Other News In Brief

Marine Act Launches In NI

Environment Minister Mark Durkan has said the Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 has come into operation.

This is the final piece of an ambitious marine legislative programme, which strengthens Northern Ireland's ability to manage its marine waters in a better way.

The implementation of the Act will assist the region in contributing to the aim of having clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas.

For the first time, a marine plan for Northern Ireland will be prepared which will strategically manage the activities that happen in its waters now and in the future, in what is becoming an increasingly busy environment.

In addition, the Act provides powers to establish new Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). These will form part of a wider network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which will ensure that Northern Ireland's marine biodiversity is safeguarded.

Strangford Lough has been established as NI's first MCZ.

McGlone Warns Of Dangers Of Bogus 'Pension-Unlocking'

SDLP MLA for Mid-Ulster Patsy McGlone has advised people to exercise caution and resist turning to pension-liberation or "unlocking" deals from bogus firms.

Mr. McGlone said: "There is a worrying trend towards some firms promising to get cash out of peoples pension funds, by pension liberation or 'unlocking' even though this is against tax rules.

"Such bogus firms are praying on those who are in difficult financial situations and encouraging them to dip into savings just to free up a little cash.

"I am deeply concerned these firms are acting as a real menace and preying on savers who have worked hard and played by the rules. Pension-unlocking firms promise to free up money before the individual reaches age 55.

"I would urge people to exercise caution when considering these unlocking schemes. While some arrangements appear to operate within the law, many attract large tax charges and are in fact illegal.

"Unscrupulous providers are homing in on vulnerable members of our community and are threatening people’s security in retirement.

"Losing more than half of your pension savings has the potential to cause serious hardship in retirement for many people and I would ask people to exercise real vigilance when approached by these firms who regularly change their names and trick trustees and the public alike."

Dodds Welcomes EU Commitment To Tackle Legal Highs

DUP MEP Diane Dodds has welcomed an announcement by the EU Commissioner for Justice, Viviane Reding, that the European Commission intends to launch proposals which could allow legal highs to be banned within weeks of entering the market.

Commenting on the proposals, which would reduce the length of the process that allows the EU to criminalise a legal high from 24 to 10 months, Mrs Dodds said: "I very much welcome this announcement. At a time when regulation and red tape from Europe seemingly invades every aspect of daily life in Northern Ireland, it is refreshing to see the European Commission provide a positive commitment to assist Member States in tackling the very real dangers presented by legal highs in our society."

In Northern Ireland in 2012, there were 110 drugs-related deaths and almost a third of these were linked to illegal drugs, and untested legal highs.

Minister Dodds added: "These statistics are completely unacceptable, and the pain and suffering experienced by the families of victims of legal highs - many of whom are teenagers and young adults - is incalculable."

She continued: "It is estimated that right now approximately two million people across Europe are taking powders and pills that although sold legally, have never been tested or assessed for potential risks to their health. They are dealing in a great unknown.

"Northern Ireland is not immune from this trend and real action must be taken to ensure that the menaces presented by legal highs are properly dealt with. In this sense, I will work to ensure that this potential legislation benefits public health in Northern Ireland moving forward."

(JP)