19/12/2016
Other News In Brief
Woman Convicted Of Benefit Fraud
A woman has been convicted for claiming benefits she was not entitled to at Newtownards Magistrates’ Court.
Mandy Nelson (50) of Cranley Grove, Bangor claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance totalling £4,264 while failing to declare employment. She was given a 12 month conditional discharge.
She is also required to repay any money wrongfully obtained to the Department for Communities.
NI Electricity Firm Enters Administration
An electricity supplier in Northern Ireland has gone into administration.
Open Electric had around 1,100 customers and they have now been moved to Power NI.
Customers who pay by direct debit or pay when they receive a bill do not need to do anything further.
However they will need to contact Power NI to set-up payment options.
Pay as you go customers will need to contact Power NI to receive a new keypad number.
Jenny Pyper, Chief Executive of the Utility Regulator said: "Customers of Open Electric do not need to worry, particularly over the Christmas period, and they will not experience any disruption to their electricity supply. All of Open Electric's customers have now been switched to Power NI, which is the nominated supplier under the contingency arrangements established for this kind of situation by the Utility Regulator, Power NI and NIE Networks.
"We have been carefully watching market developments in general, particularly over the last few weeks, and have been speaking with suppliers. As soon as we decided that Open Electric's licence should be revoked, we activated established arrangements to ensure that affected customers did not lose their electricity supply, and were transferred seamlessly to Power NI.
"Open Electric's customers have now all been transferred to Power NI on the same tariff basis as Power NI's existing customers. We regulate Power NI's tariff so customers can be assured that the price they pay, reflects the actual cost of delivering electricity to their home or business."
Concerns Raised At Direction Legacy Investigations Are Taking
Doug Beattie MC MLA, the Ulster Unionist Party’s Justice spokesperson, has expressed his concern at the direction Legacy Investigations are taking.
Mr Beattie said: "Recent public comments with regard to the role played by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in directing the PSNI as to what cases the Legacy Investigations Branch (LIB) should be looking at, have caused a great deal of concern, both in Northern Ireland and in Great Britain.
"On the PSNI website it statesm "All Troubles related deaths will be reviewed by LIB using the Case Sequencing Model which does not prioritise military cases".
"Yet last week the Chief Constable told victims of the Troubles "there are some circumstances where the director of public prosecutions can direct me to effectively conduct an investigation and it is in those cases that the majority of my LIB are occupied at the moment".
"Last week I asked for a meeting with the Chief Constable to discuss paramilitary activity and I have subsequently asked to expand this meeting to cover legacy investigations. I have also asked repeatedly what action the PSNI intends to take in the case of Kieran Conway, who confessed on television to either the murder, assisting the murder, or attempted murder, of British soldiers when he was in the IRA.
"As my Party colleague Danny Kinahan MP said on Friday, there has been a totally disproportionate focus on the actions of State forces when compared to the actions of terrorist groups and I genuinely fear this is bringing the entire judicial process into disrepute in the eyes of the public and affecting their confidence in the system itself."
(CD)
A woman has been convicted for claiming benefits she was not entitled to at Newtownards Magistrates’ Court.
Mandy Nelson (50) of Cranley Grove, Bangor claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance totalling £4,264 while failing to declare employment. She was given a 12 month conditional discharge.
She is also required to repay any money wrongfully obtained to the Department for Communities.
NI Electricity Firm Enters Administration
An electricity supplier in Northern Ireland has gone into administration.
Open Electric had around 1,100 customers and they have now been moved to Power NI.
Customers who pay by direct debit or pay when they receive a bill do not need to do anything further.
However they will need to contact Power NI to set-up payment options.
Pay as you go customers will need to contact Power NI to receive a new keypad number.
Jenny Pyper, Chief Executive of the Utility Regulator said: "Customers of Open Electric do not need to worry, particularly over the Christmas period, and they will not experience any disruption to their electricity supply. All of Open Electric's customers have now been switched to Power NI, which is the nominated supplier under the contingency arrangements established for this kind of situation by the Utility Regulator, Power NI and NIE Networks.
"We have been carefully watching market developments in general, particularly over the last few weeks, and have been speaking with suppliers. As soon as we decided that Open Electric's licence should be revoked, we activated established arrangements to ensure that affected customers did not lose their electricity supply, and were transferred seamlessly to Power NI.
"Open Electric's customers have now all been transferred to Power NI on the same tariff basis as Power NI's existing customers. We regulate Power NI's tariff so customers can be assured that the price they pay, reflects the actual cost of delivering electricity to their home or business."
Concerns Raised At Direction Legacy Investigations Are Taking
Doug Beattie MC MLA, the Ulster Unionist Party’s Justice spokesperson, has expressed his concern at the direction Legacy Investigations are taking.
Mr Beattie said: "Recent public comments with regard to the role played by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in directing the PSNI as to what cases the Legacy Investigations Branch (LIB) should be looking at, have caused a great deal of concern, both in Northern Ireland and in Great Britain.
"On the PSNI website it statesm "All Troubles related deaths will be reviewed by LIB using the Case Sequencing Model which does not prioritise military cases".
"Yet last week the Chief Constable told victims of the Troubles "there are some circumstances where the director of public prosecutions can direct me to effectively conduct an investigation and it is in those cases that the majority of my LIB are occupied at the moment".
"Last week I asked for a meeting with the Chief Constable to discuss paramilitary activity and I have subsequently asked to expand this meeting to cover legacy investigations. I have also asked repeatedly what action the PSNI intends to take in the case of Kieran Conway, who confessed on television to either the murder, assisting the murder, or attempted murder, of British soldiers when he was in the IRA.
"As my Party colleague Danny Kinahan MP said on Friday, there has been a totally disproportionate focus on the actions of State forces when compared to the actions of terrorist groups and I genuinely fear this is bringing the entire judicial process into disrepute in the eyes of the public and affecting their confidence in the system itself."
(CD)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
27 February 2024
Health Minister Welcomes Proposed Pay Offer
Health Minister, Robin Swann, has welcomed the news that health worker unions are to ballot their members on a proposed pay offer. The proposed settlement would see the restoration of pay parity with England for health and social care staff covered by the Agenda for Change framework.
Health Minister Welcomes Proposed Pay Offer
Health Minister, Robin Swann, has welcomed the news that health worker unions are to ballot their members on a proposed pay offer. The proposed settlement would see the restoration of pay parity with England for health and social care staff covered by the Agenda for Change framework.
27 February 2024
Finance Minister Announces New Ciivil Servant Pay Offer
The Finance Minister has announced a new pay offer for civil servants, which would see the majority receive a 5% consolidated increase plus a one-off £1,500 non-consolidated payment. The pay offer followed negotiations with recognised industrial and non-industrial civil service trade unions.
Finance Minister Announces New Ciivil Servant Pay Offer
The Finance Minister has announced a new pay offer for civil servants, which would see the majority receive a 5% consolidated increase plus a one-off £1,500 non-consolidated payment. The pay offer followed negotiations with recognised industrial and non-industrial civil service trade unions.
04 March 2024
Lidl Invests Further £3m In Pay Increases
Lidl Northern Ireland has announced a pay increase for its workers across the region, investing £3 millon in staff. Lidl NI has to date invested £6 million in pay rises for employees in the region with employees benefitting from a 13.5 percent increase since February 2023.
Lidl Invests Further £3m In Pay Increases
Lidl Northern Ireland has announced a pay increase for its workers across the region, investing £3 millon in staff. Lidl NI has to date invested £6 million in pay rises for employees in the region with employees benefitting from a 13.5 percent increase since February 2023.
14 February 2024
Minister Welcomes 'Positive' Discussion With Teaching Unions
The Education Minister, Paul Givan, has welcomed a 'positive' meeting with teaching unions, during which the discussed resolving the ongoing pay dispute. Minister Givan met with representatives of the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council (NITC) which comprises the five recognised teachers' unions - NASUWT, INTO, UTU, NEU and NAHT(NI).
Minister Welcomes 'Positive' Discussion With Teaching Unions
The Education Minister, Paul Givan, has welcomed a 'positive' meeting with teaching unions, during which the discussed resolving the ongoing pay dispute. Minister Givan met with representatives of the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council (NITC) which comprises the five recognised teachers' unions - NASUWT, INTO, UTU, NEU and NAHT(NI).
13 February 2024
Economy Minister Meets With Further Education Unions
Economy Minister, Conor Murphy, has held a meeting with representatives of the UCU and NASUWT unions representing workers in the further education sector to discuss the requirements of a new pay award. Following the meeting, Minister Murphy said: "I am very keen to ensure further education staff get a pay uplift as soon as possible.
Economy Minister Meets With Further Education Unions
Economy Minister, Conor Murphy, has held a meeting with representatives of the UCU and NASUWT unions representing workers in the further education sector to discuss the requirements of a new pay award. Following the meeting, Minister Murphy said: "I am very keen to ensure further education staff get a pay uplift as soon as possible.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Mainly dry this morning with sunny spells then scattered showers breaking out this afternoon. A chilly start then feeling warmer in afternoon sunshine. Light southerly winds. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:Any showers at first soon dying out. Then dry overnight with clear periods and turning chilly with a touch of frost later tonight. Minimum temperature 1 °C.