Displaying items by tag: Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has declared that negotiations aimed at restoring the Stormont government have concluded, offering a financial package exceeding £3.3 billion for the Executive's return. However, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson asserts that no final agreement on the post-Brexit Windsor Framework has been reached. He urged immediate resolution of public sector pay disputes by the UK government, independent of Stormont's restoration. Alliance leader Naomi Long, who believes the financial package is substantial yet insufficient, has urged the DUP to return to government. Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald expressed disappointment over the potential delays, while UUP leader Doug Beattie acknowledged the end of talks but noted ongoing discussions about the 'good financial package.' He stressed the need for public sector pay resolutions before Christmas. The legislation for moving forward is reportedly ready.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader, seems to be cautiously moving towards a deal that could see his party return to Stormont. He acknowledges the final stages of negotiation as the most challenging, hinting at internal party disputes. This development follows the collapse of Northern Ireland’s government in February 2022 over post-Brexit trading arrangements, known as the Irish Sea border. The key issue is the proposed UK Internal Market Act amendment, ensuring Northern Ireland businesses can access the UK market. However, this primarily addresses goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain, not the reverse, which involves checks and paperwork under the Windsor Framework. The DUP appears open to some checks to prevent criminality and smuggling. Additionally, measures to reinforce Northern Ireland's union status, such as a new East-West council, are being discussed, but their decision-making power is uncertain. The government is eager for a quick decision, with a potential financial incentive of above £2.5 billion. If no agreement is reached soon, secretary of state Chris Heaton may need to take decisive action, potentially concluding negotiations with the DUP and revealing the proposed deal.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has sent texts to nearly two thousand individuals whose phone numbers were discovered during drug raids. These texts contain advice on substance misuse and aim to address the growing demand for illicit drugs in Northern Ireland. Drug seizures and drug-related arrests have both increased by 10% this year. The PSNI's recent focus has been on the supply of Class A and Class B drugs through social media apps and groups. This trend has transformed the drugs market in Northern Ireland over the past few years. Paramilitary groups are working closely with organised crime groups to import and distribute drugs: about sixty criminal gangs currently operate in the region. The PSNI is working with national and international law enforcement partners to target suppliers and supply lines. It is also collaborating with Border Force to prevent drug smuggling through Northern Ireland's ports.

After a recent landmark legal ruling, taxpayers in Northern Ireland may be facing additional expenses to cover holiday pay for public sector workers. The Supreme Court ruled that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) must compensate its officers and civilian employees with approximately £30 million due to inaccuracies in holiday pay calculations. The ruling determined that holiday pay should reflect an employee's normal pay, including overtime and other additional payments beyond basic salary.The case originated from a 2018 industrial tribunal ruling in favour of a group representing over 3,700 PSNI officers and civilian staff, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2019. Similar cases are expected in both the public and private sectors. As a result, there may be an increase in holiday pay claims as businesses are compelled to address past or ongoing miscalculations. Public employers, who may lack substantial cash reserves, could face difficulties meeting these liabilities. The PSNI is currently considering how to cover these costs while ensuring fair compensation for its officers.

Last week you prayed for the police to have adequate support and protection after their names, rank, grade, location and unit were made available online to the public accidently. This week the chairman of the PSNI Catholic Guild has called for an urgent meeting with Chief Constable Byrne over fears that the breach will put Catholics off joining the force. A number of groups are claiming they have access to the leaked information, prompting greater safety concerns. Many Catholic members of the force have genuine concerns over safety for themselves and in many cases their family members. Mr Murray said, ‘Our guild was formed to provide a support service for Catholic police, and it is hard to think of a more pressing issue for Catholic officers and staff than this data breach’. Pray for ongoing protection for Catholic police and their families. Pray for those in receipt of the leaked data to be prevented from using it.

A member of the public made a freedom of information (FoI) request to the police, ‘Could you provide the number of officers at each rank and number of staff at each grade?’ What they received was not only a numerical table but, inadvertently, a huge Excel spreadsheet called ‘the source data, which should never have been released for public scrutiny on an FoI website. It was removed after 2½ - 3 hours once police became aware of it. Each line contains information from the top of the force down - surname and first initial, their rank, grade, where they are based and the unit they work in; including sensitive areas of surveillance and intelligence. The sensitive information exposes many in nationalist communities who were taking great care to keep who they work for a secret, in some cases even from friends and family. The scale of this error is enormous; the consequences cannot be evaluated. It is probably the worst data breach in the organisation's history.

Miriam, who is 77 and recovering from cancer, had her life torn apart when she had to choose to care at home for her 89-year-old husband Ian, while her sister Jennifer (73, with young onset dementia) was placed in assisted living accommodation. Ian was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2020. Over 220,000 people are unpaid carers for a sick or disabled person in Northern Ireland. That’s one in eight people. Caring for people at home reduces pressure on the health and social care system, and it reduces the number of people in residential care and hospitals. Miriam said she had to ‘let one go’ to look after the other: ‘It is just exhausting.’ The Praxis charity has appointed the first dementia coordinator, who will focus entirely on carers. The last carers strategy was published two decades ago. Northern Ireland lags behind the rest of the UK in supporting people battling the dementia journey alone.

Ray and Marie Ferguson have campaigned since 2001 to discover why Rachel, their 9-year-old daughter, died at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. Marie said the new inquest, which started on 2 May, is an opportunity to establish why Rachel died from hyponatremia a day after her appendix operation. Hyponatremia, an abnormally low level of sodium in blood, can occur when fluids are incorrectly administered. Mrs Ferguson said the fact that there was a second inquest ‘speaks of the culture of cover-up involving the medical and legal professions’. The 14-year-long inquiry into hyponatraemia-related deaths was heavily critical of the ‘self-regulating and unmonitored’ health service. A 2018 inquiry into Northern Ireland hospitals where five children died, including Rachel, found death was avoidable.

The shift in tone and mood was unmistakable as US president Joe Biden visited the Republic of Ireland, having spent a short time in Northern Ireland. Baseball cap on, and into a pub. ‘It feels like I'm coming home,’ he said in Dundalk, County Louth. The NI politics tightrope negotiated, it seems it is now time to unwind a little. His sister and son were in tow: it was not diplomacy but a return to family roots and a sense of belonging. 30 million Americans also have Irish ancestry, and Biden hopes for a political dividend the year before a presidential election. Meanwhile his visit to Northern Ireland, although talked about for months, only lasted 17 hours. There is no such thing as a low-key trip for an American president, but this came close. Quick, short, with Rishi Sunak's input minimal, not even appearing at Biden's only public appearance - raising some eyebrows in government.

The terrorism threat in Northern Ireland has been increased from substantial to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. In a written statement to MPs, the Northern Ireland secretary said MI5 had increased the threat from Northern Ireland-related terrorism; the public should remain vigilant but not be alarmed. The raising of the threat level comes a year after it was lowered for the first time in twelve years. Over the last 25 years, Northern Ireland has transformed into a peaceful society. The Good Friday agreement demonstrates how peaceful and democratic politics improve society. However, a small number of people remain determined to cause harm to our communities through acts of politically motivated violence. In recent months there has been an increased level of terrorist activity, targeting police and putting at risk the lives of children and other members of the public.