Other News In Brief

UUP Criticises SDLP Over Opposition Motion

The UUP have accused the SDLP of attempting to create division in the Assembly, over language contained in an Opposition Motion.

Stating that the motion contained language that "could not be supported by many MLA's", MLA Tom Elliott said: "I'm sure there was not one member in the chamber today who does not fully support condemnation of both the Hamas atrocities of October 7th and the thousands of lives lost in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

"This motion was an opportunity to bring the chamber together in such condemnation, allowing for a cross-party call for both a ceasefire and an immediate release of hostages, while supporting the position of the Assembly of the region working towards a two-state solution.

"Instead we saw a motion which focused on attacking Israel, calling on the UK government to cease arms sales and using emotive terms such as genocide rather than recognising that every life lost is one too many.

"My party submitted an amendment to this motion, which was not selected for debate, focusing on the atrocities, both in Israel and Gaza, over the last 8 months. I believe that, had the opposition motion been worded in a way which concentrated on the abhorrent human suffering, on ending the killing and understanding the complex nature of Middle East politics, it would have received the support of the full Assembly."

Alliance Welcomes Updated Terms For Summer Community Diversionary Fund

The Alliance Party has welcomed agreement from the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee over updated terms for Belfast City Council's Summer Community Diversionary Fund (SCDF) for 2024.

Lisnasharragh Councillor Michael Long has been consistently calling for more effective regulation of this diversionary fund, aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour around bonfires, for example.

The agreed criteria include, for example, that only events scheduled for July and August are eligible for funding, that only applications which reach a certain eligibility threshold can be considered, and that an independent evaluation must be undertaken of any events which do receive the funding. Cllr Long has said: "Alliance has continually pushed for more openness and transparency at Belfast City Council, especially when it comes to ratepayers' money and how it is used. With that in mind, coming together with other Councillors to approve these terms is incredibly welcome.

"During the discussion over the last number of months about how to improve the effectiveness of this fund, we as a party have put forward a number of proposals, including the need for independent evaluation, and reiterating the fact that applications which didn't meet the threshold should not be funded.

"We have also raised what we felt to be an important issue, that different types of local community celebrations and events may also be eligible for funding, which we're glad to see recognised and reflected in the agreed terms.

"Council should always aim to represent all sections of society, and all the diverse identities within it. We were especially glad to work together with and take insight from the other parties on this, aiming to devise a high-quality scheme that works for everybody, and we will continue to do so going forward."

DUP Calls For Reassurance And Support Following MOD Data Breach

The DUP has called for reassurance and practical support for any current or former member of the Armed Forces whose personal details may have been compromised in a recent MOD data breach.

DUP Leader and East Belfast MP, Gavin Robinson, is a member of the Defence Select Committee in Parliament.

He said: "The revelation that personal information relating to current and former members of the Armed Forces has been accessed is of real concern. The PSNI data breach highlighted the issues which particularly impact upon people from Northern Ireland given the particular security concerns we face.

"It is important that the MoD can identify exactly how many individuals are affected and work with them to provide not just reassurance, but practical support. As with the PSNI data leak, those concerns will exist not just in the short-term, but over an extended period of time.

"Whilst we do not know the circumstances surrounding this incident, the threat from cyber-attacks, whether from hostile states or criminal gangs is significant for institutions both in the public and private sector. It is important as a nation that we are equipped to combat that threat."