Second EU Treaty Vote

The Irish Republic will hold a second referendum on the EU's controversial Lisbon Treaty on 2 October. Irish PM Brian Cowen made the announcement in the Irish parliament on Wednesday. The Treaty, aimed at streamlining EU institutions, was rejected by Irish voters by referendum in June last year. Mr Cowen (pictured) has now secured binding EU guarantees that Lisbon will not affect Irish sovereignty over key issues such as military neutrality and abortion. These issues, along with taxation policy, were identified as major concerns of Irish voters. See: Second Lisbon Referendum For October

DRD Trip-up On Compo

It has been revealed that compensation cases for tripping accidents on Northern Ireland's roads and footpaths have cost taxpayers £33m over the past 10 years. The study has exposed a large gap between payouts here and smaller sums awarded for injuries in England and Wales. The Northern Ireland Audit Office report said the bill at the Department for Regional Development (DRD) largely comprised of two elements - £15m in compensation payments and some £17m in legal costs paid to claimants' solicitors and in-house advisers. DRD runs the Roads Service, the government agency responsible for maintaining footpaths and roadways in the province.

'Green' Electricity Targeted

A key document on the future of sustainable energy in Northern Ireland is to be released for consultation, it has been announced. The Stormont Executive's decision to publish the Strategic Energy Framework for Northern Ireland 2009 was welcomed by Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster: "I have made it clear for some time now that as long as fossil fuels continue to dominate local power production, Northern Ireland will suffer from the volatility of worldwide shifts in the cost of oil, gas and coal." The Minister also said that her aim is to achieve a competitive, sustainable long-term future for energy in Northern Ireland.

Developer Gets University Doctorate

The founder of one of Northern Ireland's most prominent property development and construction firms has been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Ulster. John McGinnis founded the McGinnis Group in 1978. The firm has been pivotal in accelerating the region's economic and cultural growth. As part of Derry Boston Ventures, Mr McGinnis has travelled extensively throughout the USA to promote Northern Ireland, securing major trade and investment for the area. He is one of the founding members of the university's Real Estate Initiative and a Director of the University of Ulster Foundation. He received the degree of Doctor of the University (DUniv) in recognition of his services to the university and the construction industry.

Ritchie Hails Craigavon Regeneration

The Stormont Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie has visited three town centre areas in Craigavon, Lurgan and Portadown earmarked for regeneration. The Minister met an advisory group established by her department to oversee the creation of an Integrated Development Framework for Lurgan, Craigavon and Portadown. "We need to have an Integrated Development Framework for Craigavon to assist with the prioritisation of development opportunities across the three town centres. A complex relationship exists between them and intervention is critical to secure a sustainable, prosperous, economic future for the areas as a whole," she said, commenting that the main aim of this work is to ensure that Craigavon will have three complementary and successful centres.

(BMcC/JM)