Northern Ireland News for June 2003 : Page 4

UK National News, Jun 24, 2003
Government clamps down on drivers using mobiles
Driving while using a hand-held mobile phone will soon be a offence punishable with a £1,000 fine, Road Safety Minister David Jamieson announced today. The new offence, which takes effect from Decemb...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 24, 2003
NI people mentally 'affected by 'Troubles'
A new survey has found that the mental health of people across Northern Ireland has been significantly affected by the 'Troubles' over the past 30 years. The survey, published in the Journal of Epide...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 24, 2003
Mournes 'National' Park talks continue
Plans for a National Park in the Mournes area were discussed today during a meeting in Co Down. The meeting, held in Newcastle, examined both the proposal and to seek a consensus on how local people,...
Business News, Jun 24, 2003
Slowdown expected for construction sector
The growth rate of the UK construction industry is set to halve in 2003, according to the latest forecast from analysts Experian Business Strategies. Growth of 8% is forecast for the current year, wh...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 24, 2003
Belfast should follow Glasgow football lead
An Alliance councillor has called on Belfast City Council to follow the lead taken by its Glasgow counterpart by banning the sale of sectarian football material. Sports spokesman Michael Long said le...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 24, 2003
Man suffers gun shot wounds to knees
Police are appealing for information following a paramilitary style attack on a man in south Belfast last night. The 21-year-old man suffered gunshot wounds to both knees during the attack at the rea...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 24, 2003
Government initiative to target deprived areas
The Government has launched a new strategy aimed at revitalising some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in Northern Ireland. Entitled, ‘People and Places, A Strategy For Neighbourhood Renewal’, the...
UK National News, Jun 24, 2003
Seizures of Class A drugs rise by 10%
Class A drug seizures have reached an all-time high, thanks to the commitment of the police and customs to tackling smugglers and dealers, the Home Office has said today. Statistics reveal that seizu...
UK National News, Jun 24, 2003
Awards launched for tackling yob culture
The government has launched a new awards system to recognise members of the public who have made a difference in tackling anti-social behaviour in their communities. The Taking a Stand awards have be...
UK National News, Jun 24, 2003
£50m funding unveiled for NHS gene research
The government is set to promote the development of genetics within the NHS following its decision to plough £50 million into the scheme over the next three years. The White Paper 'Our Inheritance, ...
UK National News, Jun 24, 2003
SMEs encouraged to bid for government contracts
Two pilot schemes were launched today to make it easier for SMEs owned by ethnic minorities to gain access to government contracts. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Paul Boateng outlined details of th...
UK National News, Jun 24, 2003
Competition Commission may block bids for Safeway
In a lengthy statement today the Competition Commission has outlined why it may move to block some of the suitors’ bids for supermarket chain Safeway in the public interest. Four bids have been refer...
UK National News, Jun 24, 2003
Speculation mounts over Unionist MP's future
Speculation is rife over whether Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson will join the Democratic Unionist Party. That has been the question on many people's mind since the renegade Ulster Unionist MP w...
UK National News, Jun 24, 2003
Regions show slight improvement says CBI research
Firms are predicting a modest pick-up in business in eight out of nine English regions after spending most of the year struggling against a global economic slowdown, the CBI has said. According to th...
UK National News, Jun 23, 2003
Campbell set to face Foreign Affairs Committee
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has confirmed that the Prime Minister's director of communications and strategy, Alistair Campbell, will appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) after all. Mr C...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 23, 2003
Trimble under pressure following whip withdrawals
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble was under increasing pressure today following the resignation of three of the party's parliamentary whips. Party president Reverend Martin Smyth, Lagan Valley MP ...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 23, 2003
UPRG member denies Panorama claims
The Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG) has come out in defence of one of its members identified, by a BBC programme, last night as a masked man who read out a loyalist paramilitary statement. BBC...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 23, 2003
DoE launch new anti-speeding adverts
The Department of Environment (DoE) has launched two new adverts today aimed at combating the number of road deaths by speeding in Northern Ireland. Entitled 'Over' and 'Reinforcer' the adverts aim t...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 23, 2003
Future of Belfast Giants in doubt
The future of the Harp Lager Belfast Giants was on thin ice today after it was revealed that the former Superleague champions are being pulled down by debts believed to be in the region of £1.4 millio...
UK National News, Jun 23, 2003
Disarray in UUP as three MPs resign party whip
The resignation of three of the Ulster Unionist Party's MPs from the parliamentary whip earlier today was quickly follows by calls for party leader David Trimble to change party policy or resign. UUP...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 23, 2003
More action needed for cross-border child protection
A report on a North/South Conference on Child Protection has called for more action to be taken. Held last September, the conference gave local professionals a chance to discuss recommendations for a...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 23, 2003
Farmed salmon found to contain traces of radioactive waste
Traces quantities of radioactive waste from Sellafield have been found in Scottish farmed salmon sold in major British supermarkets. The tests commissioned by Greenpeace revealed traces of the radioa...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 23, 2003
Warning issued over child safety in workplaces
The Health and Safety Executive of Northern Ireland (HSENI) has issued a safety warning to parents, contractors and farm owners about the risk of allowing children to use workplaces as playgrounds. S...
UK National News, Jun 23, 2003
AMP closes UK pensions unit and axes 900 jobs
Hopes of a rescue for struggling National Provident Institution, part of the Australian AMP group, sank today as the financial services outfit closed the doors to its remaining UK pension unit. The s...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 23, 2003
Council launches new culture and arts plan
Belfast City Council is set to launch a new three year initiative which aims to stimulate the city's cultural sector. Launched this Wednesday, 'Culture and Arts…The Spirit Of The City’ hopes to point...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 23, 2003
Portadown Parcelforce depot secured
The Royal Mail has announced it is set to retain its Parcelforce depot in Portadown. The company announced the depot was to be retained despite last year's proposals to drastically cut to its Parcelf...
UK National News, Jun 23, 2003
Scientists identify gene that can 'stop' ovarian cancer
Cancer Research UK scientists have claimed to have isolated a gene that has the power to stop ovarian cancer developing, according to a report published yesterday. Researchers found that the gene, kn...
UK National News, Jun 23, 2003
Dentistry plans set to give customers more choice
New measures to force private dentists to provide clearer information on prices and treatments to help patients make informed choices and increase competition, have been announced by the government to...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 23, 2003
Local lobbyists to visit Dail
A delegation of leading local lobbyists from the Northern Ireland Government Affairs Group are to embark on fact finding mission to the Dail on Tuesday and Wednesday. The lobbyists, which includes Af...
UK National News, Jun 23, 2003
Hong Kong removed from Sars list
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has today removed Hong Kong from its list of Sars-affected areas. The agency has reported that 20 days, which is twice the maximum incubation period, have passed s...