Minister Defends Cap Budget Allocation

Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill has announced that discussions on the allocation of UK CAP budget across the regions have reached a successful conclusion.

Minister O'Neill said: "I am extremely pleased to announce that as a result of our strong arguments in defence of our allocation of the CAP budget for Pillar I and Pillar II, we have succeeded in retaining our historic budget share.

"The negotiations were difficult and protracted as Scotland was pushing hard for an increased share. When I met with my Ministerial colleagues from Britain at the start of this week, I made it very clear that we needed to bring this matter to a rapid conclusion. The decision has now been made and I have secured the outcome I was looking to achieve, which will deliver an additional €20million in support to the local industry between now and 2019. I believe that this represents the fairest possible outcome as the existing budget distribution reflects the nature and agricultural production characteristics across all of the regions."

Man Convicted For Benefit Fraud

A man has been convicted at Newry Magistrates' Court for claiming benefits he was not entitled to.

Philip Ward, 43, of Mullabrack Road, Gilford claimed Income Support and Housing Benefit totaling £18,744 while failing to declare he was living with a partner. He was given a five month prison sentence and ordered to pay court costs of £46.

He is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

Mural Re-Imaging Programme Welcomed

Alliance East Belfast MLA Chris Lyttle has welcomed a re-imaging programme to replace paramilitary murals.

He was speaking at an event at the Upper Room Church on Friday to mark the completion of work to re-image three paramilitary murals in East Belfast. The new artwork has replaced murals in Templemore Street, McMaster/Lendrick Street and Kenbaan Street. Funding for the project was provided by Belfast City Council's Good Relations Partnership and the Housing Executive's Community Cohesion Unit.

Mr Lyttle said: "After negative images of gunmen recently appeared in murals in East and North Belfast, I am pleased to see the positive work that has taken place to re-image these three paramilitary murals.

"Paramilitary images glorify terrorism and seek to demarcate territory. We must move away from negative murals that aim to create fear and intimidation among the local community.

"Images can speak a thousand words, and murals are an effective way to communicate positive aspirations for education, employment, human rights and non-violence in our community.

"This new artwork shows the positive imagery that the vast majority of people want to see on our streets."

(CD/JP)