Latest news with #NeilGibson
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Official sorry over 'fiasco' delay that stopped Westminster law scrutiny
A senior Stormont official has apologised for failing to give assembly members enough time to scrutinise Westminster legislation before it becomes law. Neil Gibson, the permanent secretary at the Department of Finance, said he took "full responsibility" for the delay and promised to learn lessons from what happened. The Data Use and Access bill, which aims to modernise laws around the sharing of data, will now be passed without the legislative consent of assembly members at Stormont. Instead they will discuss and "note" the bill when it comes before the chamber. Speaker Edwin Poots said it was "unacceptable" while the leader of the opposition, and chair of the Finance Committee, Matthew O'Toole described the delay as a "fiasco". The Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly have already given their consent for the legislation, which is expected to receive royal assent within weeks. Appearing before the Finance Committee, Neil Gibson apologised to members and linked the delay to the Windsor Framework. He said officials waited for more than two months to get an assessment from the UK government on how the new legislation might impact the Windsor Framework. This was a process the Scottish and Welsh administrations were not required to do, he added. He accepted officials should have notified the committee about the hold up, which he said was his "biggest regret". Mr Gibson also confirmed a new tracker system will be put in place to ensure all Westminster bills which require a legislative consent motion from the Northern Ireland Assembly is progressed on time.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Stormont official sorry over 'fiasco' delay that stopped law scrutiny
A senior Stormont official has apologised for failing to give assembly members enough time to scrutinise Westminster legislation before it becomes Gibson, the permanent secretary at the Department of Finance, said he took "full responsibility" for the delay and promised to learn lessons from what Data Use and Access bill, which aims to modernise laws around the sharing of data, will now be passed without the legislative consent of assembly members at they will discuss and "note" the bill when it comes before the chamber. 'Biggest regret' Speaker Edwin Poots said it was "unacceptable" while the leader of the opposition, and chair of the Finance Committee, Matthew O'Toole described the delay as a "fiasco".The Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly have already given their consent for the legislation, which is expected to receive royal assent within before the Finance Committee, Neil Gibson apologised to members and linked the delay to the Windsor said officials waited for more than two months to get an assessment from the UK government on how the new legislation might impact the Windsor was a process the Scottish and Welsh administrations were not required to do, he added. He accepted officials should have notified the committee about the hold up, which he said was his "biggest regret".Mr Gibson also confirmed a new tracker system will be put in place to ensure all Westminster bills which require a legislative consent motion from the Northern Ireland Assembly is progressed on time.
Free Malaysia Today
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Taiwan's coast guard hold military drill to better face China's ‘grey zone' threat
Taiwan's coast guard is often first to respond to Chinese activities in the 'grey zone'. (Taiwan Coast Guard/AFP pic) KAOHSIUNG : Taiwan's coast guard held drills with the military today to better practice joint operations in the face of what the government in Taipei says is a growing 'grey zone' threat from China, which claims the island as its own territory. Democratically governed Taiwan has repeatedly complained about activities such as undersea cable cutting and sand dredging by China around the island, designed to pressure it without direct confrontation. It is often Taiwan's coast guard that scrambles first to respond. The drills in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, overseen by president Lai Ching-te, simulated the seizing of a ferry by 'international terrorists'. The coast guard worked with an interior ministry rescue helicopter and army medevac helicopter to board and take back control of the boat and evacuate casualties. A navy anti-submarine helicopter flew over the scene as the drill ended, along with the medevac and rescue helicopters, the first time they have flown together in such a scenario, the coast guard said. 'Taiwan has been facing constant grey intrusion from China, but our coast guard colleagues have always been on the front line to enforce the law and protect the lives and safety of the people of Taiwan,' Lai told the audience for the drills, which included the top US diplomat in Kaohsiung, Neil Gibson. 'The government will continue to consolidate the strength of all departments and strengthen the resilience of the entire society to defend national security and safeguard Taiwan's democracy and freedom,' Lai said. Taiwan's coast guard, which would be pressed into military service in the event of war with China, is also routinely sent out to shadow Chinese ships during Beijing's war games around the island. The coast guard, like the navy, is in the midst of an expansion and modernisation programme. Its new Anping-class corvettes, which began being commissioned in 2020, are based on the navy's Tuo Chiang-class warships. They are state-of-the-art, highly manoeuvrable stealth vessels meant to take out larger warships while operating close to Taiwan's shores. The Anping-class ships, one of which took part in the drill, have space for launchers for the Taiwan-made Hsiung Feng anti-ship and sea-to-land missiles, as well as added equipment for rescue operations. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.
Japan Times
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Taiwanese coast guard, military drill to better face China's 'grey zone' threat
Taiwan's coast guard held drills with the military on Sunday to better practice joint operations in the face of what the government in Taipei says is a growing "grey zone" threat from China, which claims the island as its own territory. Democratically governed Taiwan has repeatedly complained about activities such as undersea cable cutting and sand dredging by China around the island, designed to pressure it without direct confrontation. It is often Taiwan's coast guard that scrambles first to respond. The drills in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, overseen by President Lai Ching-te, simulated the seizing of a ferry by "international terrorists". The coast guard worked with an interior ministry rescue helicopter and army medevac helicopter to board and take back control of the boat and evacuate casualties. A navy anti-submarine helicopter flew over the scene as the drill ended, along with the medevac and rescue helicopters, the first time they have flown together in such a scenario, the coast guard said. "Taiwan has been facing constant grey intrusion from China, but our coast guard colleagues have always been on the front line to enforce the law and protect the lives and safety of the people of Taiwan," Lai told the audience for the drills, which included the top U.S. diplomat in Kaohsiung, Neil Gibson. "The government will continue to consolidate the strength of all departments and strengthen the resilience of the entire society to defend national security and safeguard Taiwan's democracy and freedom," Lai said. Taiwan's coast guard, which would be pressed into military service in the event of war with China, is also routinely sent out to shadow Chinese ships during Beijing's war games around the island. The coast guard, like the navy, is in the midst of an expansion and modernization program. Its new Anping-class corvettes, which began being commissioned in 2020, are based on the navy's Tuo Chiang-class warships. They are state-of-the-art, highly maneuverable stealth vessels meant to take out larger warships while operating close to Taiwan's shores. The Anping-class ships, one of which took part in the drill, have space for launchers for the Taiwan-made Hsiung Feng anti-ship and sea-to-land missiles, as well as added equipment for rescue operations. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.
CNA
08-06-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Taiwan coast guard, military drill to better face China's 'grey zone' threat
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan: Taiwan's coast guard held drills with the military on Sunday (Jun 8) to better practice joint operations in the face of what the government in Taipei says is a growing "grey zone" threat from China, which claims the island as its own territory. Democratically governed Taiwan has repeatedly complained about activities such as undersea cable cutting and sand dredging by China around the island, designed to pressure it without direct confrontation. It is often Taiwan's coast guard that scrambles first to respond. The drills in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, overseen by President Lai Ching-te, simulated the seizing of a ferry by "international terrorists". The coast guard worked with an interior ministry rescue helicopter and army medevac helicopter to board and take back control of the boat and evacuate casualties. A navy anti-submarine helicopter flew over the scene as the drill ended, along with the medevac and rescue helicopters, the first time they have flown together in such a scenario, the coast guard said. "Taiwan has been facing constant grey intrusion from China, but our coast guard colleagues have always been on the front line to enforce the law and protect the lives and safety of the people of Taiwan," Lai told the audience for the drills, which included the top US diplomat in Kaohsiung, Neil Gibson. "The government will continue to consolidate the strength of all departments and strengthen the resilience of the entire society to defend national security and safeguard Taiwan's democracy and freedom," Lai said. Taiwan's coast guard, which would be pressed into military service in the event of war with China, is also routinely sent out to shadow Chinese ships during Beijing's war games around the island. The coast guard, like the navy, is in the midst of an expansion and modernisation programme. Its new Anping-class corvettes, which began being commissioned in 2020, are based on the navy's Tuo Chiang-class warships. They are state-of-the-art, highly manoeuvrable stealth vessels meant to take out larger warships while operating close to Taiwan's shores. The Anping-class ships, one of which took part in the drill, have space for launchers for the Taiwan-made Hsiung Feng anti-ship and sea-to-land missiles, as well as added equipment for rescue operations.
