Economy Minister Urged To Look At International Examples Of Four-Day Working Week

The Economy Minister has been urged to look at international examples where a four-day working week has been successfully trialled.

Making the call, Sinn Féin MLA and workers' rights spokesperson Jemma Dolan said: "There are numerous examples from across the world where a four-day working week has been successfully trialled, leading to increases in positivity and an improved work life balance.

"The latest trial from Iceland has been hailed as an 'overwhelming success' with productivity remaining unchanged or actually going up and the health and wellbeing of workers improving significantly.

"I am calling on the Economy Minister to look at this and other international examples and to work with trade unions towards carrying out a similar trial here."

Mother And Baby Home Revelations 'Harrowing’

New reports that children's bodies from Mothers and Baby homes were donated to universities for medical research without parents' permission have been described as "harrowing" by SDLP MLA and Executive Office Committee Chairman, Colin McGrath.

The South Down MLA said: "These families were let down by the state. Mothers were treated appallingly and now it has emerged that some stillborn babies and children who died at a very early age had their bodies donated to universities without the permission of their parents – which wasn't legally required at the time.

"In life these children were let down and treated abominably – even in death they weren't afforded any dignity.

"This appears to have been common practice across the whole island and goes back to a time before partition. There must be a full, open and transparent investigation into this matter so the full scale of this practice can be detailed. The fact that some campaigners are having to use the route of Freedom of Information is unacceptable – the information must be researched and published.

"I will be seeking to raise this matter urgently in the Assembly this week. I hope that the joint First Ministers understand the importance and sensitivity of this issue and will instruct officials to investigate the matter and report back to MLAs."

North Belfast Fire being Treated As Arson

Police believe that a fire at a north Belfast recycling plant was started deliberatly.

The fire at Bailey Waste on the Limestone Road was report just before 5pm on Monday 05 July.

At its height, 41 firefighters were at the scene, which is said to have been encroaching on a nearby school.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact police.