Northern Ireland News for March 2004 : Page 4

UK National News, Mar 25, 2004
Government to pilot restorative justice scheme
Restorative justice – a new way of dealing with offenders to make them accountable for their crimes and involve their victims in how they repair damage caused – will be tested in a pilot scheme, the H...
UK National News, Mar 25, 2004
100 countries back UN's anti-tobacco campaign
One hundred countries representing 4.5 billion people have signed a global treaty aimed at curbing tobacco use, which now claims nearly five million lives every year, the UN health agency reported tod...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 25, 2004
Government steps up fight against fraud
The government has declared a "zero tolerance" to fraud and is pursuing a systematic approach to minimising the risk of fraud and its cost to Northern Ireland. This is according to Agriculture Minist...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 25, 2004
Bangor centre redevelopment backed by government
A plan for a £70 million redevelopment of part of Bangor Town Centre has received government backing today with an offer to step in and vest land in the development area. Social Development Minister,...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 25, 2004
Human Rights Commission questions PSNI training
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) has called into question some of the PSNI's human rights practices during officer training. The Commission said that although significant progress...
UK National News, Mar 25, 2004
Olympic torch lit in Athens as Games countdown begins
The countdown to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games began today with the lighting of the Olympic flame in ancient Olympia, Greece. The lighting ceremony featured a high priestess who lit the Olympic flame...
UK National News, Mar 25, 2004
BT introduces 'simplified' pricing structure
BT is to abolish its standard rate for residential customers and introduce a "simpler range of low prices" as part of its "continuing strategy to make it easier for people to understand phone price co...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 25, 2004
FE sector gets new £2m Innovation Centre
The first ever £2 million Incubation and Innovation Centre in Northern Ireland's Further Education sector has been launched today. Greenshoots-Newry Ltd, based at the Greenbank Campus of Newry Instit...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 25, 2004
Advisory Council has key investment role to play
Enterprise Minister, Ian Pearson today said the Advisory Council on Infrastructure Investment had an important role to play in informing key decisions on infrastructure investment. The Council will ...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 25, 2004
Catholic maintained schools amalgamate
Two small rural maintained primary schools have been given the go-ahead to amalgamate in Co Fermanagh. Education Minister, Jane Kennedy approved a development proposal from the Catholic Council for M...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 25, 2004
Minister turns up volume on digital hearing aids
Health Minister, Angela Smith today announced that over 100,000 hearing aid users in Northern Ireland may benefit from a new programme to introduce Digital Hearing Aids. Visiting the Audiology Depart...
UK National News, Mar 24, 2004
Chancellor orders freezing of new Hamas leader's assets
British banks have been ordered to freeze the assets of Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi – the man who took over as leader of the Islamic resistance group Hamas following Israel's assassination of Sheikh Ahmed ...
Recruitment News, Mar 24, 2004
Dara to shed over 550 jobs at St Athan airbase
Government agency the Defence Aviation Repair Centre (Dara) is set to lose at least 550 jobs. Deputy General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union Jack Dromey described the cuts as "a ...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 24, 2004
Murphy calls for end to all paramilitary activity
Secretary of State Paul Murphy has said that there must be a complete, total and definitive end to all paramilitary activity. Speaking on Radio Ulster this morning, Mr Murphy said that the two Prime...
UK National News, Mar 24, 2004
Stop and search powers top police complaints, says report
Police stop-and-search powers are more likely to elicit complaint from black people and one in five of all complainants allege that the officers' actions amounted to racial discrimination, according t...
UK National News, Mar 24, 2004
Health department is winning war on heart disease, says report
Deaths from cardiovascular disease have fallen by more than 23% over the past seven years, according to a health department report published today. Among the report's – 'Winning the War on Heart Dise...
UK National News, Mar 24, 2004
Baghdad hotel hit in missile attack
A hotel used by Western journalists and contractors in central Baghdad has been hit by a missile, according to reports emerging today. The sixth floor of the Sheraton Hotel was hit early this morning...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 24, 2004
Paisley jnr hits out at Trimble prisoner remarks
DUP MLA for North Antrim, Ian Paisley jnr, has reacted angrily to UUP leader, David Trimble’s remarks regarding the early release programme for paramilitary prisoners. Following yesterday's meeting w...
Business News, Mar 24, 2004
EU Competition Commission slaps record fine on Microsoft
Microsoft is to seek a legal review of the decision by the EU Competition Commission to fine the computer software company 497 million euro (£331 million/US$613 million) over abuse of its market leadi...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 24, 2004
Man stabbed in car hijacking
Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was stabbed during a car hijacking in Co Antrim on Tuesday. The incident occurred at the Kingsway Complex in Dunmurry at around 10pm. The man was getti...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 24, 2004
Three NI TV firms to benefit from training initiative
The Research Centre for Television & Interactivity has today named the seven independent television production companies to take part in its new business skills training initiative, 'Raising the Bar'....
UK National News, Mar 24, 2004
Agencies combine resources to tackle drug abuse in children
A £50 million fund has been created to ensure young people get drug treatment, education and early intervention where it is needed, faster and more effectively, the Home Office has announced today. T...
Business News, Mar 24, 2004
Amicus to spearhead anti-bullying campaign
The trade union Amicus will lead a £1.8 million government-backed drive as part of what is described as "the world's largest project" to stamp out bullying and discrimination at work, the DTI has anno...
Business News, Mar 24, 2004
'Brenda' North Sea oil find 'significant', says oil company
A Canadian-based oil exploration firm have announced that test drilling at 'Brenda' in the North Sea has revealed a "significant" find. Analysis of the flow from the Paleocene Forties sandstone in th...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 24, 2004
Community-pharmacy project gets £400,000 boost
An innovative community pharmacy programme that has delivered health services in partnership with local community groups has gained a £400,000 boost today. The Building the Community-Pharmacy Partner...
UK National News, Mar 24, 2004
£3.5bn affordable housing programme announced
The government has today announced a major new affordable house-building programme worth nearly £3.5 billion over the next two years. The funding, announced by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, ha...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 24, 2004
Mayor hails US investment visit
Derry Mayor, Councillor Shaun Gallagher has hailed last week's investment and trade promotion visit to the United States as a "very worthwhile exercise". The Mayor, accompanied by representatives fro...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 24, 2004
Shops destroyed in arson attack
An off-licence and two food shops have been destroyed in an arson attack in Co Down. The attack happened on the Donaghadee Road in Newtownards on Tuesday night. It is believed a fire was started in ...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 24, 2004
Belfast centre aids £200m Sainsbury's transactions
A Belfast-based e-commerce centre is aiding a leading supermarket chain with its additional financial services worth an estimated £200 million. HBOS e-commerce centre in Belfast had overall responsib...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 24, 2004
UU scientists tackle diabetes problem
Scientists at the University of Ulster are harnessing molecules produced naturally in the body to tackle one of the world’s major health problems - diabetes. Their novel approach involves bioengineer...