Other NI News In Brief

Five For Court After Guns Find

Four men and a 16-year-old boy are due to appear in Belfast Magistrates Court later charged with a number of terrorism and firearms offences. The PSNI's Serious Crime Branch are investigating alleged dissident republican activity and charged the men, aged 47, 40, 34, and 33, and the 16-year-old boy after they were arrested following the recovery of two guns during a police operation on the Falls Road in west Belfast last Thursday.

St Anne's For Higgie

Monday funeral of snooker legend Alex Higgins is to be held at St Anne's Cathedral in Donegall Street and is expected to be the biggest in Belfast since that of George Best at Stormont in 2005. A number of snooker stars are expected to join the Higgins family at the service.

Ardoyne Riots Discussed

Members of the NI Policing Board have received a briefing from the PSNI Chief Constable on the policing of disorder in the Ardoyne area over the Twelfth period and the sporadic violence that occurred elsewhere in Northern Ireland. Acting Chairman of the Board, Brian Rea said: "Those who perpetrated this recent spate of violence are a small minority who are intent on dragging us back to the past," noting that Board members were unanimous in their support of the tactics the police used. "The Board also welcomed that 38 people have now been arrested to date in connection with the disorder," he continued and said they are concerned that children as young as eight were involved in the rioting and are fully supportive of measures the PSNI, alongside Social Services, plan to put in place to tackle this serious problem.

Abortion Consultation

Revised guidance on the termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland has been issued for public consultation today. The Department of Health, had published guidance in March 2009 on the termination of pregnancy in NI and in November 2009 the Guidance was subject to a Judicial Review. Following the Judicial Review decision, interim Guidance was published in February 2010 with the sections on conscientious objection and counselling omitted. This interim Guidance has now been withdrawn. The Department has redrafted the sections on counselling and conscientious objection and has incorporated these into revised Guidance, which is now issued for consultation. The consultation period will run for a period of 12 weeks from 27 July.

Renew! Says Foster

NI Energy Minister Arlene Foster has announced a consultation on proposed changes to the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO). It supports the development of renewable electricity by encouraging suppliers to provide evidence that a specified proportion of their electricity has been generated from environmentally friendly renewable sources. The consultation seeks views on a number of proposals including support for refurbished generating equipment and increased support for Anaerobic Digestion generating stations.

Essay Accolade

The Stormont Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, has congratulated Queen's University student, Nuala McKay, on being announced as UK Erasmus Essay Winner of the Year 2009. Erasmus is a European-funded student mobility programme, which is managed in the UK by the British Council and supported by the Department for Employment and Learning as part of its international strategy. The Minister said: "I would like to congratulate Nuala on being named UK Erasmus Essay Winner of the Year 2009. This is an excellent achievement and I am in no doubt that the experience will set Nuala in good stead for the world of work or continued study. I wish her every success in the future." Nuala, from Randalstown, undertook her seven month Erasmus placement in the North East of France as an English language assistant.

(BMcC/KMcA)