Stormont Goes Pitman

Northern Ireland's first Pitman Training centre has opened its doors, offering a range of courses and among the first students with the organisation in the city are ten Hansard Reporters from the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Reporters from Stormont are now undertaking Pitman Training's Typaz training course, which they hope will further increase their typing skills and help in transcribing Assembly debates.

Barristers 'Strike' Ends

Members of the Criminal Bar have announced they will accept instruction from colleagues in the Solicitors Criminal Bar in a move that will see the resumption of normal working in the Northern Ireland Crown Court with immediate effect. Welcoming the move, Adrian Colton QC, Chairman of the Bar Council, praised the pragmatism of professional colleagues in accepting without question the need for change in the Legal Aid payment system in hard financial times, while defending the right to raise very serious concerns about the outworking of the Department of Justice proposals. "We are clear on the need to continue to work constructively to ensure no diminution of the independence or effectiveness of the Criminal Justice system as it serves the whole of Northern Ireland," he concluded.

Reject Rise In Power Cost: SF

The Sinn Fein Economy Spokesperson, Conor Murphy has called on the Utility Regulator to reject any suggestion of a 20% Electricity price increase. "Already households are straining under the pressure of the British Government's austerity measures and this extra burden could put very vulnerable people, particularly the elderly and single parents further into poverty. The choice of heat or eat could became the reality for many people," he said.

US Goes Potty

Greysteel-based Kara Irish Pottery has been assisted by Invest Northern Ireland to develop sales in the US of a range of innovative Irish sandstone coasters. The company, formed by experienced businesswoman Ann Mullan Karakatsanis, has invested over £122,000 to develop exports especially by means of a relationship with the QVC television shopping channel. The coasters will be launched on the QVC Rose of Tralee show in September. In addition, Disney recently ordered the coasters for the Epcot centre. Invest NI has offered £20,000 towards the project which is expected to provide three new jobs by the end of this year.

Hares Saved

The NI Environment Minister Alex Attwood has this week banned hare coursing events in Northern Ireland. It is a permanent measure and makes it an offence for someone to organise, participate in or attend a hare-coursing event, or to net, transport or be in possession of hares for the purpose of a hare-coursing event. "While hare coursing events in Northern Ireland has been prevented for a number of years on a temporary basis, the ban I am introducing is a permanent one and a positive step forward," he said.

(BMcC)