Other News In Brief

SDLP Secure Emergency Legislation For Action On Energy And Fuel Costs

SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan has secured accelerated passage for emergency legislation that would unlock Stormont cash for households across the North that have been hit with increased fuel and energy bills.

The Foyle MLA made the argument for accelerated passage at the Executive Office Committee and Communities Committee at Stormont this afternoon.

The bill, which would amend the Financial Assistance Act to give MLAs the power to designate a department to take forward energy support schemes, has been submitted to the Speaker. It is hoped it will be tabled next week before the end of the Assembly mandate but may require weekend sittings.

Mr Durkan said: "People and families across Northern Ireland are currently experiencing an unprecedented increase in fuel and energy prices which is making the cost of living unbearable for far too many in our communities.

"I am delighted that other parties have supported our efforts to address this emergency and following representations to the Executive Office Committee and Communities Committee today, that our bill has been granted accelerated passage.

"The most effective way to deal with the emergency we are facing is the nomination of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. But we cannot stand idly by waiting for something that may never happen while hard-pressed families and households in our communities are forced further into poverty, particularly when the Executive has significant sums of unallocated resource available to it.

"I will use every power and every tool available to me as a legislator to get this bill over the line and get emergency support out to everyone and every household that needs it."

Alliance Call For Urgent Clarification On Future Of Larne Harbour

Alliance have called for urgent clarification on the future of Larne Harbour following the move by P&O Ferries to sack some 800 staff with immediate effect and an ongoing suspension of ferry services.

P&O owns Larne Harbour, with East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson saying the local impact could be vast.

Mr Dickson said: "My first thought is with the workers who have been informed by P&O they are no longer employed and I hope they get the support needed at this difficult time.

"I am deeply disappointed in how P&O have handled this entire episode, showing underhanded behaviour which is not acceptable at best and draconian measures to remove staff at worst. There appears to have been no consultation done with staff or unions over this move.

"Given P&O owns Larne Harbour, urgent questions now need asked as to the potentially vast impact locally. I am calling on the Department for the Economy to engage immediately with P&O over the future of the harbour and any potential ramifications for it."

DUP Urged To 'Ensure Children Don't Go Hungry'

Sinn Féin has called on the DUP to "put funding to ensure children don't go hungry during school holidays over its electoral panic".

Making the call, West Belfast MLA Pat Sheehan, said: "(A) report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation suggests that up to one in four children here are living in poverty.

"At a time of a cost-of-living crisis, the DUP has prioritised its own narrow electoral interests over the needs of families by blocking funding being issued to ensure children don’t go hungry during school holidays.

"The Finance Minister set aside funding to tackle holiday hunger for 100,000 children and young people over the next three years and this cannot be allocated because of the DUP’s reckless decision to collapse the Executive.

"An Executive is the only way of getting this support into the pockets of hard-pressed families who desperately need this support, so the DUP need to get back to work and put people over electoral panic."