Northern Ireland News for December 2005

UK National News, Dec 16, 2005
Lords criticise government’s bird flu plans
The government’s contingency plans to tackle a possible bird flu outbreak in the UK have been criticised by a House of Lords committee. Lord Broers, chairman of the Science and Technology Committee, ...
UK National News, Dec 16, 2005
Centrica warns of energy price increases
Centrica, the owners of British Gas, have warned that energy prices will rise again next year, due to rising fuel prices. In a statement, Centrica said that gas prices for the winter months had conti...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 16, 2005
Queen's University honours Melvyn Bragg
Queen's University has honoured one of the UK's most influential broadcasters, South Bank Show host and author Melvyn Bragg. At the graduation ceremony, 'Lord Bragg of Wigton' was awarded an honorary...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 16, 2005
Anti drink-driving campaign focuses on 'Just One'
Drink and drive over the festive season, there is a good chance that you will be caught by police, and if you are caught you will lose your licence. That was the tough message issued by local police ...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 16, 2005
Police urge vigilance over Christmas fraud
Detectives from the PSNI's Fraud Unit have reminded members of the public and business community to remain vigilant following reports that Northern Ireland is again being targeted by fraudsters in the...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 16, 2005
'Favourable' policies can reduce carbon emissions
A report from the Carbon Trust claims that given favourable policies by 2050, carbon emissions in Northern Ireland could be reduced by 60%. The report launched today by the Carbon Trust highlights ho...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 16, 2005
NI businesses report over 6% growth in 2004
Figures released today show continuing growth in the Northern Ireland economy, with business sales up by £2.5 billion to £45.2 billion in 2004. The figures are contained in the provisional results of...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 16, 2005
Cancer charity announces 'Icelandic Challenge' trek
The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) is organising a fund raising trek in one of the world’s most enigmatic countries – Iceland. The eight day walking adventure will take place on Saturday July 1 to Sa...
UK National News, Dec 16, 2005
Drink-drive campaign focuses on avoidance
This year’s Christmas anti drink-drive campaign focuses on the fact that motorists cannot calculate their own drink-drive limits and should avoid alcohol altogether. The main television campaign will...
UK National News, Dec 16, 2005
Caution urged over seasonal party 'pitfalls'
Failure to prepare Christmas events at work properly could lead to alarm bells replacing jingle bells for employers, warns business advisors Croner, who have issued a Top Ten set of rules to help boss...
UK National News, Dec 16, 2005
Royal Navy set to launch 'D' Class destoyer
The Countess of Wessex will launch the first of the Royal Navy's new 'D' Class destroyers early next year. HMS Daring, the seventh vessel to carry the name, will be the first of the Royal Navy's batc...
UK National News, Dec 15, 2005
Minimum 28-year sentence for Falconio murderer
Australian Bradley Murdoch has been sentenced to a minimum of 28 years in prison for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio. Murdoch, 47, was found guilty of Mr Falconio’s murder at the Nort...
UK National News, Dec 15, 2005
Teen found guilty of girl’s murder
A teenager has been guilty of the murder of ten-year-old Lauren Pilkington-Smith. Kieron Smith, 18, had denied murdering the schoolgirl, whose body was found in woodlands near her home in Leigh, Gre...
UK National News, Dec 15, 2005
Hospitals criticised on cleanliness
Two-thirds of hospitals are failing to meet the highest standards of cleanliness, a report has found. The report, conducted by the Healthcare Commission, involved surprise visits at nearly 100 NHS an...
UK National News, Dec 15, 2005
Keane signs for Celtic
Ending weeks of speculation, Roy Keane has moved to Scotland to sign for an 18-month stint with Celtic. The 34-year-old midfielder, who parted with Manchester United in November, is understood to hav...
UK National News, Dec 15, 2005
More funding announced for road safety
Plans to grant local authorities more money and more flexibility to deliver road safety have been announced by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling. The new plans could see an end to the rapid increa...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 15, 2005
'Travelwise' commuter advice website launched
Commuters and shoppers can avoid traffic headaches during the festive shopping season by logging on to the Travelwise NI website. With increasing levels of traffic congestion expected, the Department...
UK National News, Dec 15, 2005
Councils urged to provide better value for money
Councils in England have been urged to provide better value for money. In its fourth annual assessment of council performance, the Audit Commission said that most councils in England are performing w...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 15, 2005
Minister welcomes fall in Civil Service sickness levels
The Civil Service has published an analysis of sickness absence during 2004/2005, which shows a reduction on the previous year. The report for 2004/2005, the sixth annual report, analyses sickness ab...
UK National News, Dec 15, 2005
Offenders to receive improved employment training
Prison education and training are to be improved in order to help offenders into jobs when they leave prison, the government has announced. The plans are outlined in a new Green Paper, and they focus...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 15, 2005
Water Service unveils £28.7m Derry project
The Water Service has announced plans to start projects worth £28.7 million in the Derry City Council area over the next two years. In addition to the £25.1 million currently under construction, Regi...
UK National News, Dec 15, 2005
New measures announced to tackle bovine TB
The government has announced new measures to tackle bovine TB in cattle in England. The measures include the introduction of a requirement for pre-movement testing in cattle and a 12-week consultatio...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 15, 2005
Cameron visits Northern Ireland
Conservative Party leader David Cameron has said that the IRA must prove paramilitary and criminal activity has ended and has insisted that he will continue to press for changes to fugitives' legislat...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 15, 2005
Eight led to safety following blaze
Eight people had to be led to safety when a fire filled a block of flats in south Belfast with smoke. Rescuers said that the people had become disorientated in the dense smoke and were unable to make...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 15, 2005
Teenager has ear bitten in attack
A teenage man has had part of his ear bitten off in an attack in west Belfast on Sunday. Police released details of the attack on Wednesday revealing that the 19-year-old victim was kicked and punche...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 15, 2005
Dental Service proposals unveiled
Health Minister Shaun Woodward has announced a consultation on proposals for dental services over the next 10 years. The Primary Care Dental Strategy proposes that dental services should be commissio...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 15, 2005
Cash boost for west Belfast women's centre
The Footprints Women's Centre in West Belfast has received a cash boost of almost £188,000 from the Department for Social Development's (DSD's) Belfast Regeneration Office. The money will help protec...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 15, 2005
Local business sales rise 6%
The latest figures have revealed continuing growth in the Northern Ireland economy, with business sales up by £2.5 billion to £45.2 billion in 2004. The figures are contained in the provisional resul...
Business News, Dec 14, 2005
Talks resolve Irish Ferries dispute
Irish Ferries sailings resumed today as a deal was reached with unions, ending the dispute that had halted all the company's services. A deal was reached overnight during 20 hours of negotiations bro...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 14, 2005
Police appeal for information following kidnapping
Police have appealed for information after a 58-year-old woman was kidnapped from her home in Co Down on Tuesday. At around 9pm, up to seven armed and masked men entered the woman's house in Dromore ...