Other News In Brief

DUP Call On Labour Leader To Oppose NI Protocol

The DUP has called on the Labour Party to oppose the Northern Ireland Protocol.

DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson made the call after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described Labour at "the party of the union" during his keynote conference speech.

Sir Jeffrey said: "I have asked Sir Keir Starmer for a meeting because I want Labour to join all the unionist Parties in Northern Ireland and press for the Irish Sea border to be scrapped.

"I welcome the positive commitment, in his keynote conference speech, to the union but Sir Keir must now back that up by standing against the Irish Sea border.

"The Northern Ireland Protocol is costing this part of the United Kingdom £850m per year and driving up costs but reducing our choices on the shelves.

"Not a single elected unionist in Northern Ireland supports the Protocol yet Brussels and Dublin still argue it is needed to protect the Belfast Agreement. It is damaging people and it is damaging the union. The Irish Sea border must go."

SDLP Call For Permanent Memorial For Covid-19 Dead

The SDLP has called for a permanent memorial to those who have died from Covid-19 in Northern Ireland.

Lagan Valley MLA Pat Catney made the call after meeting bereaved relatives of those who have passed away as a result of the virus.

Addressing the Assembly on Tuesday, Mr Catney said a permanent memorial should be erected to remember all those we have lost during the pandemic.

The Lagan Valley MLA said: "It was a humbling and emotional experience to meet people who have lost loved ones during the pandemic at Stormont on Monday night. Relatives shared with me their stories of how they were unable to say a proper goodbye or hold the hand of those who had meant so much to them, it was incredibly moving.

"Thousands of people across Northern Ireland have lost family and friends as a result of Covid-19, it's rare to meet someone whose life has not been affected by this awful virus in some way. The pandemic meant many were unable to grieve in the proper way or celebrate the lives of those they lost and this has resulted in deep wounds for many people.

"I believe it is only right and fitting that we erect a permanent memorial to those we have lost during the pandemic. It would be a proper way to remember people and show families that their loved one was not just a statistic during this terrible time for us all.

"We also need to explore a way of paying proper tribute to everyone who sacrificed so much during the pandemic. From health staff, teachers, delivery drivers and public transport workers a vast array of people have given so much and put themselves at risk to help us all get through this pandemic with as little disruption as possible."

New Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme Announced

A new £750,000 Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (RMCGS) has been announced by Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots, opening for applications on Friday 1 October 2021.

The key aim of RMCGS 2021 is to provide small capital grants of between £200 and £1,500 to rural community-led, voluntary organisations for projects tackling issues of local poverty and/or social isolation. The Scheme is funded from DAERA's Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme.

Minister Poots has visited Maguiresbridge in County Fermanagh to see for himself the benefits of this small capital grant to the Maguiresbridge District L.O.L. No.14 Pitch Development and Management Committee. The Minister said: "The Micro Capital Grant Scheme has been one of the success stories of recent years and I am very pleased to announce it reopens on Friday 1 October 2021. It has made a considerable difference to rural communities across Northern Ireland and is an extremely good-fit with our TRPSI programme."