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Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Council's controversial £17m plan for new Newry HQ voted through by fewer than half of planning committee members
Downpatrick Alliance councillor Cadogan Enright walked out of the meeting following legal advice provided in confidential session away from public view saying: 'I urge you all to do the same.' Out of the 12 councillors on the committee, only six turned up for the noon decision. When put to a vote four members (three Sinn Fein and one SDLP) voted in favour of the application, one was against (DUP) and one abstained (SDLP). Proposing the recommendation, Slieve Gullion councillor Declan Murphy said: 'We've heard the arguments for and against this quite a number of times, so whatever decision we make it is based on a lot of scrutiny and means our decision will be robust. 'I am satisfied that the recommendation by the planners for approval and we should accept that recommendation. 'There will be concerns – whether they be from Protestant, Catholic or Dissenter – they all have to be taken into consideration, and I think from the evidence put forward that has been done.' The proposal was seconded by Newry Sinn Fein councillor Cathal King with Mournes DUP councillor Glyn Hanna calling for a recorded vote. The application first lodged in 2019 is set to be the new headquarters for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) and its 215 staff. However, there will only be 162 desks provided as the council has alluded to its 'hybrid working conditions' for employees. The Newry city civic centre has been dogged by controversy with more than 2,500 parishioners at the nearby Cathedral signing a petition opposing the building amid claims it will leave them no where to park during Mass. NMDDC has previously referred to a 2023 parking survey of the Abbey Way site and has amended its HQ plans to provide 138 car park spaces at the site, which it says is above the maximum occupancy rates of mass-goers recorded. A predetermination hearing had been held earlier in the morning from 10am to listen to the final arguments from all parties concerned. A council officer presenting the recommendation told the chamber, 'the case officer's report details and considers all the issues'. In concluding comments, both the applicant, NMDDC, and the objectors, Newry Parish Cathedral, continued to call out each other's view of facts and opinions on the processes carried out on the long running application.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Windsor Framework structures ineffective and overly bureaucratic
The structures of the Windsor Framework are 'ineffective, opaque and overly bureaucratic', DUP leader Gavin Robinson has told peers. Mr Robinson said that the post-Brexit trading deal could never be effective until fundamental issues around lack of consent from unionists are addressed. The SDLP's Stormont leader Matthew O'Toole said while he supported the framework, he believed there needed to be improvements in how Northern Ireland voices were heard within its structures. The House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee has been holding evidence sessions examining the operation of the framework. The Windsor Framework was agreed between the UK and the EU in 2023, amending the Northern Ireland Protocol. It governs post-Brexit trading arrangements in the region. The DUP later reached the Safeguarding the Union deal with the previous UK government to further reduce some checks and paperwork on goods moving from the rest of the UK into Northern Ireland, leading to the restoration of the powersharing Executive at Stormont last year. However, many unionists remain opposed to the framework, stating it creates a new regulatory border within the United Kingdom and because Northern Ireland continues to follow some EU laws relating to goods. During his appearance before the committee, Mr Robinson was asked to assess the extent to which voices in Northern Ireland could be heard through the structures of the framework. He said: 'I don't have a lot of faith in the current structures. 'When you consider the ability for politicians, parliamentarians, stakeholders, businesses, to engage with them. 'The structures around the Windsor Framework, though they may have evolved, are ineffective, opaque and overly bureaucratic. 'They frustrate the ability for ordinary, routine and at times complex and serious engagement to either satisfy, resolve or ameliorate some of the harmful impositions that Northern Ireland finds itself in under these arrangements.' The DUP leader added: 'I believe it cannot ever be effective until the fundamentals are resolved around the imposition that Northern Ireland was placed in without the consent of any elected unionist in Northern Ireland, without the consent of party colleagues in Westminster.' In December, MLAs at Stormont voted to continue with the current arrangements for at least another four years in a democratic consent motion, which was part of the arrangements agreed between the UK and the EU. However, unlike other votes at Stormont, there was no requirement for cross-community support for the motion. Mr Robinson told peers: 'Though we have gone through a cycle of a parliamentary vote in Assembly terms in December of 2024, an inversion of cross-community protections. 'A false choice, do you wish this imposition to continue for a period of eight years or four years with a potential review. 'I don't believe they have been effective at all and if the Government were serious about increasing the opportunity to have voices heard and engage fundamentally in the propositions that are causing material impact, both constitutionally and practically in Northern Ireland, then they wouldn't only find an effective mechanism for that engagement but they would look at the fundamentals.' He added: 'We have at the heart of this an agreement between the UK and the EU where they decide what is going to happen to Northern Ireland without any recourse to the citizenry of Northern Ireland or the elected representatives. 'Then you have the attempt or the added aspects of inclusion and participation but without any substantial or meaningful outworkings of that participation or inclusion.' Mr O'Toole told the committee that Brexit had led to 'real political division and controversy in Northern Ireland'. He added: 'I do think there can be a degree of, if not consensus, then some degree of agreement that we can improve the mechanisms by which stakeholders in Northern Ireland, be they politicians, business groups, trade unions, other parts of civic society, can have their voice heard in relation to the provisions of the protocol/Windsor Framework. 'I think they improved somewhat after the Windsor Framework was agreed in spring 2023, but I don't think they are there yet. 'Northern Ireland is in the position of being subject to a cohort of EU law, obviously I strongly support that as a necessity, but I probably do agree that our voice could be better heard in terms of making those laws or at least understanding how they are going to apply in Northern Ireland.' Mr O'Toole added: 'The summary answer is not quite where it should be, and I say that as someone who supports the provisions of the Windsor Framework and the protocol.'
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Windsor Framework structures ineffective and overly bureaucratic
Mr Robinson said that the post-Brexit trading deal could never be effective until fundamental issues around lack of consent from unionists are addressed. The SDLP's Stormont leader Matthew O'Toole said while he supported the framework, he believed there needed to be improvements in how Northern Ireland voices were heard within its structures. The House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee has been holding evidence sessions examining the operation of the framework. The Windsor Framework was agreed between the UK and the EU in 2023, amending the Northern Ireland Protocol. It governs post-Brexit trading arrangements in the region. The DUP later reached the Safeguarding the Union deal with the previous UK government to further reduce some checks and paperwork on goods moving from the rest of the UK into Northern Ireland, leading to the restoration of the powersharing Executive at Stormont last year. However, many unionists remain opposed to the framework, stating it creates a new regulatory border within the United Kingdom and because Northern Ireland continues to follow some EU laws relating to goods. During his appearance before the committee, Mr Robinson was asked to assess the extent to which voices in Northern Ireland could be heard through the structures of the framework. He said: 'I don't have a lot of faith in the current structures. 'When you consider the ability for politicians, parliamentarians, stakeholders, businesses, to engage with them. 'The structures around the Windsor Framework, though they may have evolved, are ineffective, opaque and overly bureaucratic. The UK and EU agreed the Windsor Framework in 2023 (PA) 'They frustrate the ability for ordinary, routine and at times complex and serious engagement to either satisfy, resolve or ameliorate some of the harmful impositions that Northern Ireland finds itself in under these arrangements.' The DUP leader added: 'I believe it cannot ever be effective until the fundamentals are resolved around the imposition that Northern Ireland was placed in without the consent of any elected unionist in Northern Ireland, without the consent of party colleagues in Westminster.' In December, MLAs at Stormont voted to continue with the current arrangements for at least another four years in a democratic consent motion, which was part of the arrangements agreed between the UK and the EU. However, unlike other votes at Stormont, there was no requirement for cross-community support for the motion. Mr Robinson told peers: 'Though we have gone through a cycle of a parliamentary vote in Assembly terms in December of 2024, an inversion of cross-community protections. 'A false choice, do you wish this imposition to continue for a period of eight years or four years with a potential review. 'I don't believe they have been effective at all and if the Government were serious about increasing the opportunity to have voices heard and engage fundamentally in the propositions that are causing material impact, both constitutionally and practically in Northern Ireland, then they wouldn't only find an effective mechanism for that engagement but they would look at the fundamentals.' He added: 'We have at the heart of this an agreement between the UK and the EU where they decide what is going to happen to Northern Ireland without any recourse to the citizenry of Northern Ireland or the elected representatives. 'Then you have the attempt or the added aspects of inclusion and participation but without any substantial or meaningful outworkings of that participation or inclusion.' Stormont opposition leader Matthew O'Toole of the SDLP said Brexit had caused political division in Northern Ireland (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr O'Toole told the committee that Brexit had led to 'real political division and controversy in Northern Ireland'. He added: 'I do think there can be a degree of, if not consensus, then some degree of agreement that we can improve the mechanisms by which stakeholders in Northern Ireland, be they politicians, business groups, trade unions, other parts of civic society, can have their voice heard in relation to the provisions of the protocol/Windsor Framework. 'I think they improved somewhat after the Windsor Framework was agreed in spring 2023, but I don't think they are there yet. 'Northern Ireland is in the position of being subject to a cohort of EU law, obviously I strongly support that as a necessity, but I probably do agree that our voice could be better heard in terms of making those laws or at least understanding how they are going to apply in Northern Ireland.' Mr O'Toole added: 'The summary answer is not quite where it should be, and I say that as someone who supports the provisions of the Windsor Framework and the protocol.'
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rory McIlroy party plans 'go silent' as politician hits out ahead of The Open
The official welcome party for Rory McIlroy at Stormont to mark his Masters heroics seems to have been shelved. The Holywood man became just the sixth male golfer to achieve the career grand slam with the victory in April. But more than two months on from the win there has been no official celebration in Northern Ireland despite the promises of First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. Speaking after the win in April, O'Neill mentioned hosting a "huge party" while Little-Pengelly said McIlroy would "undoubtedly get a deserved hero's welcome when he comes home". SDLP MLA, and 2002 All-Ireland champion with Armagh, Justin McNulty slammed the assembly for not hosting the Holywood man, telling The Irish News: "After the first minister publicly called for a 'huge party' after Rory McIlroy won the Masters, it's disappointing that such a historic sporting achievement for our island has gone unmarked. "For those of us who have followed Rory's career from the beginning and watched every shot at the Masters from the edge of our seats, this was a real opportunity to celebrate a unifying moment and lift public spirits." The Newry and Armagh MLA added that "we can now add party planning to their growing list of shortcomings". McIlroy's sights are now firmly set on Portrush at the Open Championship next month, with the world number two saying recently: "Hopefully I can celebrate with [the fans] on Sunday night with the Claret Jug and Green Jacket."
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Long-awaited Stormont anti-poverty plan criticised as ‘underwhelming'
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons launched an extended 14-week public consultation on the Executive's Anti-Poverty Strategy 2025-35 on Tuesday. He described it as being based on three pillars of minimising risks of falling into poverty, minimising the impact of poverty on people's lives and working to help people get out of poverty. Figures indicated that around 18% of those in Northern Ireland live in relative poverty, and 15% live in absolute poverty, with 25% of children living in relative poverty and 21% of children living in absolute poverty. The strategic commitments from across departments include continuing the Extended Schools Programme, working with partners to scope out an NI Debt Relief Scheme, a commitment to develop an Executive Disability Strategy and a Fuel Poverty Strategy. Speaking in the Assembly, Mr Lyons described a 'legacy of delay' in taking forward an anti-poverty strategy. 'When I took office, I made it clear that one of my priorities would be tackling poverty,' he told MLAs. 'After a legacy of delay in taking this work forward, I wanted to work at pace to develop a strategy which could help make a meaningful difference to those experiencing socio-economic disadvantage in our society. 'I and my Executive colleagues have worked to develop a strategy which we will make progress against and can and will make a difference to people's lives. 'This strategy is the culmination of considerable hard work, collaboration and co-design, and I want to thank all those stakeholders, in particular the members of the anti-poverty co-design group, who have worked with my department in providing their input. 'We often hear about the silo approach in government, but I know that ministers and officials across the executive departments have worked together on the draft in a spirit of co-operation and collective ownership.' He added that targets will come later with an action plan. SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan described the strategy as 'underwhelming' (Liam McBurney/PA) Mark H Durkan from the official Opposition at Stormont described the document as 'underwhelming'. He contended it didn't just 'call into question the Executive's ability to tackle poverty', but also their appetite and ambition to do so. Mr Lyons hit back, claiming Mr Durkan was 'wrong on every point that he made'. 'It has been 17 years that we have been waiting for this document, and after 17 months in office, I have been able to bring this forward,' he said. Save the Children NI head Peter Bryson also criticised the strategy. 'This document raises serious questions about the Executive's commitment to children, families and communities impacted by poverty,' he said. 'It has no clear priorities, budget, action plan, milestones, or accountability for its delivery. It recycles existing commitments, with no real clear link drawn to a deeply flawed description of the current drivers of poverty.' He said the Executive could have 'opted for a big, bold move like introducing a child payment to lift thousands of children out of poverty'. 'Or strengthened an existing policy like the Childcare Subsidy Scheme to help more families with the cost of childcare access work,' he said. 'Or it could simply have committed to bring together departments, local councils and trusts, organisations working to combat poverty, and children, families and communities experiencing poverty, to work together to address poverty. 'Again, we have to ask, how has a document with no measures to reach its ambition been signed off?'
