Other News In Brief

Two Brothers Fined £9,000 For Waste Offences

Two brothers from Co Tyrone have been fined £9,000 for waste offences.

John and Peter McDonnell were fined at Dungannon Magistrates' Court for breaches of waste management legislation.

John McDonnell pleaded guilty to unlawfully depositing, keeping and burning construction and demolition waste on unlicensed lands at Finulagh Road in Castlecaulfield, between September 2015 and May 2016.

Peter McDonnell also pleaded guilty to unlawfully depositing and keeping controlled waste on lands adjacent to 18 Finulagh Road between 26 May 2016 and 07 October 2016.

Officers from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency identified that the waste had been transferred from the aforementioned site run by John McDonnell.

'No Deal' Brexit Is The Worst Possible Outcome For Ireland - SDLP

SDLP Brexit Spokesperson Claire Hanna MLA has described Theresa May's "no deal" plans as a desperate attempt from an embattled Prime Minister to fight off critics.

Ms Hanna said that a "no deal" Brexit would represent the worst possible outcome for Ireland, Britain and Europe.

She said: "After a disastrous conference weekend where her leadership was cast into extreme jeopardy, Theresa May is now desperately trying to take back control of her party. The Brexit negotiations must be about delivering a deal that meets the needs of people in Ireland and Britain, it is not about meeting the party political needs of Theresa May.

"No deal will mean hard borders, trade barriers and a European investment drought in those areas most in need of development. That is the worst case scenario. Only a government bankrupt on ideas would consider it a negotiating position.

"This again underlines the critical need for reasoned voices at the negotiating table. That's why SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood has written to Theresa May calling for representation at the JMC for parties in Northern Ireland."

Economy Is Losing £30m Due To Mental Health Issues

The local economy is losing £30 million a year due to sick days related to mental health, Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has said.

The Strangford MLA was speaking after hosting an event for the Action Mental Health group at Parliament Buildings for World Mental Health Day. The theme this year is mental health in the workplace, an issue Ms Armstrong said ever more vital in Northern Ireland.

She said: "The issue of mental health has been in the headlines in recent times, with recent statistics showing one in every five adults will suffer a mental health problem at some stage in our lifetime.

"Not only does this increase pressures on an already overburdened health service but it also impacts hugely on the economy by accounting for a sizeable chunk of sick days among Northern Ireland's businesses and services. It is estimated the local economy loses £30 million every year on this issue.

"Action Mental Health operates a host of initiatives to empower those with mental health issues impacting their private lives and also in need of support at work, and I would encourage businesses to become involved."

(CD)