Latest news with #NewDecadeNewApproach
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."
BBC News
06-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
PSNI chief Jon Boutcher criticises NI Executive for 'missed opportunity'
Northern Ireland's most senior police officer has said Stormont has "missed an opportunity" to provide firm commitments on funding and officer Constable Jon Boutcher said the Northern Ireland Executive's programme for government (PfG) does not "properly reflect" a crisis at the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) chief told a policing board meeting in Belfast that he is seeking the finance to boost officer numbers to 7,000 by 2028. The PSNI currently has a record low of 6,300 PfG said the executive will help develop a business case to fund recruitment and "seek to achieve" a sufficient number of officers. 'Significant risk' Mr Boutcher felt the document lacks "explicit" commitments."I would welcome clear statements from ministers outlining support for the recovery plan in terms of both numbers and funding," he added."It is my belief that there is a cross-party political acceptance that the police service has been severely underfunded and allowed to shrink to unacceptably low numbers."However, actions speak louder than words."That is why it is disappointing the executive have missed this opportunity to provide clarity and to strengthen its commitment to properly resourcing this organisation."Please be in no doubt how serious this really is."The chief constable added there is a "significant risk" of the PSNI failing victims, local communities and its added: "We are very far from the Executive commitment of New Decade New Approach (in 2020) to 7,500 officers."I do worry it will take some catastrophic event to wake everybody up to the reality of our policing numbers." Appeal over sex offender Speaking at the same meeting, Mr Boutcher said the PSNI is currently liaising with the Metropolitan Police over the case of sex offender Zhenhao 28-year-old has been convicted of drugging and raping 10 women in London and China and it is feared there could be many other was a student at Queen's University Belfast between 2017 and Boutcher said "thus far" there is no evidence of any offending having taken place in Northern Ireland."However, the fact we have now got the publicity is an opportunity to appeal for anybody to come forward who may have any concerns around what he may have done."The issue is that many of the victims do not know they are victims."
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Irish language to be used in NI courts with repeal of 18th Century law
The Irish language is set to be used in court in Northern Ireland due to the repeal of a law that is almost 300 years old. A proposal to allow the use of Irish in court was contained in the New Decade New Approach deal in January 2020. But it required the repeal of a penal law from 1737 which made it "a criminal offence to use any language other than English" in court. According to the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), Secretary of State Hilary Benn has now signed the commencement order which repeals the act. The move has been welcomed by the president of the Irish language organisation Conradh na Gaeilge, Ciaran Mac Giolla Bhein. "This same legislation was repealed in England and Wales well over 150 years ago," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme. "It brings into focus the historical context in which we're talking about a revival of the Irish language," he said. "The reason we need a revival is because Irish was identified as the chief target in the colonial process." He said there was a deliberate process to try to make Irish "extinct". "We need to understand where we've come from, to understand the particular nature of the support that we need," he said. Sinn Féin assembly member Aisling Reilly described the repeal of the law as "a hugely significant moment for Gaels in the north". "For Irish speakers, this is another positive step in the right direction as the energetic revival of the language continues at pace," she added. However, TUV leader Jim Allister MP said: "The repeal of the ban on Irish in our courts is a regressive move in terms of equality, justice and finances. "The change will result in the legal profession becoming more a cold house for the unionist community who are already underrepresented in the sector." Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme, Irish-speaking solicitor Niall Murphy said that "today is a momentous day". He added that the penal law was "a very regressive, malicious set of laws". "That it has taken almost 300 years to have that struck from the statutory record is lamentable but we have to welcome the positives and today is a very positive day for the Irish speaking community." The Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act was passed in Westminster in 2022. It enabled many of the language changes agreed by politicians in New Decade New Approach in 2020 to go forward. But parts of the legislation passed in 2022 have to be "commenced" in Parliament. That is what the secretary of state is now doing regarding the use of the Irish language in court. The Administration of Justice (Language) Act (Ireland) 1737 said that all proceedings in courts in the UK "shall be in the English Language". The fine for using another language that was not English was £20 - a hefty sum in 1737. According to the Bank of England's inflation calculator, £20 in 1737 would be the equivalent of about £3,800 in 2025. In a letter to Conradh na Gaeilge, Benn said that while he would commence repeal of the 1737 Act, the implementation would be a matter for the Executive. In a statement, the NIO said: "The provision to repeal the 1737 Act is part of the Identity & Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022, which is for the Northern Ireland Executive to implement. "Implementation of the Identity & Language Act will help enshrine respect and tolerance for all of Northern Ireland's diverse identities, cultures and traditions." BBC News NI has asked the Department of Justice if Justice Minister Naomi Long has to issue guidelines before Irish can be used in legal proceedings in Northern Ireland. A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Department of Justice said that the Justice Minister "welcomes the long overdue repeal of the 1737 Act" and that is an "important recognition of the importance of Irish to many in our community". "It will not, however, change the common law position that English is the working language of the courts", they added. Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Paula Bradshaw said that the move is "belated but welcome". Bradshaw called on the first and deputy first minister to "move forward with the Identity and Language Act in its entirety, and not least with the appointment of the three relevant Commissioners". "There is no excuse for further delay", she added. Cuts to an Irish language bursary scheme were among the reasons the Stormont executive collapsed in 2017. The Department for Communities, under the then minister Paul Givan, cut funding to the Líofa Gaeltacht Bursary Scheme. Although the funding was subsequently restored, the then deputy first minister Martin McGuinness said the £50,000 cut was part of the reason for his resignation. The New Decade New Approach deal in January 2020, which then paved the way for the restoration of the Executive, included a number of measures for the Irish language and Ulster-Scots. That included the creation of a new Office of Identity and Cultural Expression and two separate language commissioners. One commissioner is to be appointed to "recognise, support, protect and enhance the development of the Irish language in Northern Ireland". The other is to "enhance and develop the language, arts and literature associated with the Ulster Scots/Ulster British tradition". But the role of the Ulster British commissioner has been questioned. And despite the New Decade New Approach deal being agreed five years ago, the commissioners have yet to be appointed. However, simultaneous translation services in Irish and Ulster-Scots can now be used in the Northern Ireland Assembly. In 2024, an Assembly committee heard evidence conducted entirely through the medium of Irish for the first time. BBC News NI experts examine the NDNA deal NI language law could spell significant change Stormont committee hears evidence only in Irish
