Other News In Brief

New Disability Strategy Unveiled On International Day of Persons With Disabilities

The Department for Communities and Disability Action has co-hosted an online event to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Since 1992, the UN has marked the day annually on 3 December to highlight the benefits of including disabled people in every aspect of community life. This year's theme is 'Building Back Better: toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 world'.

Opening the event, the Minister for Communities Carál Ní Chuilín said: "International Day of Persons with Disabilities gives us the opportunity to pause and reflect on how society is enriched by diversity. Disabled people make an important contribution to our communities. As we mark 25 years since the Disability Discrimination Act came into force, we must maintain our focus on protecting the rights of disabled citizens. 

"I believe that a new rights-based Disability Strategy will provide a focus to our collective efforts in promoting the equality of disabled people."

The Department has commenced work on a new Disability Strategy and appointed an Expert Advisory Panel who at the event, presented an overview of their findings to date in identifying the key themes and actions to be included in the new Strategy.

Funding Secured For Local Road Safety Initiatives

Almost £90,000 has been secured for local road safety initiatives funded by the Department for Infrastructure's Road Safety Grant Scheme.

Announcing the funding, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon, said: "A key priority for me as Minister for Infrastructure is delivering on initiatives that help to improve wellbeing for everyone and encourage safe road user behaviour. In September I launched the Road Safety Grant Scheme which aims to help to engage and empower individuals, communities and organisations to promote and practise good road safety behaviours and encourage participation in safe active travel.

"I am delighted today to announce that 14 groups and organisations have been successful in securing funding totalling £87,000. The grants will support a range of innovative initiatives which address local roads safety issues and enable active travel in a safe way.

"Road safety is everyone's responsibility and community involvement plays a vital role in helping raise awareness of how to stay safe on our roads.

"Already this year 54 people have been killed on our roads. The only way to reduce fatalities on our roads is for everyone on the road to make better choices and safer decisions, on every journey."

Storey Welcomes PSNI Response To Misuse Of Stop And Search

DUP North Antrim MLA and Policing Board representative Mervyn Storey has welcomed the PSNI's response to an error in authorising the use of stop and search powers during July and August.

Mr Storey said: "We note acknowledgment of this administrative error on the part of the PSNI in relation to authorising stop and search. It is of course appropriate that steps are taken to redress the situation as soon as possible.

"Governance arrangements for the authorisation and use of stop and search powers should be clear and transparent. A senior officer responsible for this function is defined in the Justice and Security Act 2007 as an officer of at least the rank of Assistant Chief Constable but it does not seem to explicitly exclude those acting at this level. Moving forward the legislation and operational guidance under which the PSNI must act must be self-evident to avoid a repeat of this confusion.

"In equal measure this incident should not detract from the importance of these powers as a valuable deterrent against terrorist activity across Northern Ireland. In recent years the deployment of these powers have been adjudged to have been lawful and appropriate by numerous independent reviews. Although unacceptable this isolated incident should not deflect attention from the core aim of tackling serious criminality and preventing harm within our communities."