£4.8m Investment At Diamond Corrugated Complete

First Minister Rt Hon Peter D Robinson MLA and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MLA today welcomed the completion of a £4.8million investment at Diamond Corrugated in Londonderry.
The Ministers visited the company's plant at Pennyburn, where it designs and manufactures a wide variety of bespoke corrugated packaging for customers in food and drink, electronics, light engineering and healthcare.
The investment has been assisted by Invest Northern Ireland and will increase the number of full time staff, by 10, to 60 at Pennyburn and its other facility at Campsie.
The First Minister said: “This is an important strategic investment by an ambitious and enterprising company, which is celebrating 40 years in business. It is an excellent example of a business that has re-invented itself on a number of occasions to remain at the leading edge of packaging manufacturing.


"They have recently secured a number of important contracts in direct competition with packaging companies based outside Northern Ireland. Its success in winning this business demonstrates that the company can compete successfully in the international marketplace.
“This company’s impressive track record in developing innovative and cost-effective solutions for customers across a very broad range of industries has clearly helped to secure this additional business," he added.


The deputy First Minister said: "This is a good boost for the economy in Derry from a locally-owned and managed company. As a fourth generation family business, Diamond Corrugated has a longstanding commitment to the city and to developing the skills and knowledge of local people.
“The company's achievements are based on continuous investment in people and production processes and a commitment to excellence in their extensive range of expert services to customers. Diamond Corrugated has created and sustained quality manufacturing employment in Derry and the wider North West area."

Funding For Kinship Care NI Welcomed

SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has welcomed the news that Kinship Care NI has been awarded £442,000 by the Big Lottery Fund to develop their children and young people's services in Derry.

Mr Durkan, who has supported the Derry-based charity since it was founded in April 2010, said: "I am delighted for Jacquie Williamson and Kinship Care NI who have been awarded this substantial funding from the Big Lottery to continue their important work in Derry and to help raise awareness of the huge contribution that kinship carers make.

"For many, theirs is a labour of love, but all too often they are – or feel – taken for granted by society if not their family.

"There is also an opportunity cost to these carers – jobs, careers and incomes sacrificed, family life compromised and their personal and social lives heavily curtailed.

"We also need to acknowledge how much kinship carers save the state by the quantity and quality of their work, without which other people’s needs would be even more acute with consequent demands on various public services.

"That is why I have consistently called for greater recognition and respect for the 'forgotten army' of kinship carers at Westminster for the vital role they play in looking after vulnerable children and keeping them out of the care system."

Belfast Orange Hall Attacked Again

North Belfast DUP MLA William Humphrey has expressed outrage that Belfast Orange Hall, Clifton Street, has once again been targeted in an overnight paint bomb attack.

William Humphrey MLA with Archie Maginness and Bill Lochrie from the Hall Management Committee.

Members of the Hall Management Committee discovered the outcome of the attack this morning. At least two bottles filled with paint were smashed against the front of the Hall in the overnight attack.

William Humphrey said: "It is disgraceful that Clifton Street Orange Hall has once been targeted in this hate crime. At least two paint bombs were smashed against the hall frontage in the overnight attack. It is appalling that attacks by republicans have been a regular occurrence over recent years, particularly in the days following a parade leaving from the hall. Without doubt this is linked to the church parade which departed from the hall on Sunday.

Politicians who raise objections to legitimate parades are heightening tensions. The consequences of that are these criminal attacks by extreme people who will not tolerate others of a different persuasion. I would call for rapid and complete condemnation of this hate crime particularly from the SDLP and Sinn Fein who chose to object to the parade to the City of Belfast Loyal Orange Widows Fund Service. I trust they will join me in appealing for anyone having any knowledge or suspicion of who was responsible for this and previous attacks to pass that information on to the police without delay."

(CD)