Latest news with #Foyle
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."
Sydney Morning Herald
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Raw-dogging' a flight? I can't think of anything worse
Faced with a 15-hour flight, as I was last week, I decided to treat it as an opportunity to catch up on a few recent movies. Stupidly selecting a seat right near the noisy galley and a crew of flight attendants who chatted all night, my only compensation for lack of sleep was the movie marathon. I'd missed most of the Oscar contenders this year, so it was a treat to lie back and immerse myself in the best of filmmaking, even if the screen and sound weren't optimum. The silver lining for me on every flight, particularly on those airlines with a good selection of movies, including art-house and international productions, is the entertainment. If there's anything to look forward to on a long flight (apart from the destination at the end of it) it's the chance to hunker down and tune in to films I've missed during the year. It's not really the way directors want us to see their work, but if I like a movie, I rewatch it afterwards on a larger screen. Often, I've loved a film on the plane, only to really dislike it when on the ground – there's evidence flying heightens your emotions, skewing normal judgment. I judge the length of flights by how many movies (and some TV series) I can squeeze in. The trip to Johannesburg from Sydney looked like it might be a five or six-movie flight. I'd also brought along a thick book to read, Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz, who wrote Foyle's War for TV. (If you're looking for a brilliant writer, he's highly recommended, and there are eight of his crime novels to enjoy.)
The Age
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘Raw-dogging' a flight? I can't think of anything worse
Faced with a 15-hour flight, as I was last week, I decided to treat it as an opportunity to catch up on a few recent movies. Stupidly selecting a seat right near the noisy galley and a crew of flight attendants who chatted all night, my only compensation for lack of sleep was the movie marathon. I'd missed most of the Oscar contenders this year, so it was a treat to lie back and immerse myself in the best of filmmaking, even if the screen and sound weren't optimum. The silver lining for me on every flight, particularly on those airlines with a good selection of movies, including art-house and international productions, is the entertainment. If there's anything to look forward to on a long flight (apart from the destination at the end of it) it's the chance to hunker down and tune in to films I've missed during the year. It's not really the way directors want us to see their work, but if I like a movie, I rewatch it afterwards on a larger screen. Often, I've loved a film on the plane, only to really dislike it when on the ground – there's evidence flying heightens your emotions, skewing normal judgment. I judge the length of flights by how many movies (and some TV series) I can squeeze in. The trip to Johannesburg from Sydney looked like it might be a five or six-movie flight. I'd also brought along a thick book to read, Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz, who wrote Foyle's War for TV. (If you're looking for a brilliant writer, he's highly recommended, and there are eight of his crime novels to enjoy.)
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.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Colum Eastwood: SDLP MP in court over pro-Palestinian rally
SDLP MP Colum Eastwood in court over pro-Palestinian rally About 60 people took part in a protest outside the courthouse 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.
