Category: news

APNI, Belfast, DUP, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life1 Comment

Minister misleads the House: ministers must wise up

Michael McFarland Campbell

A sorry scene in a legislature Yesterday, we witnessed a sorry scene. A government minister getting up, answering questions, but answering them in a way so as to mislead the House. The government minister in question did so during First Minister’s Questions when answering a question from Dr Stephen Farry of the Alliance Party on the Cohesion, sharing and integration programme consultation, Democrati Unionist Junior Minister Robin Newton MBE MLA stated that: The consultation attracted 290 written responses Hansard, 29 Nov. 2010 and then just minutes later we heard the following exchange: Danny Kinahan: I thank the junior Minister for … Continue reading Minister misleads the House: ministers must wise up

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Belfast, Enniskillen, Law, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, Police, PSNI, Regional DevelopmentLeave a comment

blue, yellow, and red: but not parking in Bucharest

Michael McFarland Campbell

Badge Holders * may usually park on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours except where there is a ban on loading or unloading and at a few locations where local schemes apply. A guide for Blue Badge holders published by Roads Service, 2003 Blue Badges: Park where you like It seems that there are some rules which are unenforceable in those parts of Northern Ireland that are not in the Greater Belfast area. Those of us who are lucky enough to be deemed not to need a blue badge may not know all the rules for … Continue reading blue, yellow, and red: but not parking in Bucharest

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Law, London, Metropolitan Police, news, Northern Ireland life, PoliceLeave a comment

a worrying sign of things to come…

Michael McFarland Campbell

I was not at the protests in London this week, but having just watched a video on Oxford Spring I am very glad that I was not. It appears that the Mounted Section of the Metropolitan Police charged into the crowd. As Oxford Spring puts it: There is no excuse for this mounted police charge into the crowd. No, it is not on the scale of the Miner’s Strikes or the Peterloo Massacre but it is still grossly disproportionate to what the police officers faced. The Met’s police chief yesterday stated clearly that there was no cavalry charge. If he … Continue reading a worrying sign of things to come…

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Enniskillen, Fairer Votes, news, Northern Ireland life, politics, Sinn FéinLeave a comment

Court may not have ordered a re-run…

Michael McFarland Campbell

…but local campaigners are doing just that this Saturday The result in the General Election in Fermanagh & South Tyrone (FST) could hardly have been closer. Both Michelle Gildernew (Sinn Féin) and Rodney Connor (Independent) got 45.5% of the vote back in May. With 4 votes between them the result was taken to a costly electoral court. Would a vote using the Alternative Vote (AV) have made the result any clearer? Would it have made a difference? Stephen Glenn, Northern Ireland Organiser, and the Yes to  Fairer Votes team will be running a re-run* of the FST parliamentary election by … Continue reading Court may not have ordered a re-run…

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Belfast, news, Northern Ireland, SDLPLeave a comment

the big society needs to start at a local level

Michael McFarland Campbell

There is much talk about fuel poverty in Northern Ireland, one of the ways that many people try to provide some heat for their homes is by using a free-standing heater. It may be a gas, an electric, or even an electrically powered oil heater.   Whichever it is, it is vital that anyone using these heaters uses them sensibly and responsibly. Earlier this week, a 24-year-old woman and her eight-week-old baby were treated for smoke inhalation following a fire at a house in the Lisburn Road area of Belfast. From BBC news I fully agree with the SDLP’s Conall … Continue reading the big society needs to start at a local level

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Belfast, Blogging, Justice, Law, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, Police, PSNILeave a comment

blogged elsewhere: another attack – when will the scum stop?

Michael McFarland Campbell

Another attack in north Belfast The news that another man has been attacked in the Brompton Park area of the city is news that we should not be reading about. Not because it should go unreported, but because it ought not to be happening… read rest of story at Michael Campbell. Continue reading blogged elsewhere: another attack – when will the scum stop?

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Belfast, news, Northern Ireland life1 Comment

homophobia: still found in government

Michael McFarland Campbell

A friend has recently had cause to apply for Housing Benefit in Northern Ireland. This is not something that he or anyone should worry about. Just for clarification, this is not to Belfast City Council in whose area he lives as in Northern Ireland the housing function is carried out by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. What is the Northern Ireland Housing Executive? The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is a non-departmental public body, originally established by the Housing Executive Act (NI) 1971 (since superseded by the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981). Under the terms of the Act, the Housing Executive … Continue reading homophobia: still found in government

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Belfast, Law, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, Police, PSNILeave a comment

Paramilitary style shooting in Ardoyne: help the police find those responsible

Michael McFarland Campbell

Man shot in legs in north Belfast The news that a man has been shot in the legs in Ardoyne, in north Belfast in what police say is a ‘paramilitary style’ shooting is shocking. The man said to be in his late 20s has been treated for gunshot wounds in hospital. I totally condemn the actions of the three masked men who entered the house in Brompton Park and shot him. The whole of our society needs to stand up to the thugs and scum who continue these attacks. Anyone with any information that will lead to the arrest and … Continue reading Paramilitary style shooting in Ardoyne: help the police find those responsible

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Belfast, Blogging, news, NIRailways, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, Regional Development, TranslinkLeave a comment

blogged elsewhere… No budget, but money to waste on misleading signs

Michael McFarland Campbell

At a time when Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK not to have a budget in place, it is clear that spending will have to be curtailed as the money coming into the Province from Westminster is being reduced. Perhaps we will be able to bring more money in from tourists. read full story at Michael Carchrie Campbell Continue reading blogged elsewhere… No budget, but money to waste on misleading signs

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Blogging, news, Newspapers, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, Pink Paper1 Comment

Pink Paper Readers’ Awards now include Northern Ireland

Michael McFarland Campbell

Following my complaint yesterday to Tris Reid-Smith, Editor of the Pink Paper, and following his response, I am pleased to say that as of today, the Pink Paper’s Readers’ Awards now include the option of saying you are from Northern Ireland. The email I received from Tris this morning says: There’s a further update. Having looked into it further, we have now been able to include Northern Ireland as an option in the Readers’ Awards! Obviously anything you can do to get the word out to people and to get them to take part would be great! Therefore, anyone reading … Continue reading Pink Paper Readers’ Awards now include Northern Ireland

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