Call For Clarification On Bombardier Job Losses

Ulster Unionist economy spokesperson Danny Kinahan has called for DETI and Invest NI to clarify the employment situation at Bombardier in light of an announcement that 390 jobs are to go.

Danny Kinahan MLA said: "Bombardier is such a major employer in Northern Ireland with divisions in Newtownabbey, Dunmurry, and Newtownards, as well as its East Belfast headquarters, that any announcement of job losses is of deep concern.

"It is reported that out of the 390 jobs to go, around half of the 300 employees on temporary contracts work on the manufacturing side. That does not tally with the reports in July that potential redundancies would be from workers involved in indirect functions of the company, such as administrators, finance workers and communications staff. This seeming discrepancy needs to be clarified."

Long Kesh Prison Site Should Be Opened To The Public - SF

Sinn Féin is calling for the Long Kesh prison site to be opened to the public.

MLA Raymond McCartney was speaking ahead of the European Heritage Open Days which will be held this weekend.

He said: "In previous years visitors and historical groups were able to visit the Long Kesh site and had access to the buildings on the site including the prison buildings and the WWII hangars.

"However since Peter Robinson's 'letter from America' last year access to the site has now been restricted and no-one has been able to visit the prison buildings.

"This is an untenable position for a site of such historic interest. Full access to all the facilities on the site should be granted immediately. Opening up Maze/Long Kesh in this manner could pave the way for developing the wider potential of the whole site."

Minister Launches Challenge Fund 2015

Minister Mark H Durkan has committed £1.3m from carrier bay levy receipts to the Challenge Fund 2015 in support of local community environmental projects.

The Challenge Fund enables communities and organisation across Northern Ireland to undertake new and inspiring local projects that build an environment that is essential for the wellbeing and prosperity of everyone. Last year's Challenge Fund, the first to be funded from bag levy receipts, enabled local people to deliver over 250 environmental projects.

Calling for people to take up this year's challenge, Mark H Durkan said: "The fantastic response from shoppers and retailers to the carrier bag levy has led to a massive 72% decrease in 'single use' carrier bags and I am determined that the monies raised through the levy goes back to the community. The community pays the levy and I am ensuring that the community gets the benefit of it. I see this as the 'People's Fund'."

(CD/JP)