Other News In Brief

Green Leader Unopposed In Seanad Seat Bid

The Green Party has welcomed the news that Mal O'Hara, leader of the party in Northern Ireland, is to be unopposed in his bid for a seat in the Seanad.

Highlighting how his election would mark the party's fifth sitting Senator, Mr O'Hara said: "It is important that a Northern Ireland voice remains in the Seanad. I believe that with my background as an activist, my almost two decades in the community and voluntary sector, my time as a Belfast City Councillor, as a Harbour Commissioner and board member of mental health charities, I can authentically advocate on behalf of all communities. I will ensure that all voices from Northern Ireland are amplified in the Seanad.

"The Green Party is the only all-island cross community party. I am excited about joining a strong Green Party Oireachtas team and working with our colleagues in Government and cross-bench to achieve a socially and environmentally just society."

O'Hara comes from North Belfast and has been the Leader of the Green Party Northern Ireland since 2022. Before entering politics, he worked in the community and voluntary sector for almost two decades, addressing inequality and building peace in the most deprived areas of Belfast. He was previously the health manager at Ireland's largest LGBTQ+ organisation, is the former Vice-Chair of the Equal Marriage Campaign in the North, was a board member for both a local and regional mental health charity and a former Harbour Commissioner.

Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan said: "I am delighted that Mal is set to be nominated to Seanad Eireann and will be joining our other strong and effective Green senators in the upper house of the Oireachtas. As leader of the Green Party in Northern Ireland, Mal will bring a unique all-island perspective to the Seanad, as an extension of the inclusiveness that he has shown in his political and work careers to date.

"As a community worker, activist and a politician, Mal has worked tirelessly to promote peace, prosperity, tolerance, climate and social justice across different political, social and cultural divides. I look forward to the positive contributions he will make, not just in the Seanad itself, but to politics in general and this island's social and economic progress over the coming year."

Senator Roisin Garvey, Leader of the Green Party in the Seanad, welcomed the newest member: "As Green Party Leader in the Seanad, it is great to see our team of four now set to expand to five. With the climate and biodiversity emergency effecting everything from flooding to food production and air and water quality, the more strong voices we have the better, and Mal O'Hara's background in community activism will be a big help to us and our all Ireland party representation."

Appeal For Information Following Comber Burglary

The PSNI have issued an appeal for information following a report of a burglary at a house in the Dermott Park area of Comber last night, Monday 25th March. It was reported to police that the occupants of the house returned to their home at around 8.50pm to discover three men inside. The men fled the scene via the rear of the property. It is believed the men entered the house via a front window at around 8.20pm and made off shortly before 8.50pm. A quantity of cash was taken during the incident.

Detective Sergeant Bell said: "Our investigation is underway and we are appealing to anyone who may have been in the area or noticed any suspicious activity or who may have captured dashcam or mobile footage to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 1868 of 25/03/24."

Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

BCC Announce Changes To Council Car Park Enforcement

Belfast City Council has announced changes to enforcement services for council car parks from Tuesday, 02 April.

Marston Holdings Ltd has appointed to provide enforcement services at its off-street car parks. Previously, enforcement had been provided through an agency agreement with the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).

The main change users will see is that the parking attendants patrolling the car parks will be wearing a blue uniform. Their responsibilities and legal authority remain the same and any Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued will be valid. Tariffs in the council's charged car parks will remain unchanged.

The new contract will also see the introduction of a new cashless parking system in operation at the Council's 15 charged car parks in the city. You can still pay by coins/cash at the parking machines in our charged car parks.

The current Just Park app is being replaced by RingGo offering users the convenience of paying for parking through their mobile devices, pay stations at the car parks or via telephone.

To adapt to these changes, car park users can download the RingGo app from www.ringgo.co.uk onto their smartphones and use it at the start of April.

Car park season tickets, already available at most pay and display car parks, will remain available for purchase in advance, with previously issued tickets remaining valid until their expiration date.

Parking complaints, including PCN appeals, will be handled by Marston Holdings Ltd.

You can contact them, and/or make a payment, online, by telephone at: 03330 068 351 or by post at: Northern Ireland Consortium, PO Box 378, Sheffield, S98 1YU.

The Department for Infrastructure will still retain responsibility for on-street parking enforcement in the city and red coat parking attendants will continue to provide this service.

For more information on the changes and the council's car parks in the city, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/carparks