Latest news with #NorthernIrelandExecutive


Irish Independent
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
High Court in Belfast quashes decision to proceed with A5 road upgrade
Mr Justice McAlinden told the court that he was aware his ruling would bring 'fresh anguish' to the families of those who lost loved ones on the road. But he said the proposed scheme breached elements of the Climate Change Act 2022. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins was at the Royal Courts of Justice to hear the ruling on Monday. The Northern Ireland Executive gave the green light for the long-awaited upgrade to the A5 in October. However, judicial review proceedings were brought against the Department for Infrastructure by nine applicants, including residents, farmers and landowners opposed to the £1.2 billion scheme. There have been more than 50 deaths on the A5, which links Derry with Aughnacloy in Co Tyrone, since 2006. A scheme to turn the road into a dual carriageway was first approved by the Executive in 2007 but it has been held up by legal challenges and uncertainty over funding.


Irish Post
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Post
Mother and baby home inquiry and redress scheme to be established in Northern Ireland
AN inquiry will be set up into mother and baby homes that were historically in operation in Northern Ireland. Legislation was introduced in Stormont yesterday to establish the Inquiry into Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses and an associated redress scheme for victims. 'We have introduced legislation to establish an Inquiry into Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses; and an associated redress scheme,' Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill confirmed. 'These institutions and practices were a product of systemic misogyny,' she added. 'The regime inflicted on women and girls, many while heavily pregnant, was appalling and constituted cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. 'Today, we also must also acknowledge that not only did women have their rights grossly denied within these institutions, so too did their children, now adults. They too were failed on every level. "We hope this legislation demonstrates our sincere commitment to respecting and fulfilling the wishes of those who for many decades have suffered and been silenced. 'We want to thank those all who have long campaigned for justice and for all their assistance in helping us to reach this point.' Ms O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly spoke to victims and survivors who have campaigned for justice, prior to making their announcement. 'We deeply regret the pain and suffering of victims and survivors and today is a testament to their courage as we introduce this important and significant legislation,' Ms Little-Pengelly said. 'We know how long they have waited for answers and I hope they see this legislation as an important stage in the process as we seek to uncover the truth and hold those responsible to account.' She added: 'We remain committed to addressing this dark period of our past and we want to encourage everyone affected to come forward and be heard.' The newly launched Executive Bill will establish a statutory public inquiry and a statutory redress scheme which is estimated to cost £80m. That figure includes almost £60m in initial redress payments to cover approximately 6,600 redress claims. 'Each eligible person will receive a payment of £10k and a £2k payment will be made to each eligible family member on behalf of a loved one who has died since 29 September 2011,' the Northern Ireland Executive has confirmed. 'A further Individually Assessed Payment (IAP) for the specific harm suffered by an individual will follow the public inquiry,' they add.


Powys County Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
British-Irish Council to be held in Co Down
Representatives of the British and Irish Governments will meet in Co Down on Friday to discuss latest political developments across the islands. The 43rd meeting of the British-Irish Council (BIC), which was established to promote mutually beneficial development following the Good Friday Agreement, will have a particular focus on artificial intelligence. Ireland's premier and deputy premier will be among attendees, along with representatives of the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK Government, as well as the Governments of the Scotland, Wales, Jersey and the Isle of Man. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said relations across the islands are in 'a good place'. He said 'I look forward to the BIC Summit when I will have the opportunity to discuss with our nearest neighbours our own shared, and international challenges. 'Relations across these islands are in a good place and there is always more that can be done to deepen cooperation and unlock potential to the benefit of all.' Tanaiste Simon Harris added: 'I look forward to attending this BIC Summit, which is the first to take place in Northern Ireland since the restoration of the Executive and Assembly last year. 'The British Irish Council provides a very useful forum to discuss issues of topical concern across these islands. 'This is vitally important, particularly at a time when we are focused strongly on realising the potential of relationships across these islands.'


Irish Post
12-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Use of AI up for discusison at British-Irish Council Summit
THE role of artificial intelligence in the reform of public services is the theme of a British-Irish Council (BIC) Summit which takes place this week. Political leaders from the BIC's eight member administrations will take part in the 43rd meeting, which is being hosted by the Northern Ireland Executive. The theme of the summit is 'The Role of AI in Reform and Transformation'. It will be the fourth BIC Summit hosted in the North, with previous instalments held in Belfast in 2007, Derry in 2013 and Fermanagh in 2021. Taoiseach Micheál Martin will attend the BIC Summit Established under the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, the BIC is designed to promote 'good, practical, positive, and mutually beneficial relations between the peoples of these islands'. Its members are the Government of Guernsey, the Government of Ireland, the Isle of Man Government, the Government of Jersey, the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government, the UK Government and the Welsh Government. Taoiseach Micheál Martin will attend the summit, which begins later today and runs into tomorrow. Elsewhere today he will address the Ibec-CBI Joint Business Council (JBC) All-island Business Conference. With the theme 'Protecting all-island business in a new global environment', the event will bring together over 150 business leaders, stakeholders, and public policymakers to focus on the 'interconnected and cost-effective ways that businesses operate on an all-island basis'. He will then visit the site of the Narrow Water Bridge in Co, Louth, which will connect the A2 Newry to Warrenpoint dual carriageway in Northern Ireland with the R173 at Omeath in the Republic. The Taoiseach will be given an update on its construction, followed by a visit to Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor, Co Down, for a briefing on plans for cross-border tourism projects,from the CEOs of Tourism Northern Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, and Tourism Ireland.


The Independent
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Value of Stormont Executive's office in Beijing questioned
The value for money of the Northern Ireland Executive's office in the Chinese capital has been questioned. The chair of the Assembly's scrutiny committee for the Executive Office suggested it cost around a quarter of a million pounds a year to run the office in Beijing. The Executive also has offices in Washington DC and Brussels. It has had a presence in Beijing since 2014, before then-first minister Arlene Foster opened an Executive bureau in December 2016. Executive Committee chair Paula Bradshaw said she had concerns around its value for money, after the committee heard from the three bureaux during a meeting last month. Executive Office official Brenda Henderson said she appreciated there is frustration around transparency and accounting for what they do. ' One of the things that I want to do is to get that coherency across all three bureaux and with the international relations team in Belfast to make sure that we have a clear narrative, that our communications plans can let you see, and let our ministers see, exactly who we're meeting, what is the outcome of that, what does it mean, the 'so what' question in terms of the Programme For Government,' she told MLAs. 'Work is already under way on that.' Ms Bradshaw followed up by asking at what point would they conclude it is not value for money, and that they could be doing other things with that money. Ms Henderson said there are different ways to measure value for money. 'One of the things that I know that the overseas offices do is that they build relationships, you have to build those relationships before you utilise them, but there are things about companies, investment, increased student places they bring,' she said. 'I think what we need to do is be more absolutely transparent about that and be clear about the metrics, what we can measure and that we stand in front of those.' Permanent Secretary David Malcolm said he can 'see behind the curtain', and knows what the Beijing office is doing, He expressed frustration it was not communicated. He said last month the vice minister for education in China visited Northern Ireland and signed an agreement with the Confucious Institute in Belfast and the Department for the Economy for a £34 million programme over the next 10 years. He also said in Beijing this St Patrick's Day, there were two community organisations led by Chris Hazzard, including young people who had never left Ireland before. 'There is significant work we're doing,' he said. 'We are also talking to the Chinese Consul about a mini conference here later on,' he said. 'The Chinese have agreed to fund three placements in Beijing through the Arts Council to give people the opportunity to break into the Chinese market. There is a tremendous amount we're doing.' He added: 'Not just in Beijing, in Washington, we punch miles above our weight in the representational role we get, and indeed in Brussels.'