SDLP Calls For Action On Invest NI Review

SDLP MLA's have met with officials from the Department for the Economy to discuss the need for transformative change at Invest NI.

SDLP Jobs and Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin, said: "As damaging as the recent independent review of Invest NI was, it was perhaps just as scathing of the Department for the Economy's management of the organisation. The governance that the department provided over Invest NI was clearly below the level expected for many years and their failure to provide implementation plans for our key economic strategy was inexcusable. There are serious questions to answer for the previous DUP Minister and his predecessors, on how such persistent and comprehensive failures could have been allowed to continue. Those failures are made all the worse by the fact that they were repeatedly called out on the floor of the Assembly for years, yet were ignored.

"Invest NI requires significant and profound change, including how it delivers for our sub-regional economies. It is my firm belief that the problems at the organisation will never be fixed if Invest NI does not recognise the key role it must play in tackling regional economic imbalance, including through introducing sub-regional targets for job growth and productivity. That was top of my agenda today and we didn't miss the opportunity to make that case directly to the departmental officials.

"While today's meeting was welcome, it's also completely unacceptable that we do not have a minister in post to hold accountable for the response to this review. We need a viable plan to completely overhaul Invest NI and deliver an economic strategy that moves us away from low productivity and low skills."

NIFRS Station Commander Karen McDowell Awarded MBE

Northern Ireland Fire And Rescue Service (NIFRS) Station Commander, Karen McDowell, has been awarded an MBE for services to fire and rescue and the LGBTQ+ community. 

Karen has been recognised for her commitment to making Northern Ireland a safer place and for being an ambassador for LGBTQ+ equality.

Not only does SC McDowell have almost 30 years' service keeping her community safe, she has also been instrumental in helping NIFRS enhance and develop support for LGBTQ+ colleagues. From this experience she has been able to provide invaluable guidance to other organisations and is a continued and passionate advocate in these areas.

Karen is an admired role model in NIFRS and this award is fully deserved. Congratulations from everyone at NIFRS

Aer Lingus Announce New Belfast Flights To Newcastle And Nottingham

Emerald Airlines, largest operator out of Belfast City Airport and exclusive operator of the Aer Lingus Regional network, has announced two new services to Newcastle and Nottingham East Midlands from Belfast City.

All domestic regional points vacated by Flybe at Belfast City Airport will now be reestablished by Aer Lingus Regional.

With fares starting at £34.99 the Belfast City to Nottingham East Midlands service is to commence on the 26th of March, initially as a daily service, and will increase up to double daily from mid-April. The daily flights between Belfast City-Newcastle will commence on the 28th of April. Tickets are on sale now at www.aerlingus.com

Commenting on the announcement, Ciarán Smith, Head of Commercial at Emerald Airlines said: "We are very pleased to be strengthening our schedule out of Belfast City Airport. As the demand for travel options from Belfast only increases, these two new routes will no doubt be warmly welcomed. Earlier this week we announced that we will be adding 15,000+ seats immediately across our existing network from Belfast City, and we will continue to grow these services in the months ahead."