. Around 90 workers were on-site during the scheme.

(BMcC/JM)