Latest news with #StormontAssembly
Agriland
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
Muir must ‘start again' on NAP issue
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA), Andrew Muir, has been told that he must go back to the drawing board in terms of developing a Nutrients Action Plan (NAP) for Northern Ireland. This is according to Declan McAleer, the deputy chair of Northern Ireland's AERA Committee. Speaking after a Stormont Assembly debate on the new NAP regulations, McAleer said that the agriculture minister has put the cart before the horse. McAleer added: 'There is talk of a stakeholder group being formed to review the outcome of the now ongoing NAP public consultation. 'Getting the fundamental view of these bodies before going public with any package of proposals should have been the course of action taken in the first place. 'And that's what should happen now. The farm minister should bring the current public consultation to an end with immediate effect and start again.' The Sinn Féin politician also believes that many of the current NAP proposals are not for purpose. He explained: 'They give little recognition to the steps that have been taken on farms across the north to prove water quality. 'All farmers want water of the highest quality – both for their own personal use while also meeting the needs of their stock. 'Looking ahead, the proposed NAP arrangements foresee the use of low emission slurry spreading equipment on all farms by 2029. 'But the reality is that small farm businesses in places like the Sperrins will not be able to fund an investment of this type from their own pockets.' According to McAleer, this 'brings up the issue of effective support being made available' to ensure the proper implementation of any NAP proposals that are eventually agreed upon. 'Farmers have a vital role to play in protecting our waterways and need to be properly supported to do that,' he said. McAleer indicated that the Stormont Assembly had sent a clear message by voting to reject the minister's plan and to call for meaningful engagement with the farming community. 'The current NAP proposals are not fit for purpose. The timelines currently set out are very difficult for many farmers to meet and the necessary supports are absent,' the AERA Committee deputy chair said. 'Sinn Féin has raised these concerns directly with department of agriculture officials and we will continue to make the case for a just transition whereby the department properly engages with farmers, carries out proper impact assessments and supports farmers to reduce pollution.'
Belfast Telegraph
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Irish unity vote only route for Northern Ireland to rejoin EU – O'Toole
Mr O'Toole was speaking ahead of an opposition motion in the Stormont Assembly, nine years on from the 2016 Brexit referendum. The SDLP MLA will say there has been a 'structural shift' in British politics with the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. He will also tell Stormont any prospect of the UK rejoining the EU is 'miniscule', and a referendum under the terms set out in the Good Friday Agreement is the 'only route back to EU membership' for Northern Ireland. Speaking ahead of the debate, Mr O'Toole said: 'The SDLP welcomes the improved co-operation between the UK and the EU following the recent summit in London, along with progress in a number of areas that begin to ease some post-Brexit frictions. 'We always knew Brexit would be disastrous for the whole UK economy, for Northern Ireland and relationships across these islands. Sadly, so it has proven. 'Northern Ireland was dragged out of Europe against its will, and our politics has suffered the consequences.' He said British politics was continuing an 'irresistible drift towards 'Faragism'.' Mr O'Toole added: 'We have virtually no power to stop that happening. 'But we do have a viable pathway to a different future – a European future – and that is through a new Ireland. 'It is time all parties who claim to be pro-European and reject the 'Faragification' of UK politics to acknowledge our only route back into Europe is via an inclusive, hopeful new Ireland.'
Rhyl Journal
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Emma Little-Pengelly tells of fear after receiving online death threat
Ms Little-Pengelly told the Stormont Assembly she had received an online threat and that an individual had been prosecuted and is awaiting sentencing. The DUP minister received support from a number of MLAs during ministerial question time as she revealed the abuse. In response to a question about ending violence against women and girls, Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'The Online Safety Act of 2023 introduced new UK-wide laws that protect both children and adults from online harm and place specific obligations on online service providers. 'We support Ofcom's call to tech companies to play their part in addressing the risk of online harm and recently met with them to discuss this important issue.' She added: 'I am pleased to have got confirmation in the last couple of weeks that a person had been successfully prosecuted under a Section 181 charge against me. 'That was sending messages by way of online communication, conveying a threat of death or serious harm, and at the time of sending, intended the individual, which was me, would be in fear that the threat would be carried out. 'That is one of the more serious charges in that legislation. 'I am pleased there has been a successful prosecution of that and that he will be sentenced very shortly.' Alliance Party MLA Eoin Tennyson, who had asked the original question, sent his solidarity to the deputy First Minister. Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'The member will be aware that for many years, myself, along with my colleagues, have advocated for stronger protections of women. 'We have seen in recent months threats and abuse of public representatives right across this house, men and women. 'We have raised before there is a particular issue, as recognised by a number of reports, towards women. 'In this particular incident, and I know many of us get a significant amount of abuse, but in this particular case with a specific threat of death being communicated. 'I am glad that legislation was there. It is a good demonstration that the Online Safety Act can and will be used to successfully prosecute. We await the sentencing of that. 'I think it is incredibly important that the courts do take these matters seriously. 'This is an issue which unites all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder to say it is absolutely wrong that there is abuse, threats of violence towards any public person, never mind elected representatives just trying to do their job.' She added: 'Women have a right to participate in public life without suffering abuse or threats of violence. 'Indeed we want to actively encourage women to get into public life. 'However, we sadly do know that women in public life are subjected to sustained and serious abuse on social media.' SDLP MLA Cara Hunter, who has also been the subject of online abuse, said nobody should face any kind of threat just for doing their job. Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'I felt afraid, I continue to feel afraid in terms of looking to the future because of the actions of this individual. 'I think that is utterly wrong.'
South Wales Argus
12-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Emma Little-Pengelly tells of fear after receiving online death threat
Ms Little-Pengelly told the Stormont Assembly she had received an online threat and that an individual had been prosecuted and is awaiting sentencing. The DUP minister received support from a number of MLAs during ministerial question time as she revealed the abuse. In response to a question about ending violence against women and girls, Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'The Online Safety Act of 2023 introduced new UK-wide laws that protect both children and adults from online harm and place specific obligations on online service providers. 'We support Ofcom's call to tech companies to play their part in addressing the risk of online harm and recently met with them to discuss this important issue.' She added: 'I am pleased to have got confirmation in the last couple of weeks that a person had been successfully prosecuted under a Section 181 charge against me. 'That was sending messages by way of online communication, conveying a threat of death or serious harm, and at the time of sending, intended the individual, which was me, would be in fear that the threat would be carried out. 'That is one of the more serious charges in that legislation. 'I am pleased there has been a successful prosecution of that and that he will be sentenced very shortly.' Alliance Party MLA Eoin Tennyson, who had asked the original question, sent his solidarity to the deputy First Minister. Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'The member will be aware that for many years, myself, along with my colleagues, have advocated for stronger protections of women. 'We have seen in recent months threats and abuse of public representatives right across this house, men and women. 'We have raised before there is a particular issue, as recognised by a number of reports, towards women. 'In this particular incident, and I know many of us get a significant amount of abuse, but in this particular case with a specific threat of death being communicated. 'I am glad that legislation was there. It is a good demonstration that the Online Safety Act can and will be used to successfully prosecute. We await the sentencing of that. 'I think it is incredibly important that the courts do take these matters seriously. 'This is an issue which unites all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder to say it is absolutely wrong that there is abuse, threats of violence towards any public person, never mind elected representatives just trying to do their job.' SDLP MLA Cara Hunter sent her support to the deputy First Minister (Liam McBurney/PA) She added: 'Women have a right to participate in public life without suffering abuse or threats of violence. 'Indeed we want to actively encourage women to get into public life. 'However, we sadly do know that women in public life are subjected to sustained and serious abuse on social media.' SDLP MLA Cara Hunter, who has also been the subject of online abuse, said nobody should face any kind of threat just for doing their job. Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'I felt afraid, I continue to feel afraid in terms of looking to the future because of the actions of this individual. 'I think that is utterly wrong.'
South Wales Guardian
12-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Emma Little-Pengelly tells of fear after receiving online death threat
Ms Little-Pengelly told the Stormont Assembly she had received an online threat and that an individual had been prosecuted and is awaiting sentencing. The DUP minister received support from a number of MLAs during ministerial question time as she revealed the abuse. In response to a question about ending violence against women and girls, Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'The Online Safety Act of 2023 introduced new UK-wide laws that protect both children and adults from online harm and place specific obligations on online service providers. 'We support Ofcom's call to tech companies to play their part in addressing the risk of online harm and recently met with them to discuss this important issue.' She added: 'I am pleased to have got confirmation in the last couple of weeks that a person had been successfully prosecuted under a Section 181 charge against me. 'That was sending messages by way of online communication, conveying a threat of death or serious harm, and at the time of sending, intended the individual, which was me, would be in fear that the threat would be carried out. 'That is one of the more serious charges in that legislation. 'I am pleased there has been a successful prosecution of that and that he will be sentenced very shortly.' Alliance Party MLA Eoin Tennyson, who had asked the original question, sent his solidarity to the deputy First Minister. Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'The member will be aware that for many years, myself, along with my colleagues, have advocated for stronger protections of women. 'We have seen in recent months threats and abuse of public representatives right across this house, men and women. 'We have raised before there is a particular issue, as recognised by a number of reports, towards women. 'In this particular incident, and I know many of us get a significant amount of abuse, but in this particular case with a specific threat of death being communicated. 'I am glad that legislation was there. It is a good demonstration that the Online Safety Act can and will be used to successfully prosecute. We await the sentencing of that. 'I think it is incredibly important that the courts do take these matters seriously. 'This is an issue which unites all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder to say it is absolutely wrong that there is abuse, threats of violence towards any public person, never mind elected representatives just trying to do their job.' She added: 'Women have a right to participate in public life without suffering abuse or threats of violence. 'Indeed we want to actively encourage women to get into public life. 'However, we sadly do know that women in public life are subjected to sustained and serious abuse on social media.' SDLP MLA Cara Hunter, who has also been the subject of online abuse, said nobody should face any kind of threat just for doing their job. Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'I felt afraid, I continue to feel afraid in terms of looking to the future because of the actions of this individual. 'I think that is utterly wrong.'
