Other News In Brief

Colum Eastwood Pays Tribute To Pat Hume

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP has paid tribute to Pat Hume, following news of her passing.

The SDLP Leader said that Pat's compassion, fortitude and strength of character was a driving force behind the peace process and paid tribute to the leadership she has shown in Derry throughout her life.

Mr Eastwood MP said: "Without Pat Hume, there would have been no peace process in Ireland, that's the simple truth. The compassion, integrity and immense fortitude that defined her incredible character breathed life into our peace over the course of a long campaign that, at times, must have looked like it would never bear fruit. She never gave up faith.

"Pat was, of course, John's guiding light. She was his constant companion, sharing the road and easing the burden in the most difficult of times. When they came under public pressure and attacks on their home for doing what they knew was right, she remained his rock. The scale of his achievement was made possible by the depth of her love. But she was, in her own right, a fierce champion for peace and justice.

"Pat holds a special place in the hearts of the people of this city. She would have done anything for them and in return, they loved her. Our city is in mourning tonight for a woman who showed us unconditional compassion and support every day of her life. We all live in an Ireland that she nurtured, at peace with itself and free to set its own destiny. It is an incredible legacy that will never be forgotten.

"My thoughts are with Pat's children Aine, Therese, Aidan, John and Mo, her beloved grandchildren and their wide circle of friends at this incredible difficult time."

DUP Propose Tree Planting To Mark Platinum Jubilee

East Belfast DUP MLA Robin Newton has written to the Minister for Infrastructure, Nicola Mallon, asking her to use the Queen's Green Canopy Scheme (QGC) and plant trees along the seven mile route of the Comber Greenway to mark Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

Robin Newton said: "The Queen's Green Canopy Scheme encourages planting trees across the UK between October and March.

"Planting trees along this popular community greenway would fit well with the Department's cleaner, greener and sustainable infrastructure and also mark Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee.

"This is a unique initiative and it would be a perfect fit with the Department's environmental objectives. Tree planting creates a broad range of much needed wildlife habitats, locks up carbon from the atmosphere, mitigates climate change and provides a more stable environment for future generations.

"I encourage all NI Executive Ministers, groups and organisations to embrace this very positive scheme to celebrate all that Her Majesty has done for the nation and to improve the environment."

Parents And Childcare Providers Urged To Participate In Childcare Survey

The voices of parents and childcare providers must be heard in order for the childcare sector to adequately recover post pandemic, Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan has said.

The party's spokesperson for children and young people said: "The childcare sector was one of the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I am appealing to all parents and providers, particularly those from a rural area to complete the online survey by Employers for Childcare and share their views and experiences of childcare.

"This latest survey will inform the needs of parents and providers going forward. It is important to establish if the childcare needs of parents have changed as a result of COVID-19, whether employers are offering more flexible ways of working and the challenges facing providers.

"It is also critical as it will help provide evidence to inform the long overdue Childcare Strategy which must deliver for parents, providers and the wider economy.

"Employers for Childcare is a charity and social enterprise, working on behalf of parents, employers and childcare providers. Their survey can be found on the Employers for Childcare's website www.employersforchildcare.org until 24 September 2021 and it takes about 10 minutes to complete."