Sinn Féin want education system based on needs of all our children and young people - Gerry Kelly

By Gerry Kelly
One of my most enjoyable tasks as an MLA in North Belfast are visits to our local schools.
The energy and commitment of principals, teachers and other school staff to provide the very best education possible for our children is inspiring and as a public representative it’s our duty to try to build on their successes.
Despite the successes however, there remains a shocking level of underachievement and the gap between the top achievers and those failed by the system is growing. How can you build a society based on equality when after 12 years of compulsory education around 12,000 of our young people do not achieve the necessary skills in English and Maths?
There are also groups of children who are losing out more than others because of these inequalities and this is particularly relevant to North Belfast given the make-up of the area.
In working-class communities 44 per cent of Protestant males and 41 per cent of Catholic males leave school without five good GCSEs.
Young people who have a disability, or are from ethnic and Traveller communities also suffer from inequalities in education.
Sinn Féin believes it is unacceptable that 4,500 children each year leave primary schools without adequate literacy and numeracy skills.
This simply can’t be allowed to go on. The education system needs radical reform. We can’t build an economy to benefit all our people if educational opportunity is not available on an equal basis to all in the community.
Therefore we fully support Caitríona Ruane’s decision to review the provision for children with additional needs, as well as reviews of the provision for children from the Traveller community and of the growing Irish medium education sector.
This is all part of a strategy being proposed by the Sinn Féin minister to raise standards in numeracy and literacy. The next plank of that strategy to deliver an education system fit for the 21st century is the establishment of the Education and Skills Authority, the most fundamental reform of the education system here for more than a generation.
This single authority replacing nine existing organisations, will streamline administration and make more funds available for schools.
The ESA will have a remit to deliver equality and raise standards for all children, ensuring that schools have the training, support and resources to provide the best education possible.
The ESA will also be democratically accountable as the majority of its members will be made up of local councillors, working on local committees, and it will report back to the minister and the Assembly.
The establishment of the ESA is only one of a number of reforms, which Sinn Féin proposes to modernise the education system.
The outdated Transfer Test has now been taken by primary school pupils for the last time.
It is almost impossible to find anyone who thinks the Transfer Test was a good idea. So why did we subject 10-year-old children to such stress for so long?
Why was the educational future of so many dependent on two one-hour high-pressure tests?
These tests labelled children as failures and denied them access to certain schools.
This test saw 95 per cent of children from Malone Road primary schools, who sat the 11-plus, transfer to grammar schools, compared to 26 per cent from the Shankill and 22 per cent from the New Lodge. This test owed more to social selection than academic ability. This was a postcode lottery in education.
We do not need to subject 10-year-old children to selection tests to put them on an educational route that is best for them.
The vast majority of education systems around the world manage to transfer children without any form of academic selection and produce excellent results. Why can we not learn from the experiences of Europe and the Americas?
It is widely accepted that 14 is a more appropriate age to decide on educational pathways when our young people currently choose their examination subjects.
At 14 they can be matched to educational provision that best meets their needs and abilities, whether that is academic, vocational or a combination of both.
I strongly support academic excellence and want our schools delivering the highest quality opportunities for every child, from their very first day in school.
I believe the reforms proposed by the Education Minister if given a fair wind will deliver a system based on equality, which is modern, effective and responsive to the needs of all our children and young people.

Sinn Féin welcomes key recommendations of the Bill of Right's Forum report

Gerry Kelly has welcomed key recommendations of the Bill of Right's Forum report that was released this week and said he was disappointed that 10 Commissioners had dissented from the report and that the DUP and UUP were continuing to oppose a Bill of Rights.
"The Bill of Rights is a fundamental part of the Good Friday Agreement and I believe it represents an incredible opportunity to make a real and positive difference to the lives of all our people and I welcome the handover of the Human Rights Commission advice as the next stage in this long process," the North Belfast Sinn Fein MLA said.
"But to those members of the DUP and UUP who continue to oppose a Bill of Rights, I would ask them to explain to their electorate, why they reject key rights for the people that they represent.
“If implemented, a Bill of Rights would compel government to take whatever possible steps it can in order to address the economic and social problems which face our people. "This isn't about Republican rights, nationalist rights, unionist or loyalist rights - it is about rights for all."

Kelly welcomes green energy project

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA, Gerry Kelly welcomed ‘a positive’ green development to North Belfast news that a former landfill site in North Belfast will soon be providing electricity to thousands of homes as part of a multi-million pound green energy project.
Belfast City Council is hoping the unique joint venture, the biggest landfill generating electricity scheme in the north, will be producing five million watts of electricity every single hour by next summer.
“Given the current high price of electricity and its dependency on the price of world oil and energy prices this is a welcome initiative producing electricity from what we all would consider waste,” said Gerry Kelly.
“There has been a debate about the use of the North Foreshore site and the landfill that is situated there has raised a fair amount of controversy over the years but this development now sees a positive, green contribution come from the former landfill which will benefit people locally.”

Threats to community groups are contemptible - Kelly

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly has slammed the threats made by Continuity IRA against community groups working with statutory bodies in North Belfast.
Speaking a short while after the threats were made to Ashton Centre in the New Lodge and Wolfhill Community Centre in Ligoniel Gerry Kelly the threats are against the entire community.
"The threats are apparently in relation to the community sector in north Belfast holding multi-agency meetings in order to address pressing issues facing local people,” said Gerry Kelly.
“To have these threats made against them while they are working hard to improve the quality of life for people living in these neighbourhoods is contemptible.
“In short, these groups are now threatening the entire community. These community centres are at the heart of the localities they work in, and offer services that people of all ages and from all sections of the community use.
“They are well established and have on their premises facilities such as crèches, mother and toddler groups, after school clubs and senior citizen groups. Is there anyone who isn't on the target list?
“These threats must be lifted immediately. Those who have made them have no support whatsoever and these threats highlight what we already know, that these groups have no logical political direction or programme,” said the North Belfast MLA.
Community groups from throughout Belfast came together the Friday after the threats were issued in a show of solidarity with those threatened and in a call for the threats to be lifted.
At the meeting in the UNISON building on York Street, JJ Magee called for the immediate withdrawal of the threats.
“The Ashton was driven forward at a time when there was systematic British government denial of opportunity and resources into our community. We however did something about it,” said Magee.
“The Ashton building was financed through a community share scheme, it is owned by the community. We have struggled to access resources while also standing firm against all forms of injustice, coercion and discrimination.
“The Ashton Centre provides services right across the North Belfast community from Whitewell to Ardoyne and from New Lodge to Mount Vernon.
“Presently the Ashton Centre employs over 100 people and provides childcare places for hundreds of young children. This facilitates parents to return to work.
“Ashton also works with victims and the long-term unemployed while also providing educational pathways for thousands of people and contributes significantly to the local economy. On behalf of the Board I want to pay tribute to all our staff and all those community workers who refuse to be deflected from their services to our community at this difficult and challenging time for them and their families.
“Their courage is an inspiration to us all. The Ashton vision stands in marked contrast to the vision of the faceless people who have issued this threat,” said the Ashton Centre representative.
“Ashton will not be detracted from our mission of serving all communities. I stand here today to bring my voice and the voice of the Ashton Community Trust demanding that the Continuity IRA immediately and unconditionally withdraw this threat.”

NíSinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín and Agnes Fraser of Tar Isteach met with th Chuilín tells gas suppliers punitive rate of debt recovery is unrealistic

Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín and Agnes Fraser of Tar Isteach met with the CEO of Phoenix Gas recently to discuss concerns at high rates of debt recovery, in some cases up to £30 a week before a home gets one unit of gas.
Carál Ní Chuilín called on vulnerable people in fuel poverty not to let themselves be exploited by criminals offering to tamper with their gas supply.
“This is an extremely dangerous and lives are being put at risk with this practice,” says Carál.
Carál Ní Chuilín said that utility suppliers such as Phoenix should respond to the cuts in oil prices as many people in North Belfast are been forced to live without heat during the current cold spell.
“We are calling for gas suppliers like Phoenix to cut their bills when the oil prices fall just as quickly as they increase the bills when the oil prices rise,” said Carál.
“We welcome the pilot scheme which Phoenix have introduced to deal with those who have fallen into the trap of tampering with meters.
“However, we told Phoenix’s CEO in a recent meeting that we are concerned at the excessively high rate of recovery of the debt, in some cases people are being forced to pay up to £30 a week before their home gets even one unit of gas.
“We are extremely disappointed that our concerns were listened to but not taken into account. It is right that people should pay for the gas they have used and we would warn people that tampering with the supply is putting people and their kids’ lives at serious risk.
“But if Phoenix Gas think that this punitive rate of recovery of the money is realistic then Sinn Féin and advice workers are saying that you are forcing people into crisis upon crisis and into the hands of money lenders and unmanageable debt.”
Local advice worker Agnes Fraser said she felt that nothing had been achieved in the meeting.
“This is like something from a Dickens novel. I don’t think we achieved anything from the meeting despite making it clear that people in extreme poverty were being exploited.”
NIE have a max rate for those on benefit of £8.5 per week when recovering debt and Carál added:
“We will be raising this issue in the Assembly and it seems logical that there should be uniform regulation across all utility providers to cover these circumstances.”

Kelly describes agreement on transfer of powers on Policing and Justice as significant

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly has described the agreement between Sinn Féin and the DUP on transfer of Powers and Policing and Justice as significant.
“This is a significant agreement and follows on from very detailed and considerable hard work in recent months and weeks,” said the Republican representative.
“The agreement deals with the issue of transfer of powers on Policing and Justice in a comprehensive fashion; the detail of which is contained in the joint letter to AERC; in the Process Paper, and in the statements from the Joint First Ministers.
“Taken with the agreement between Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson in July we believe this is the basis on which all the publicly expressed concerns about policing and justice powers will be resolved, including who will be the Justice Minister.
“Sinn Féin and the DUP have also agreed how we will tackle a number of uncontentious but very important issues, such as hardship relief and economic matters.
“A number of social, economic and culture matters, including for example Acht na Gaeilge and post Primary Education, continue to be work in progress.
“We have also agreed that the Executive will meet this Thursday 20th November and Ministers will also discuss the first draft of a paper detailing measures to deal with the financial hardship being faced by many people and related matters, issues which we have been in discussions with the British government on resolving.
“Sinn Féin has been consistent in all of this, the Executive and other political institutions must operate on the basis of equality and partnership.
“We believe these agreements are capable of gaining the confidence of the community.”

Attack on New Lodge man’s home an attack on the whole community – Kelly

Sinn Féin MLA for North Belfast Gerry Kelly has described the attack on the home of New Lodge community worker Gerry O’Reilly in the early hours of Monday morning 17 November as an attack on the whole community.
"I condemn wholeheartedly the early morning attack on the home of Gerry O’Reilly and his family,” said Gerry.
“Gerry O'Reilly is a highly respected community worker who has done sterling work to help bring calm to interfaces in the area as well as striving to make the New Lodge a safer place for all to live in.
“He has worked closely with youths from right across the community and he is widely known for the work he carries out.
“This makes the attack on him and his family even more reprehensible.
"In all, those responsible for this despicable and cowardly attack, smashed 14 windows in his home and his car around 4am this morning.
"This attack is not only an attack on Gerry and his family but an attack on the entire community.
“I believe that it was carried out by a very small group of people who have been torturing the local community.
“They will not be allowed to deflect the great work being carried out by Gerry O’Reilly and others to help improve the lives of local people."

Once in a lifetime opportunity to tackle legacy of deprivation

By North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín
This week a Sinn Féin delegation from North Belfast met with the inister for social development Margaret Ritchie and her officials to raise our concerns about the development of the Girdwood site.
Junior Minister in the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, Gerry Kelly MLA, North Belfast constituency manager Shauneen Baker and myself had asked for the meeting to discuss the huge potential of the 20-acre former British Army barracks for the people of North Belfast.
Sitting just one mile from Belfast city centre, bordered by the Crumlin Road Gaol and Belfast Courthouse sites, and the Mater Hospital, Girdwood offers the people of North Belfast a once in a lifetime opportunity to help tackle decades of social and economic deprivation, underinvestment and discrimination.
In my view it is imperative that any plan for the site tackles objective need in the community.
It must also take into account the wishes of local people as expressed time and time again during the consultations which shaped the draft masterplan and during the Equality Impact Assessment currently being carried out.
Sinn Féin believes that any development at Girdwood must begin to tackle the problems of chronic housing shortage and leisure provision in the north of the city.
However, the site can also play a key role in health and education provision while providing employment, apprenticeships and training for local people.
The development of the Girdwood/Crumlin Road Gaol site also opens up new possibilities for North Belfast in the area of tourism.
It is our opinion that the development of the site must be underpinned by equality, addressing the varied and different needs of the communities who live in the surrounding area.
On that basis the development of the site should be a win-win for all the people of North Belfast.
Girdwood offers a unique opportunity to the minister to tackle inequalities while creating a flagship development which delivers the services required by the people of North Belfast.
This can be a shining example to the rest of the people of this city of just how much can be achieved if the political will is there to do it.
While work on the site may take several years to complete when the development gets the green light it is vital that the minister makes the right decisions now.
We believe that this week’s meeting was a positive step forward towards achieving a first class multi-use development at a place which was only associated with the torture of Republican detainees from the early ‘70s onwards.
I particularly welcome the minister’s assertion that at the core of any future development of Girdwood is the delivery of housing and services based on objective need.
We look forward on that basis to future engagements with the minister and her department to ensure that Girdwood does indeed deliver on its real potential for all of us who live here.

Bobby Sands Trust website relaunched

North Belfast republicans, former IRA POW Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane and North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín, also a former POW, helped to re-launch the Bobby Sands Trust website in the Felon’s club recently.
“I think that the work done by the Bobby Sands Trust, which deals with the prison struggles in Armagh and in the H Blocks of Long Kesh, is hugely important and significant," said Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams at the re-launch.
The Sinn Féin President dedicating the site to the memories of the ten H-Block martyrs and to Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg who died on hunger strike in prison in England.
Speaking at the event, Danny Morrison, Sinn Féin's director of publicity of during the harrowing period of the hunger strike and secretary of the Trust, explained:
“The Bobby Sands Trust was set up in 1981 before the deaths of the hunger strikers and it collected Bobby's writings from the period in order to keep his memory, and that of his comrades, alive and in the public record,” said Danny.
He said the site has become a prestigious international resource documenting the prison struggle and is now complete with multimedia, including TV media footage from the period, and the poetry and songs Sands wrote in Long Kesh.
Morrison said the Trust aims to archive the full history, poetry and music of the Irish republican struggle in prison since the United Irishmen, and that of prison protests from other anti-imperialist struggles around the world.
Morrison and Adams also praised the foresight of Tom Hartley, who diligently collected and archived the communication coming out of the H Blocks at the time of the hunger strike, which are now at the National Library in Dublin.

Speaking at the launch, Adams said: “There is an enduring interest in the human aspect, the political impact and the legacy of the hunger strike – from students, from people around the world who may have no connection with Ireland and from young people who had not even been born at the time.
“The criminalisation policy of the British government, which aimed to crush the national struggle in Ireland, didn't take into account the individual responses of republican activists.
“It didn't take into account the response of Ciaran Nugent, who refused to wear the prison uniform. And it didn't take into account the determined response of the young prisoners who made the ultimate sacrifice to expose the criminalisation policy as a lie.”
Adams explained that the Bobby Sands Trust ‘means that those who want to learn about aspects of the situation at that time are now able to read, in the words of those who were involved then, their thoughts and ideas and fears and hopes, and then to be able to form their own judgements based upon all the information provided’.

To view the redesigned Bobby Sands Trust website, visit www.bobbysandstrust.com.

Sinn Féin MLAs have positive meaning with Ritchie

North Belfast's two Sinn Féin assembly members Gerry Kelly and Carál Ní Chuilín along party Constituency Manager for North Belfast Shauneen Baker met with the North’s minister for social development Margaret Ritchie this week to discuss future developments planned for North Belfast.
The republican representatives said the meeting, which focused mainly on plans to revitalise the former British Army Barracks Girdwood.
“This was a positive meeting in regards to the future development of North Belfast," said Gerry Kelly.
"One of the key factors in this is the future development of the 26 acre site at the Girdwood.”
Carál Ní Chuilín said Sinn Féin had obtained a commitment from the minister that any services put on the site would be based on objective need.
“Anything along those lines will be delivered on objective need and that includes leisure, social housing, business investments and health,” said Carál.
The Sinn Fein delegation stressed it was important to cut down on ‘red tape’ and get on with the job of delivering services.
“The minister was willing to hear the merits in our argument that one over-arching consultation should be done, so that everyone can feed into the one discussion at the same time,” said Gerry Kelly.
“People are fed up with consultations, they need delivery and people on the ground need to see developments.
“They need to see change and that change is going to be delivered on objective need, and the minister needs to be supported in doing that.
“We need to make sure all the needs of the community are met, no matter how varied they are. Margaret Ritchie is the minister for Social Development and she is the person responsible for making that happen.”

Sinn Féin meet Parades Commission over British army parade and Sinn Féin protest

North Belfast Sinn Féin councillor Tierna Cunningham was part of a Sinn Féin delegation which met with the Parades Commission to discuss the proposed Belfast City centre British army parade on November 2nd and the application for a Sinn Féin protest march and rally focusing on the legacy of the British army here in Ireland.
“Sinn Féin plans to hold a peaceful and dignified protest in Belfast city centre during the so called 'homecoming' parade for members of the British armed forces including the notorious UDR/RIR,” said Tierna after the meeting.
“We made the commission aware of the fact that the protest rally will highlight the legacy of the RIR and their predecessors the UDR here in Ireland as well as opposition to the wars inAfghanistan and Iraq where thousands of civilians have been killed.
“Our right to protest should be respected and we welcomed the chance of being able to put our case forward.”

£1280.00 raised for Macmillan Cancer Support at Sinn Féin Coffee Morning

North Belfast Sinn Féin and friends have been fantastic over the years supporting Macmillan Cancer Support and this year has proven to be a huge success again. £1280.00 was raised at the Lansdowne Court Hotel where Sinn Féin held their Coffer Morning on Friday 19 September.
Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer. They provide practical, medical, emotional and financial support and push for better cancer care.
Cancer affects us all. Macmillan Cancer Support thanked Sinn Féin MLAs Gerry Kelly and Carál Ní Chuilín for organising this event and all the people who attended and supported it.
All money raised in the area will stay and be spent in the area to help local people living with cancer.

Councillor is organising meeting for residents re Ardoyne shops revamp

Ardoyne Sinn Féin councillor Margaret McClenaghan is organising a meeting between local residents and the developer to discuss proposals to revamp the Ardoyne shops.
Planners are currently considering the developer's proposals for the area, which would see the current buildings demolished to make way for the new development.
"People in the area seem to be happy the shops are going to be regenerated as it will make the area look tidier and fresher," said Margaret.
"I am organising a meeting between residents and the developer so we can get some dialogue going and people can see for themselves what is happening and if they have any problems we can get it sorted."

No return to Unionist Majority Rule - Kelly

By Gerry Kelly
The current crisis in the political process exists because the DUP has failed to honour commitments it made in the St Andrews Agreement in October 2006.
Specifically, the DUP has refused to agree a timeframe for the transfer of powers on policing and justice from London to the Assembly and Executive in the north.
Its opposition to transfer does not stand up to serious scrutiny.
Among other issues the DUP has also refused, in a gratuitously insulting and offensive way, to introduce an Acht na Gaeilge and it is opposing efforts to modernise and reform the educational system.
At this point it appears that the most reactionary elements in the party are dictating the pace of its engagements with the rest of us.
This is the real reason for the current crisis. It lies in the DUP's refusal thus far to work the Executive as a partnership and power sharing government.
Some DUP representatives want to run the institutions in the same way unionism used to run the north - in their interests solely, even though the leadership knows this is not sustainable.
It knows this is not acceptable and that Sinn Féin will not allow any return to unionist majority rule.
In addition, there are clearly elements of the DUP who remain bigots; who really don't want to have a Catholic about the place.
They are opposed to power sharing in any form.
The fact that the DUP is in a power sharing arrangement with Sinn Féin means that these bigots are in a place they never expected to be: a partnership government in which the DUP leader Peter Robinson is in a shared joint Ministry with Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness, and in which neither can take any decision of worth without the approval of the other.
It is obvious that in the longer term the DUP refusal to fulfil its obligations under the Good Friday Agreement and St Andrew's Agreement is untenable.
The DUP's assertion that it is not bound by any of these agreements - and particularly its ridiculous claim that it does not assent to the St Andrews Agreement, given how it claimed that Agreement as a great achievement for its leadership - is a serious challenge to the two governments and the rest of us.
So there is a lot of work yet to be done.
That is obvious.
It is also obvious that the DUP leadership knows the truth of all this.
Sinn Féin is giving it time to adjust to the new dispensation - we are entirely satisfied that the vast majority of republicans are on board for our approach - but we are not satisfied that appropriate efforts are being made to get unionism where it should be - on the side of inclusivity and power sharing.
Is Sinn Fein prepared to work through these difficulties? Yes.
But we need to have a sense that those we work with are open to a future based on the right of citizens to equality and justice.
If the political will exists none of these matters are insurmountable. We have overcome greater and more difficult problems.
Sinn Féin is coming at all of this positively.
Our core political value is based on the right of human beings to be free citizens - liberated, empowered and equal.
Our strategies and tactics are designed to bring this about.
I believe that a resolution to the current difficulties can be found. I believe that an agreement forged between Sinn Féin and Peter Robinson would send out a powerful and hopeful message for the future.
But if we are to move forward it will take political courage and political leadership.
It will need real and meaningful partnership government and power sharing.
Forty years ago Civil Rights activists, radical students and republicans marched in towns and rural areas across the northern state, demanding change and demanding civil rights.
That march for civil rights and national rights continues.
It isn't over and there is no turning back.
There can be no return to the bad old days.
We must also be the guarantors of that.

No Guarantee from Margaret Ritchie that Neighbourhood Renewal jobs will be saved

Sinn Féin MLA for North Belfast, Carál Ní Chuilín, has slammed Margaret Ritchie's failure to guarantee that Neighbourhood Renewal jobs, currently under review by her will be saved. This follows a Private Notice Question to the Minister for Social Development asking her to clarify her position.
Speaking this week Ms Ní Chuilín said:
"This week in the Assembly the Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie, refused to say whether jobs and services from Neighbourhood Renewal Projects would be lost. Those in Neighbourhood Renewal jobs based in Belfast need clarity on where Margaret Ritchie's review will leave countless projects across the city.
"The simple fact is people in many community workers in these projects are now on protective notice because of the failure by Margaret Ritchie to move on this vital issue or give any indication of what groups will receive funding.
"These are projects that cover a wide range of themes and deliver much needed services to some of the most deprived wards in the North of Ireland. Issues such as suicide prevention, family centres, crèches, interface projects to name few are ones that will suffer.
"This is not new money. This traunch of funding was agreed in the budget. However none of this money has been released form the end of August. Margaret Ritchie is now, in effect, guilty of political interference in much needed jobs and services in areas of high social need."

Kelly congratulates Help the Aged for securing unclaimed benefits for older people

Sinn Féin Junior Minister Gerry Kelly MLA this week congratulated Help the Aged for securing almost £1,250,000 of unclaimed benefits for older people.
The organisation achieved this through its free and confidential helpline, Seniorline, which provides assistance and advice to older people, their families, friends and carers.
Speaking at the launch of Help the Aged's Seniorline Benchmark Report, Minister Gerry Kelly said:
"It is obvious from the Benchmark Report, that Seniorline is more than a helpline. In many cases it is probably a lifeline to our older people. Last year it secured almost £1,250,000 of unclaimed benefits for older people, an increase of 40 per cent on previous year.
"Such issues are crucial to the well being and quality of life of our older people. We would hope that the Advocate would play a vital part in helping to ensure that all relevant services for older people, including benefits, would be as straightforward as possible."

Private landlords must be regulated – Ní Chuilín

North Belfast MLA Carál Ní Chuilín this week called for legislation to regulate private landlords throughout the North
Sinn Féin tabled a motion in the Assembly calling on Margaret Ritchie to act on introducing legislation in order to regulate private landlords throughout the North of Ireland.
Speaking following the motion Carál Ní Chuilín said:
"There can be no excuses for continuing to delay this important and much needed legislation. People across the Six Counties, and in particularly in areas like North Belfast are calling out for effective measures to regulate private landlords; this legislation will only serve to benefit landlords and their tenants.
"While there are many responsible landlords who would surely welcome mandatory registration, there are also unscrupulous landlords who charge extortionate rents, provide substandard and even dangerous accommodation and who prey on the vulnerable.
"For too long this sector has been unregulated and both statutory and voluntary registration has failed, leaving it to market forces to regulate the sector which has only made matters worse.
"Sinn Féin will continue to lobbying on this issue both inside and outside of the Assembly and looks forward to Minister making clear her proposals on the registration on private landlords."

Sinn Féin Councillor Tierna Cunningham welcomed the decision to close Greencastle Barracks.

"Sinn Féin has called consistently for an end to the use of old agenda military bases by the PSNI, so I welcome the decision to close Greencastle Barracks,” said Tierna.
"We have had the issue of Greencastle Barracks on the agenda of every DPP meeting since our party took our seats.
"There were only four officers staffing this station whose main role was simply to report crime. This was a huge waste of resources and a strange use of personnel.
"There are too many of these stations in the area soaking up vital resources that can be freed up to provide a better service to the local community.
"We want to see more police officers tackling crime on the ground rather than taxpayers' money being wasted maintaining heavily fortified bases which serve no purpose."
And Councillor Cunningham called on local people to get involved in shaping the new North Belfast Policing Plan.
"We want to achieve a modern policing service with the highest standards of delivery.
"I would encourage people therefore to get involved in the public consultations so that it fully serves the needs of the people of the area."

Shock at UDA linked funding revelation

Sinn Féin Assembly member Carál Ní Chuilín this week said that people would be shocked at the revelation that DSD Minister Margaret Ritchie has continued to fund the UDA linked CTI project to the tune of almost £400,000 since she made her announcement ending this funding late last year.
“Last year in a great fanfare Minister Ritchie announced that she had withdrawn funding from the UDA linked CTI project,” said Carál.
“At the time Sinn Féin and all of the other Executive parties publicly supported her position but were fearful that the approach she adopted in not seeking Executive cover left her decision open to challenge.
“Unfortunately it now seems that this position has been borne out. Since her announcement last year almost £400,000 of taxpayers money has been pumped into this project away from the glare of the media.
“I am quite sure that the vast majority of ordinary people will be shocked at this revelation. The manner in which the Minister went about taking her decision, chasing headlines instead of following procedures is the direct cause of this turn of events.
“What Minister Ritchie has achieved since her announcement last November is the continuation of funding to the UDA linked project in direct contravention of the position articulated by every other Executive party who wanted to see the funding ended.”

Sinn Féin MLA addresses housing rally

North Belfast housing campaigners took to the streets on Sunday in a bid to rally groups to fight together for better housing with North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA, Carál Ní Chuilín one of the speakers.
Invited to the North Belfast Civil Rights Association-organised rally, Carál said it was a good turnout and a great atmosphere.
“We basically stood up and called for everyone, regardless of background, to come together and fight for equality,” said Carál.
“This is not some superior right, this is about the basic human right to housing and we need to work as one on this.
“The money is there, the land is there, so all we need is for the housing minister to do what she is in place to do and start providing housing.”
The rally took speakers and supporters from Carrickhill, across Millfield and over to Custom House Square via the City Hall were key rally calls were made.

Ní Chuilín hits out at scrapping of funding for Neighbourhood Renewal

Hitting out at Margaret Ritchie’s decision to suspend Neighbourhood Renewal funding as ‘a contradiction of everything she set out to do’, North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín accused the minister of being purposely devisive.
“I can’t spell out enough how grim the future looks for North Belfast without this vital funding,” said Carál.
“Job losses and an axe in vital services will hit those most in need hardest and plunge them further into deprivation and marginalisation.
“It seems that Margaret Ritchie wants these projects to fail, what else can people take out of it?
“These projects, the life and soul of our most in need communities, will collapse without money and they’ll never be able to pick up the pieces.”
A DSD spokesperson said the minister’s primary concern was to spend Neighbourhood Renewal money in a way that would make a real difference on the ground.
“To that end she wants to reflect on how the DSD has been assessing applications that have been processed thus far,” she said.
“There may therefore be a short delay on approvals being issued as applications are assessed.”

Sinn Féin councillor welcomes Community Safety Wardens to the New Lodge

Sinn Féin councillor Conor Maskey has welcomed the scheme that will see Community safety wardens begin patrolling the New Lodge area this week in a bid to tackle antisocial behavior in the area.
"This is a very positive move and is certainly a new dynamic to compliment the good work that is already going on the New Lodge area.
“I hope that they will dovetail alongside the community work that is already taking place here,” said the republican representative.
The Belfast City Council pilot scheme will see the wardens perform foot patrols in the area for the next three months. Their duties include tackling antisocial behaviour such as street drinking and excessive noise, working with the community to improve their environment and stamping out litter, graffiti and fly tipping.
“I think the New Lodge will provide interesting scenarios for the wardens as well and in the long term will help them with their work.”
North Belfast interface worker and local republican Gerry O'Reilly said he hoped the wardens make an impact on antisocial behaviour in the area.
“Getting the community safety wardens into the New Lodge has been an ongoing campaign and I am very pleased they are finally starting work,” he said.
“They will be able to work alongside community groups in the area to make the New Lodge a better place to live for all the residents.”

North Belfast Sinn Féin Macmillan Cancer - coffee morning

Republican representatives call for end to sectarian attacks and for PSNI to do their job

Ardoyne Sinn Féin Councillor Margaret McClenaghan said the sectarian violence against Protestant people living in the Twaddell Avenue area is being carried out by a small anti-community element of young people.
“The trouble has gone on for three weekends in a row and now has spilled over into all this week,” said Margaret.
“This is a small group of young people who are involved in anti-community and anti-social behaviour.
“This isn't an organised group coming out of Ardoyne, that would be giving them credence. It’s a group of thugs who, when they finish attacking Twaddell and the police, attack cars in their own community. They don't care what they destroy, they terrorise their own community too.”
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín slammed the sectarian attacks and said the onus is on the PSNI to act.
“A lot of work has been going on by community and elected representatives over the summer.” Said Carál.
“However, there will be those who are still intent on such actions. Community workers will do what they can, ultimately, though, what needs to happen is that the PSNI need to do their job.
“They need to identify those responsible from CCTV footage and arrest them. So far they have failed.”

Halt put on new ‘peace line’ fencing in Ligoniel

North Belfast Sinn Féin Councillor Margaret McClenaghan said that a full and frank consultation was required before a new ‘peace line’ was built in Ligoniel.
“We condemn attacks on anybody's home. Trees and shrubs were mentioned in the past as a way of helping to resolve this,” said Margaret.
“Obviously people's safety is paramount, but I believe a full and meaningful consultation with local people is required.”
The NIO began building the fence but stopped half way sayng that more talks needed to be held.
A Unionist representative said residents property and homes in Squires Hill had been regularly by attacks from the Ligoniel estate.
Ligoniel Sinn Féin member Billy Mackessy said no-one had been consulted about the new fencing, which is the third such protective shield to be built in the same area in recent years.
“This was talked about two or three years ago and residents came together in St Mark's church and decided we didn't need another fence. Now the NIO has moved in and no-one knows anything about it.”

South Antrim MLA hails residents power over bridge re-opening

South Antrim MLA Mitchel McLaughlin said the upgrading of the Hightown Bridge had been completed three months ahead of schedule after extensive lobbying on the Department of Regional Development (DRD).
“There was a lot of pressure put on by residents, and I give them all due credit for that,” said Mitchel.
“It paid off. First of all they recognised the problems and challenges, they put their arguments forthrightly, and they were also constructive with their ideas and suggestions, some of which were taken on board I believe.
“The need for some urgency and efficiency was taken by both the department and the main contractor, hence completion ahead of schedule.”
Department of Regional Development minister in the North, Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy, described the re-opening of the Hightown Bridge in Glengormley as excellent progress.
“I fully understand the impact that the bridge replacement works have had on local people, particularly those that used the Hightown Road on a regular basis,” said the republican. “I would like to thank them for their patience during the construction period.”

Sinn Féin will lobby against Mater downgrading

Commenting on the proposals to ‘downgrade’ services at the Mater Hospital, North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said any decision should be based on need.
"We are going to be lobbying very strongly on this issue,” said Carál.
“A&E should be retained within the Mater as well as mental health and maternity services.
“All the deprivation indicators, show North Belfast ranks at the top, and one of those categories is health. I would encourage everyone to take part in the consultation because there are huge equality issues at stake here.”

Concern at number of sex offenders in North Belfast

Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said figures showing North Belfast has the second highest number of sex offenders with addresses in the area in the whole of the North were concerning.
“This flags up the need for transfer of police and justice power so that local people in the North can have a say on how these issues are dealt with,” said Gerry.
“These powers should also be transferred as quickly as possible so that our locally elected representatives can deal with these issues that are clearly right on our doorstep.
“We need these levels of accountability and scrutiny right across the spectrum and Sinn Féin is rigorously pursing that."

Wasteland fix and air rifle madness

North Belfast Sinn Féin Councillor Danny Lavery said he hopes to get a patch of wasteland in the Oldpark area fenced off.
The land is at the back of shops on the Oldpark and stretches between Ballymoney Street and Rosapenna Street.
“I will be investigating who owns this land and I hope to get the fence repaired and cleared of all this rubbish,” said Danny.
“It's clear kids are getting in here and setting things on fire as well as using it as a drinking den.
“There is also a wider issue of lighting in this area and I hope to ask the relevant agencies what they are doing about it.”
Meanwhile

Air rifle madness
Sinn Féin councillor Margaret McClenaghan said following recent air rifle attacks on black taxis and one on a young man in the New Lodge that someone will end up seriously hurt.
Pellets were fired from an air rifle at three black taxis carrying passengers as they made their way through Ardoyne recently.
“This is obviously someone in the local community doing this but they must realise that someone is going to end up seriously hurt here,” said Margaret McClenaghan.

‘We hope it will make for more effective policing in North Belfast’ – Sinn Féin Councillor and DPP member Danny Lavery on DPP meetings taking place in

North Belfast District Policing Partnership's (DPP) elected and independent members gathered in the New Lodge and Ardoyne this week in the first step towards the area's first ever policing meeting.
“There was a modest turnout at the meeting (New Lodge) but we got good feedback from those gathered and we hope it will make for more effective policing in North Belfast,” said Sinn Féin Councillor and DPP member Danny Lavery.
“The meeting was one of several which have already taken place across the district and in general the same themes have been raised time and time again.
“People want to see an end to anti-social behaviour, street drinking, attacks on older people, break-ins and drugs-related problems.
“These meetings are new to us all, it is a learning curve for not only the community but also the DPP members and hopefully we will see just how effective they have been when the policing plan is officially released.”
There have been several such consultation meetings in North Belfast in recent months as DPP members seek to get the community involved in shaping the 2009/10 policing plan.

Decision is ‘crazy’ to allow fourth parade in a month - Tierna Cunningham

Sinn Feín councillor Tierna Cunningham said she is livid after the Royal Black Preceptory received the go ahead for a fourth parade on the Whitewell Road
“I just can't believe they are doing it again, I am absolutely livid,” said the North Belfast republican.
“At the beginning of the month a lot on money was spent bussing children out of the area to keep tensions low while this first parade was going on.
“Now they say they have to do it again because they didn't do it the first time. Where is the logic in this?”
This is the fourth time the he Royal Black Preceptory are to march on the Whitewell Road this month to perform a ceremony they should have carried out at an earlier march.
The Preceptory want to carry out a 'Moving District Colours' ceremony at Greencastle Orange Hall despite being granted permission to carry it out at their march on 1 August.
The marchers decided not to carry out the ceremony at that time and have now been granted permission to hold a further three parades on the road next Saturday (30 August).
“I'm appealing for local people to be calm in the face of this crazy decision,” said Tierna Cunningham.

Councillor delighted that the final stage of the plans for a new Irish medium school and GAA pitch

Sinn Féin councillor Margaret McClenaghan said she is delighted that the final stage of the plans for a new Irish medium school and GAA pitch on the Cliftonville Road have finally been submitted to the Planning Service
“This is a very sensible decision and a long time coming. The sooner the planning application goes through the better,” said the Republican representative.
“It will be a great boost for the area to have it all built and up and running. Those who will benefit the most will be the children from Ardoyne, Cliftonville and across North Belfast.
“It has been a very long wait, over six years of negotiations to get where we are today and I am delighted that the ball is finally rolling and the children here will get a brand new school and GAA pitch.”

Much-needed housing being vandalised – Lavery

North Belfast Sinn Féin councillor Danny Lavery has urged local people to be on the lookout for vandals who are demolishing building work on new houses.
Danny said that after builders constructing new homes at Thorndale leave for the day, vandals come behind them and demolish walls they have built.
The republican elected representative said the mindless vandals are pushing back work on the five new homes at Thorndale Avenue.
“I'm calling on local residents to be vigilant and keep an eye out for the people doing this,” said Danny.
“It has been going on for over a week now and will push back the time in which the houses will be completed.
“These houses are very much needed in the area and work needs to be ongoing on them. There is no sense in going behind a builder and ruining his day's work by demolishing the walls. “I am asking local people keep a close eye on the site and make sure if they see anything to report it.”

Cuts in traditional ambulance vehicle cover wrong - Ní Chuilín

After cuts in traditional ambulance vehicle cover were announced, North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said she met with ambulance staff this week and she believes patients will suffer.
“I believe it is ticking boxes and allowing management to give good figures at the expense of patients and staff,” said the North Belfast republican.
“Staff know their jobs and if they don't believe it’s right, working in the second biggest station in the North (Ardoyne), then I believe it is wrong.”

Rights of young people must be protected - Kelly

Sinn Féin MLA Northern Junior Minister Gerry Kelly met with criminal justice inspector, Kit Chivers last week to discuss his report into Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre.
The report contains 179 recommendations for improvement and said juveniles are treated inappropriately on arrival and that there are limited opportunities for young offenders to learn and develop new skills.
Gerry Kelly said that as part of the North’s ministerial team there was even more onus on making sure the rights of young people were protected.
“As ministers we have a responsibility to be advocates for the rights of all young people regardless of who they are or what they have done,” said the Republican representative.
“The Executive’s commitment to this is reflected in the fact that provision for vulnerable young people, including those in contact with the youth justice system, is one of the six priorities agreed by the Ministerial Sub Committee on Children and Young People.”
The North Belfast Sinn Fein MLA said he will visit Hydebank in the near future and speak to both the Governor and inmates to hear their views on both the report and the regime that exists there.
“As a society we need to constantly balance and improve the ways in which we protect society and rehabilitate those who have offended,”said the former Republican POW.
“The inspector’s report recommends ways in which this can be done and I would be keen to hear from inmates and staff at Hydebank. I will also be closely monitoring the implementation of the recommendations.”

Residents disappointed with parade decision – SF Councillor

Sinn Fein councillor Tierna Cunningham said residents were extremely disappointed that a Royal Black parade planned to take place on Friday 1st August 1 in the Whitewell area has been given the green light by the Parades Commission albeit with restrictions.
Residents will be staging a protest but restrictions have also been placed on this.
The last time the Royal Black Perceptory took this route was 15 years ago, which ended with nationalist homes being attacked.
“People are totally opposed to this parade. The sheer amount of parades in this area are the biggest threat to community relations,” said the Republican representative.
“Community and political representatives in the Greencastle area have shown leadership on this issue, unfortunately that same leadership has not been forthcoming from the loyal orders and political unionism.
“The message is loud and clear here, the loyal orders can't keep on marching up the Whitewell road without engaging with the local community. They continue to be rewarded for not talking.”

Parade go-ahead would be ‘extremely inflammatory’ - SF Councillor

Sinn Féin Councillor Tierna Cunningham said she would be amazed if the Parades Commision allowed a loyal order parade to through a nationalist area next week.
Residents from Whitewell and Bawnmore joined Tierna and party MLA Carál Ní Chuilín in a meeting with the Parades Commission this week to outline their strict opposition to any such parade.
The parade has been lodged by the City of Belfast County Grand Black Chapter who want their one band and 140 participants to march on Friday August 1 along the route that begins at Cloughfern Protestant Hall and then travels along Doagh Road, Shore Road (passing the nationalist Bawnmore estate), under the bridge and onto the Whitewell Road before finishing at Greencastle Orange Hall at the bottom of the Whitewell Road just after 9pm.
Tierna Cunningham said she would be gobsmacked if the 11 Bar One application was approved.
“I would be seriously amazed if this was granted,” she said.
“If the Parades Commission are all about fostering good relations in the community they couldn't, in all good conscience give this march the green light.”
Fifteen years ago the Royal Black Perceptory took this route when many nationalist homes were attacked.
“This part of North Belfast and especially the Whitewell has gone from mainly mixed to mainly nationalist over the last 15 years. To parade here now would be extremely inflammatory.”
Sinn Féin will fight to retain Whitewell Library

Sinn Féin Tierna Cunningham said her party would be fighting to keep Whitewell Library open.
“As a party we support rationalisation as long as it's sensible but specifically regarding the closure of Whitewell Library I don't think it makes sense,” said Tierna.
“People from the Whitewell simply don't feel safe using the Grove and we will be fighting hard to make sure we get the service we deserve.”

Kelly calls for accept the offensive nature of her words

Calling on Mrs Robinson to accept the offensive nature of her words in her latest outburst on homosexuality, North Belfast Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly said the gay community already suffered an intolerable degree of discrimination and attack.
“Iris Robinson's comments come on the back of several ill advised and poorly judge statements from a woman who is not only the wife of the First Minister but the chairperson of the Assembly Health Committee," he said.
"Her words undermine the sterling work of groups such as the Rainbow Project who were recently hosted in the Long Gallery Stormont.
"I accept that she has since retracted her words, but what we need to see now is a change in her attitude and an acceptance of the fact that these words and statements are deeply, deeply offensive and hurtful to members of the gay community and their families."

Lack of funding for this year’s New Lodge Festival was a complete mess - Ní Chuilín

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said the .
Belfast Sinn Fein MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said festivals like the New Lodge should be given every support.
“These festivals were brought in to replace the violence we had around the anniversary of internment, it was about keeping the streets safe,” she said.
“But £77,000 for the whole city of Belfast is crazy. It’s just not enough. DCAL’s a complete mess. The DUP minister and the Civil Service have no understanding of what a community festival is.”
Festival organiser John O’Hagan said it would be back to basics for the New Lodge Festival.
“Due to the lack of money available for community festivals the New Lodge Festival Committee has this year been unable to secure funding to stage a programme of events as previous years,” said John.
“However we hope to take this opportunity to bring the festival back to basics. Back to the days when we had no funding the festival was always a huge success,” he said.

Margaret calls for derelict building to be dealt with

North Belfast Sinn Fein councillor Margaret McClenaghan has called on the Housing Executive (HE) to listen to the fears of residents living in the shadow of a derelict death-trap.
Margaret repeated her demands for housing bosses to demolish the building in the Farringdon area of Ardoyne.
Margaret said she fears children playing in the grounds will be injured or worse if and when it collapses.
Despite HE assurances that the property would be surveyed by a structural engineer, Margaret said technicalities were wasting precious time.
“It doesn't take an engineer to see the bungalow is a health and safety nightmare and it needs to be demolished,” said Margaret.
“If that house was demolished and two houses built in its place it would make residents' lives more bearable and at the same time provide vital housing for those on North Belfast's ever-increasing housing waiting list.”
Residents of the area had also been plagued by anti-social gangs drinking and partying in a privately-owned derelict house in the same street.
Although the landlord has boarded up the property on several occasions, the Republican representative said more needed to be done to bring the situation to a close.
“With these two vacant properties so close together it's an absolute nightmare situation for residents and I want to see something done to end all this,” said Margaret.
“Vacant houses have always been a recipe for disaster and when it starts to effect the quality of life of those around them we need to speak out.”

Lavery praises new lease of life for Kinnaird

North Belfast Sinn Fein councillor Danny Lavery said he is delighted that a string of derelict and rat infested houses in Kinnaird Street have been pulled down to make way for five new family homes.
“Sinn Féin has been lobbying to get these houses sorted for years,” said Danny.
“And I am pleased now that they've gone and will now be turned into much needed family homes.

Sinn Féin MLAs praise summer scheme success

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLAs Gerry Kelly and Carál Ní Chuilín have given their support to a summer scheme in the New Lodge aimed at encouraging local children to stay away from interface flashpoints.
Organised by Tar Isteach in Hillman Street, Sinn Féin councillor and youth worker Tierna Cunningham said the summer was shaping up really well despite the weather.
“We've been running now for nearly two weeks and it's been really good craic so far,” said Tierna.
“The kids work hard all year long with us and in school, and this is an opportunity for them to have fun. We took them to W5 the other day and we're going on a banana boat soon as well. And if the weather's dry we'll take them up Cave Hill. It’s all good fun with exercise thrown in, which is great.”
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said the Tar Isteach youth group has produced several successes already.
“They've been involved in graffiti removal schemes as well as anti-sectarian and anti-racism projects like the mural dedicated to Rosa Parks and another condemning attacks on our emergency services.
“It's about respect for themselves and respect for the community they come from. There are 2,500 young people under the age of 25 here in the New Lodge and it’s only a small minority involved at the interfaces. That's where diversionary programmes need to continue and need to be funded,” said Carál.

Kelly’s expresses shock at Young Offenders’ Centre report

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly has expressed his concern about a new report into conditions at Hydebank Young Offenders’ Centre, which this week revealed conditions there have deteriorated in the past two years.
Inspectors said conditions were worse than they had been following the last inspection, with juvenile prisoners reportedly spending 20 hours a day locked in their cells and being routinely strip-searched and unnecessarily handcuffed.
Former Republican POW Gerry said if punishment for young offenders had to be jail then conditions needed to be drastically improved.
“As a junior minister I have a special responsibility for children and young people and that is why I am all the more shocked and concerned by the findings of this new report,” said Gerry.
“There is a deep concern that educational and recreational facilities are under-used if young people are locked up for most of the day and I intend to get to the bottom of this.
“This situation is unacceptable and I will be demanding to know every single improvement that was supposedly carried out since the last inspection.
“This is a very vulnerable section of society we are talking about and there is no chance they can come out of Hydebank reformed if they are not given the proper facilities when inside.”

Sinn Féin calls for vigilance after gun incident

North Belfast Sinn Féin Councillor Danny Lavery called on Belfast City Council to act after a nationalist council employee had a gun put to his head as he walked to work at the Council’s Duncrue Street cleansing depot.
The man was subjected to a torrent of sectarian abuse before having a gun put to his head.
Sinn Féin Councillor Danny Lavery said he had been hounding the Council to put in place temporary arrangements to facilitate nationalist council workers in sensitive areas over the summer months.
“This innocent man was simply going about his business trying to earn a day's wages when he was subjected to this despicable act of intimidation in broad daylight,” said Danny.
“Nationalist Council workers have reported feeling very intimidated in certain areas over the last number of weeks and the issue of alternative short-term arrangements has been raised several times, yet still nothing concrete has been put in place.
“It shouldn't need an incident like this to kick Council officers into action and I have been on to the Council this week to try to get something sorted immediately until these sensitive few months have passed.
“Facilitation is not being pushed hard enough and I want to see action taken immediately.”
Party colleague and North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly urged the Council to be as flexible as possible in facilitating nationalist workers in the coming weeks.
“At this time of year when tensions are raised I would urge all agencies to be as flexible as possible and make special arrangements where necessary to avoid heightening tensions,” said the MLA.
“There is no political support for this type of activity and there is no support in North Belfast for anyone who is trying to take us back in time.
“What is needed here is vigilance and I would ask everyone to look out for one another because there is no room for complacency,” said Gerry.

Lavery condemns arson attack
Danny Lavery has also condemned an arson attack on the home of an elderly couple, which took place in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Police said the man and woman were unhurt but were left badly shaken after the blaze broke out at their Brookvale Avenue home.
It was revealed this week that 40 per cent of the Fire and Rescue Service’s entire budget is spent on dealing with malicious fires – Cllr Lavery said it was disgrace that money was being wasted in this way.
“These firebugs and arsonists are using up precious resources in the Fire Service's budget which is, like that of most other agencies, already stretched. This arson attack in Brookvale is the latest in a very long line of distressing incidents right across North Belfast and they need to be stopped,” said Danny.

Racist attacks are cowardly - Cunningham

Sinn Féin councillor Tierna Cunningham said those behind a racist campaign that has forced a west African family to flee their North Belfast home as cowards.
The family have decided to leave their Old Westland Road home of two years after the third attack in as many weeks.
“Everyone has the right to live in peace and without threat of attack and I wholeheartedly condemn these attacks on this innocent family,” said Tierna.
“I will do whatever I can on the ground to find out who is behind this intimidation and to support the family at this very difficult time.”
It’s the third time windows in the house have been smashed since the end of May and the car has also been targeted in the racist attacks.

Meanwhile Tierna Cunningham has slammed racist graffiti on a wall on the Shore Road as disgraceful and has contacted Belfast City Council to get it removed.
“All right-thinking people should condemn this, it is completely appalling. Everyone has the right to live in peace and harmony and I would appeal to anyone who witnessed this being written to come forward to the police,” said the republican representative.
“It is important people go that extra mile for their neighbours no matter what background they come from. If anyone is experiencing problems they can contact our office on the Antrim Road and we will be more than happy to support them.”

Kelly calls for community to unite against sectarian attacks

Condemning recent sectarian attacks in North Belfast, Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly called on the community to unite against interface violence.
Appealing directly to unionism to condemn the attacks the republican representative said strong leadership on the ground was the only way forward.
“There are serious concerns about the increase in sectarian attacks in the area over the weekend and I want to express my disgust at what happened,” said Gerry.
“One man is lucky to be alive while two teenagers were attacked and various other incidents occurred.
“North Belfast's MLAs have united in their condemnation of interface violence and I would call on the community to unite against it too.”
In one of the incidents a North Belfast father-of-three was stabbed in the head and neck with a spear in Duncairn Gardens.
The stabbing followed a weekend of sectarian attacks in North Belfast. Two teenagers were attacked by a gang from the Tiger’s Bay area on Saturday night near Yorkgate, while several nationalist residents’ cars in Henderson Avenue were damaged by acid.
Sinn Féin Councillor Tierna Cunningham said she would be meeting with residents of Henderson Avenue to offer her support and appealed for no retaliation over the spate of attacks.
A man walking his dog along the Whitewell Road was attacked by a carload of men close to the entrance of the White City estate. Two cars in Mountainview Park were also damaged on after missiles rained over the peacewall.
Local republican and North Belfast interface worker Gerry O’Reilly said he was disappointed to learn of the recent attacks considering the amount of hard work put into reducing anti-social behaviour at flashpoints.
“A lot of progress has been made by individuals and groups working at the interface, including residents’ groups, since last summer," he said.
“I think a good example of people working together came through with the recent quiet Tour of the North.
“Some of the positive steps which were taken influenced that outcome, therefore it is very disappointing that here we have individuals who insist on attacking people on a purely sectarian basis.
“Anyone with information should be contacting the PSNI to ensure the people involved will go face the courts for their actions. In the meantime, talks and dialogue between the two communities will continue.”

Ní Chuilín calls on community to support housing campaign

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín called on the community as a whole to come out and support the Stand Up for North Belfast’ housing campaign for equality in North Belfast.
“So far what we have received is not good enough and what we need is the support of the people to show we won't settle for these inequalities any longer,” said Carál.
The republican representative’s comments came after the housing campaign took to the streets in their fight for equality.
With banners and placards, housing campaigners stopped traffic at the Donegall Street/Carrickhill junction in a bid to drum up support for their cause.
Outraged by the Planning Service’s decision to give the green light to 226 high-rise private apartments on the Donegall Street car park organisers said the protest was only the beginning of a relentless campaign.

Ní Chuilín wants answers regarding job loses
Meanwhile Carál Ní Chuilín called on the First and deputy First Ministers and Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie to justify the last-minute decision to axe five invaluable North Belfast community jobs.
Slamming the two Assembly departments in charge of allocating funding for North Belfast's Community Empowerment Partnerships (CEP), Carál said the ministers must justify the logic behind the decision to axe funding for the five posts.
The four communications workers from Ligoniel, New Lodge, Cliftonville and Ardoyne have been chopped while Ardoyne's education outreach worker post has also been terminated. Despite having been on protective notice since April when the North Belfast Community Action Unit (NBCAU) first announced jobs were to be axed, CEP staff believed their posts would be safe for at least a year as they were officially due to wind up in August 2009,
“There is something wrong with a process where groups are asked to submit new and revised plans and are then told they aren't getting new funding anyway, and I want to know what went wrong here,” said the republican representative.
“The CEPs do vital work in North Belfast yet important jobs have just been axed and I want to know the rationale behind the decision.
“This whole process clearly needs scrutinised and the North Belfast community and these invaluable workers deserve answers.”
Originally set up following the Holy Cross blockades of 2001, CEPs were intended to build community confidence and morale.