Other News In Brief

Colum Eastwood Calls For Action From Brandon Lewis

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP has said that Secretary of State Brandon Lewis should "spend far less time attempting to defend the indefensible actions of Boris Johnson and more time working to deliver much needed support to families struggling with the cost of living".

Mr Eastwood said: "It's remarkable that the Secretary of State has the time to run around TV studios defending the indefensible behaviour of Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and their mates after they received and accepted penalty notices for breaches of Covid-19 rules.

"People in Northern Ireland are working every hour they can to heat their homes and put food on the table. Instead of playing politics, Brandon Lewis should be using his office to bring forward legislation to unlock the £300m sitting dormant in a Stormont bank account and supporting our plan to get that money to working families now.

"Is it any wonder faith politics is plummeting when those who hold high office have so little understanding of what ordinary people are going through? The SDLP will continue to make the case for our Cost of Living Action Plan that would get emergency support to every household and provide more than £1,200 to those who need it most."

140 Fixed Penalty Notices Issued Across The North Coast

Some 140 fixed penalty notices were issued across the North Coast over the Easter weekend, the PSNI have revealed.

The notices were issued for a range of motoring offences including excess speed, mobile phone and anti-social driving.

According to reports, five people were arrested for public order offences including disorderly behaviour, common assault, and assault on police over Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.

BBC To Broadcast Live GAA Ulster Championship Games

Sinn Féin have welcomed a decision by the BBC to show six live GAA Ulster championship games.

Niall Ó Donnghaile said: "News that the BBC have increased their live coverage of the Ulster senior football championship is positive and comes on the back of a significant campaign undertaken by GAA members and supporters as well as a broader BBC audience and licence fee payers. 

"The live broadcast of these games will be welcomed by GAA fans across Ulster and Ireland. 

"My party colleague Sinéad Ennis and I have continually raised the issue of live GAA coverage by the BBC and it is great to see it taken onboard. 

"We look forward to another successful Ulster championship shown on the BBC."