Tag Archive
RAAD not welcome in Derry
SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has said that dissident group Republican Action Against Drugs has no support among the vast majority of the Derry community. Speaking ahead of the ‘RAAD – Not in Our Name’ rally to protest against the murder of Derry man Andy Allen, who was shot dead in his Buncrana home [...]
CALLS FOR ALL-ISLAND FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICE
SDLP Policing Spokesperson Conall McDevitt is calling on the Assembly for an all-island Forensic Science Service to tackle the huge delays in the organisation. Speaking ahead of an Assembly motion on the issue on Monday, the South Belfast MLA said:
SDLP congratulate new UUP leader from Fermanagh
Leader and South Down MP Margaret Ritchie of the SDLP has congratulated Tom Elliott from Fermanagh on his election as Ulster Unionist Party leader and paid tribute to his predecessor Sir Reg Empey. She said: “I have known Sir Reg for a long time and worked closely with him as an Executive Minister in recent [...]
Strabane alert defies logic
SDLP Strabane councillor Eugene McMenamin has said a security alert in Strabane on Thursday morning defies logic and has only succeeded in disrupting businesses and traffic through a main arterial route of the town. Speaking from the scene, Mr McMenamin said: “It’s caused quite a bit of confusion and disruption and immediately, we have [...]
Budget cuts will be biggest challenge yet to Assembly
SDLP Leader and South Down MP Margaret Ritchie MLA has warned that the forthcoming budget cuts will present our Executive and Assembly with one of its biggest challenges. Speaking after an SDLP assembly group away day in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, Ms Ritchie said the SDLP will bring forward new proposals to help families and [...]
Hoax bomb causes chaos at Derry wedding
SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has said a hoax bomb alert during a wedding reception at the Belfry Hotel in the Drumahoe area of Derry on Saturday night caused absolute chaos and angst for both guests and staff. Mr Ramsey said: “This was a terrifying and unpleasant experience, not only for the young couple [...]
Onus on those with information about remaining disappeared
SDLP Newry and Armagh MLA Dominic Bradley has said the plight of other families of the Disappeared must not be forgotten after the news Charlie Armstrong’s remains are believed to have been found last week. Mr Bradley, the SDLP policing spokesperson, said the onus was now on people with information regarding the whereabouts of the [...]
Pope visit is ‘RIGHT AND PROPER’
SDLP Leader and South Down MP Margaret Ritchie MLA has rebutted comments made by Dr Ian Paisley about the Pope’s visit to Britain. She said: “It is right and proper that his holiness Pope Benedict XVI should visit Britain as part of his papal tour due to the fact that Catholics are the largest minority [...]
SDLP leader condems British Emergency budget – VAT to go up to 20%
SDLP leader and South Down MP Margaret Ritchie MLA today condemned the British Chancellor’s Emergency Budget which she claimed was both unfair and potentially divisive. Speaking from Westminster she said: “This budget is unfair because it places far too great a reliance on public expenditure cuts as a means of tackling the deficit. This approach [...]
Prisoners lapping it up on half a million leisure equipment
SDLP South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns said he is ‘outraged’ that half a million pounds has been spent on high specification exercise equipment and other recreational items for prisoners in the past five years. The information was released by the Department of Justice after Mr Burns tabled an Assembly Question.
Community reeling at pipe bomb attack
SDLP Derry City Councillor Mark H Durkan has said that the people of Ardgrange are furious at the second pipebomb attack in the area within the last week. The Northland Councillor said: “This is the second pipebomb attack in a matter of days in the area and the people of Ardgrange are angry at [...]
To become youngest ever Mayor of Derry
SDLP Derry City Councillor Colum Eastwood will become the next mayor of Derry. At the age of 27 Cllr Eastwood will become the youngest first citizen of Derry after his selection by party members. Cllr Eastwood said: “It is a tremendous honour and great privilege to be selected to represent the people of [...]
Granville security alert causing massive disruption
SDLP Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tommy Gallagher has said people are angered by the ongoing security alert in the Granville area of Dungannon on Thursday morning. He said: “The police are acting on information received last night about the possibility of a suspicious device in the Granville Bridge area and this has now meant [...]
McKinney calls for Fermanagh Townhall debate
SDLP Fermanagh and South Tyrone Westminster Candidate Fearghal McKinney has challenged Michelle Gilnernew and Rodney Connor to a Townhall debate on jobs and the economy. The SDLP Candidate has called for these crucial issues to be open for debate in a Townhall setting giving the public a chance to engage with candidates.
Fermanagh: Boost for Northern Ireland building sector needed – McKinney
Westminster candidate for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Fearghal McKinney, said the construction downturn is having a particularly sharp impact on areas which traditionally supplied large numbers of building workers. He said: “A couple of years ago, fleets of vans would leave South Tyrone at six in the morning, heading east or south with building workers. [...]
Stephen Bennett – Painter
One of Ireland's finest artists in the North West