First Ministers Cannot Bluster Into Trump Photo Ops Without Being Challenged - SDLP

SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA has pressed the deputy First Minister on whether any actions by Donald Trump and his administration would force a rethink on Executive engagement around St Patrick's Day.

He said: "What we heard from the deputy First Minister today in the Assembly was nothing more than bluster. The public have the right to know what approach our Executive leaders are taking when it comes to travelling to Washington for St Patrick's Day this year, particularly in light of Donald Trump’s recent comments on Gaza and his Vice President's speech in Europe at the weekend.

"The deputy First Minister can make all the claims she wants around the strategic importance of this yearly trip – to that I would say, what was achieved by the First and deputy First Minister last year as they took part in this event while the US armed Israel and supported the bombing campaign that killed thousands of innocent civilians in Gaza.

"The SDLP recognises the importance of engaging with the US and we will continue to do so going forward, but we have made a decision for the past two years not to attend these events based on our values. The visit from the First and deputy First Minister to Washington this year will achieve little more than a photo opportunity and the Executive's approach to international relations should be based on more substance than that."

UUP Highlights Issues Around Headlight Glare From New Generation LED Lights

Ulster Unionist Policing Board Member Alan Chambers has highlighted the issue of the unacceptable glare from the headlights of approaching vehicles that have the new generation LED lights fitted.

Chambers said: "I asked the PSNI, at the last meeting of the Policing Board, if they had any road safety concerns around this issue. Their response was that they had not seen any evidence of that and supporting data that they shared was that dazzle caused by headlights only amounted to 15 out of 4,977 collisions, or 0.3%

"It may be the case that this issue hasn’t surfaced in the collision data since the conversation around the glare from these new lights has only seemed to have surfaced within the last year.

"The results of a major new survey into the topic by the RAC have been recently released.

"The report states that a quarter of drivers who find vehicle headlights too bright are driving less at night as a result, while 22% say they wish they could avoid it.

"Findings from what is believed to be the most in-depth research into motorist’s views on the issue reveal that 75% of those who drive less do so because intense headlights make the experience uncomfortable or more difficult. A further 49% say it is because they feel less safe, while 5% have stopped driving at night altogether.

"What's more, six in ten UK drivers who suffer from headlight glare say the problem has worsened in just 12 months. 77% of those surveyed said that they find it difficult to judge the position of oncoming vehicles with the new headlights, as well as the speed and distance of these vehicles.

"It is clear from this survey that there is a problem that will have an adverse impact on road safety in the future.

"The RAC research does suggest that the difference in the height of vehicles affects how drivers perceive glare as does the colour of headlights on oncoming traffic. It also reports that it appears to be more of a problem on unlit roads, where drivers' vision is subjected to greater levels of contrast.

"On a personal level I find the issue of fading reflective road markings adds to the challenge of night driving on rural roads.

"The report concludes that government statistics show that since 2013 there has been an average of 280 collisions a year where dazzling headlights were a contributory factor. Of these, six a year involved someone losing their life. However, this only includes those where a police officer attending can be sure that headlight dazzle was indeed a factor.

"The findings of a survey carried out by the Which Team in October 2024 echo most of the findings of the RAC survey It concluded that 76% of drivers were concerned about collisions caused by headlight glare.

"A United Nations committee have recommended that manufacturers make changes to the intensity of vehicle headlights on vehicles constructed after 2027.

"I would call on the UK Government to examine if they have any scope to take mitigating action in the meantime. The proof is there, the driving public is telling them, that a dangerous situation exists that could be a contributing factor in serious collisions."

Deadline Approaches For 2025 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Nominations

The deadline for nominations for the 2025 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ (EOY) programme is just over one week away, with submissions due by Thursday, February 27th.

Entrepreneurs from emerging, established, and international businesses across all industry sectors in Northern Ireland are invited to submit their nominations.

This year's programme will celebrate entrepreneurs from across the island of Ireland whose vision, innovation, and leadership are shaping the future. The programme seeks business leaders who push conventional boundaries, think creatively, and develop solutions that drive long-term value and positively impact society. Entrepreneurs with the tenacity and determination to make a difference are encouraged to apply before the February 27th deadline.