Latest news with #ColumEastwood
Belfast Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
Department of Health accused of undermining New Decade, New Approach in row over funding of Derry addiction centre
It comes as the Irish Government says it 'remains fully committed to the implementation of the agreement'. Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Colum Eastwood asked what discussions the Government has had with the Northern Ireland Executive about funding for the Northlands Addiction Treatment Centre. The Foyle representative said the organisation has 'saved countless lives in Derry'. "Now they're being told by the Department of Health and Stormont that their core funding has been cut and that this money is not guaranteed to them,' Mr Eastwood continued. 'Does the minister agree with me that the Department of Health is in no position at all to undermine an international agreement?' In response, Fleur Anderson, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for NI said: 'The honourable member is a powerful advocate for his constituents, for the Northlands centre and for the need for services to tackle the scourge of addiction. 'I join him in recognising the need for support for people with addictions, but it is now up to the Department for Health, it's devolved, to bring forward a business plan based on their review of addiction services for what will provide the best support to the most people.' Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has been accused of 'backtracking' on a UK Government pledge to fund a new addiction treatment centre in Derry. In 2022 it was confirmed that £1m was available for Northlands Addiction Treatment Centre to build a new facility as soon as Stormont approved a business case. During a Westminster Hall debate in November of that year, NIO Minister Steve Baker expressed his 'personal commitment' that this money needs to get into Northlands and to deliver against NDNA. Despite this intergovernmental agreement, the health department removed £63,215 of core funding from Northlands this year and said a review of addiction services 'does not recommend' a new centre in the north west. Meanwhile, Aontú representative for Ballyarnett, Emmet Doyle, has received confirmation that the Irish government remains committed to the promises made under the terms of the NDNA agreement – and that it is the understanding of the Irish Government that it is for the Department of Health to develop a business case to secure the money. But Mr Doyle said DoH has not done so five years after the NDNA deal was agreed and confirmed that he has engaged with party leader Peadar Tóibín TD who submitted a Parliamentary Question to the Tánaiste. "The New Decade New Approach agreement reached in January 2020 was a significant achievement by the political parties in Northern Ireland and the two governments to restore the power-sharing institutions first established by the Good Friday Agreement,' Simon Harris said. 'We remain fully committed to the full implementation of the agreement. 'I am aware of the matter raised by the Deputy in respect of a funding commitment made by the UK government for an addiction centre in Derry. 'The implementation of this commitment is a matter for the UK government and the devolved authorities. 'I understand that there is ongoing and regular contact between UK government officials and their counterparts in the Department of Health, and that it is now for the latter to develop a business case arising from this commitment." Mr Doyle said it is clear now that both governments are 'firm in their belief' that the Department of Health need to provide a business case to unlock the promised £1m. 'The health minister needs to make an unequivocal statement as to what work, if any, his Department has engaged in to secure the money, and how he will progress this NDNA commitment,' he continued. 'We will continue to hold feet to the fire about the absolute need for this funding to be delivered and expose the agenda behind its neglect for the last five years."
Irish Post
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Post
MPs to discuss path to Irish border poll in Westminster debate
MPS will take part in a meeting in Westminster this month to discuss the best path to a poll on a united Ireland. A debate will take place on the barriers facing the poll featuring SDLP MP Colum Eastwood, Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen and author Kevin Meagher, whose book A United Ireland tackles the issue. The event, due to take place at Portcullis House on May 20, has been organised by the Irish Border group. 'Politicians are used to being asked for soundbites or key messages but audiences who attend Irish Border meetings are interested in meaningful and honest discussions about how we can advance the cause of a united Ireland,' Kevin Rooney, founder of Irish Border who organised the debate, said. 'Those united in support of a border poll urgently need to work out how best to challenge the Irish government putting new hurdles in the road to a border,' he added. 'I'm excited to get deep into discussion about how our speakers are thinking about the way forward.' The debate, titled How do we chart a path to a Border Poll and win it?', takes place on Tuesday May 20 at 7pm.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Paul Diamond: Tributes paid after death of Derry City president
Tributes have been paid to the prominent businessman and president of Derry City Football Club, Paul Diamond, following his death. Mr Diamond, who died at the weekend, owned the packaging company Diamond Corrugated in the city. He was appointed OBE in 2002 for his services to the packaging industry.A life-long supporter of the Candystripes, Mr Diamond held several senior roles at the club, including chairman and honorary president, after succeeding former SDLP leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume. 'Whole life dedicated to the city' Foyle MP Colum Eastwood led tributes to Mr Diamond, describing him as "an institution in Derry"."His whole life was dedicated to the city and using his extraordinary talents to help people," Eastwood said. "He gave people the opportunity of good jobs at his packaging firm Diamond Corrugated in Pennyburn."Mr Eastwood said the late businessman loved the city and "gave back to it in every way that he could".Manufacturing NI, of which Mr Diamond was a founder, said he was a huge contributor to the north west economy. In a statement, Derry City FC remembered Mr Diamond as a "lifelong supporter" and long-time sponsor of the was appointed club president in 2021and the club said his support had been demonstrated over many joined the board of the club in 1995 and served as club chairman when they last won the League of Ireland in club said Mr Diamond's love of the Candystripes was triggered by his own father's support for the team the red, white and black of his firm's logo were inspired by the club colours."The Diamond family links to the club continue as his son Niall was appointed to the club board in 2022," the statement said."Everyone at Derry City extend our sympathies to his wife Mary, sons Niall and Gerard and the wider family circle."
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
SDLP MP Colum Eastwood in court over pro-Palestinian rally
The Social Democratic and Labour Party MP Colum Eastwood has appeared in court charged in connection with a pro-Palestinian rally in Londonderry last year. Eastwood, the MP for Foyle and former SDLP leader, is one of four people accused of taking part in an unnotified parade in the city on 14 February 2024. In Northern Ireland, organisers must give 28 days' notice to the Parades Commission, the body that adjudicates on contentious parades, to hold a parade or procession. Eastwood's solicitor told Londonderry Magistrates' Court he believed it was not in the public interest to pursue the charge and that he intended to ask the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) why it pushed the case forward. The case has been adjourned to 3 June. Speaking outside court, Eastwood said he, and his co-accused, "respect the law, we respect this court". "Nobody was put out on Shipquay Street on that day in fact people were beeping their horns in support of us," he said. About 60 people took part in a protest outside the courthouse on Tuesday [PA Media] Last year, the Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable apologised to Eastwood over an investigation into a walk he took part in with Bloody Sunday families. Eastwood accompanied relatives of some of the victims to a court hearing in August 2023 involving an ex-soldier accused of crimes including murder on Bloody Sunday. In January 2024 police submitted a file to the PPS reporting seven people. But the following month the PPS said it was not in the public interest to charge the Foyle MP and the others. On Tuesday, Eastwood said the PPS has a "bizarre mechanism for deciding" the merit of cases. "The previous case... was deemed not to be in the interest of justice to prosecute but this is for some reason," said Eastwood. "That's a question they are going to have to answer but I think the court will have its views on that and it strikes me as a very bizarre decision-making process." BBC News NI has contacted the PPS for comment. Protest outside Derry courthouse Earlier, about 60 people took part in a protest outside the courthouse in Derry. A spokesperson for the Derry branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign group said that after their rally in February last year at the city's War Memorial they had walked to the Guildhall. The campaign group said it opposed any attempt to prosecute anyone for taking part in protests against Israel's actions in Gaza.
BreakingNews.ie
06-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
SDLP's Colum Eastwood set to challenge decision to prosecute him over Gaza march
Former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood is set to challenge the basis for prosecuting him for taking part in an unnotified parade, a court has heard. The Foyle MP was in court in Derry on Tuesday facing a charge connected with a pro-Palestinian rally that took place in the city last February. Advertisement The event in protest against Israel's military offensive on Gaza was held at the War Memorial in the Diamond area of the city centre. After speeches, participants walked to Derry's Guildhall. Former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood (left) with co-accused Goretti Horgan (centre) and Davina Pulis outside Derry Magistrates' Court. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Under the North's legislation governing parades and processions, the organisers of such events must apply in advance to the Parades Commission adjudication body for permission to march. Eastwood (42) is one of several people facing prosecution in relation to the event on February 14th last year. The court was told that he and two of the other defendants are to ask Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS) to review the basis for pursuing the case. Advertisement The two other defendants requesting the review are university lecturer Goretti Horgan (69), from Westland Avenue in Derry, and fellow pro-Palestinian activist Davina Pulis (36), from Knoxhill Avenue in the city. All three were at court on Tuesday as the case was mentioned before district judge Conor Heaney. The Derry branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign organised last February's rally. Members of the group protested outside court as the proceedings were heard on Tuesday morning. Advertisement Dr Sandra McDermott carries a Palestinian flag as she walks past Derry Magistrates' Court in support of former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and other defendants. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Eastwood's solicitor Ciaran Shiels told the judge that his client was ultimately prepared to challenge the prosecution decision by way of a High Court judicial review. Mr Shiels told the court: 'We're at a loss to understand how this short procession from the Diamond to the Guildhall, which was totally peaceful and caused no obstruction to the public, and we are not aware of any complaint from the public, and in respect of 50,000 civilians being bombed to pieces, including 20,000 children, we are at a loss why the PPS believe it's in the interests of justice to prosecute any of these individuals.' Judge Heaney agreed to adjourn the case until June 3 to allow the defendants to make the review submission to the PPS. Outside court, the SDLP MP said he would not be deterred from 'standing up' for the people of Gaza. Advertisement 'The people who are standing here today as defendants respect the law, we respect this court,' he told reporters. 'But, actually, we were marching and protesting, and have been for years now, against a bigger, a more important law being broken, and we are seeing the Israeli government in the dock in the highest courts in the world because they are committing genocide in Gaza. 'They are right now deliberately starving children. There are trucks of aid lined up at the border of Gaza that can't get in. 'They have just announced that they're going to, as we've always known they were going to do, fully occupy the Gaza Strip and try to rid it of the Palestinian people. Advertisement 'That is the crime that we and many other people in this city were protesting on that evening, and it is, frankly, bizarre to anybody with any basic understanding of the justice system why the PPS would be deciding that this was the thing that they should be focused on. 'I, frankly, given the amount of work I've done with victims over the years and other people, can't understand how this seems to be a priority for them. 'Others can speak for themselves, but I don't think anybody who's a defendant in this case will ever be put off standing up for the people of Gaza and standing up for the rule of law around protecting people from a genocide, one that is being committed live on our TV screens, and global powers are doing nothing other than (enabling) it by providing the Israeli government with weapons.' Former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood speaks to the media outside court. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Eastwood insisted the parading laws in the North had not been designed for events such as the one he had participated in last February. 'It's not for me to determine how this law is adjudicated upon, but it was set up because certain Orange Order bands were determined to march past nationalist estates and end up creating mayhem on the streets,' he said. 'This law was not written and was not brought into law to stop people protesting genocide. That's not what this was for. 'Nobody was put out on Shipquay Street [in Derry] on that day. In fact, people were beeping their horns in support of us because I know – and people standing here do a lot of door-knocking and talking to people in this city – people are absolutely opposed to what's happening in Gaza and will stand with whoever has to stand up against that.' In a similar case in 2023, when Eastwood joined families of those killed on Bloody Sunday in 1972 in an impromptu walk from the Diamond area to Derry's courthouse, the PPS decided against prosecuting those involved after determining it would not be in the public interest. The former SDLP leader drew a comparison with that decision as he criticised the PPS move to prosecute in relation to the Gaza event. 'The PPS have some bizarre mechanism it seems for deciding when a previous case, just like this one, was deemed not to be in the interest of justice to prosecute, now this is for some reason,' he said. 'That's a question that they're going to have to answer, but I think the court will have a view on that, and it strikes me as a very bizarre decision-making process.' Mickey McKinney, whose brother William was killed on Bloody Sunday, accompanied Eastwood into court on Tuesday in a show of solidarity. Co-accused Goretti Horgan told reporters that it was her 'duty' to protest against what was happening in Gaza. 'There's a genocide happening at the minute in Gaza, it's actually our duty to protest against that, it's not something that we done for fun,' she said. Ireland Three arrested after pro-Palestine protesters brea... Read More 'International law has been broken, we are trying to ensure that actually there is something happening to try to stop the genocide there. That's all we were doing.' Mr Shiels said the defendants in the case should be 'proud' to be before the court. 'If there was ever a case in which one should be proud to be a defendant before a court facing a criminal charge, this is a case where you should be proud to be a defendant,' he told reporters.
