19 Aug, 2021 Poots welcomes release of NI Carrier Bag Levy statistics Environment Minister Edwin Poots MLA today welcomed the release of the 8th annual Carrier Bag Levy statistics for Northern Ireland. The Carrier bag levy annual statistics 2020/21 shows that 56.2 million carrier bags were dispensed by retailers under the levy in Northern Ireland between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021. This was 30.2% lower than the previous year, with 24.3 million fewer bags dispensed. The proceeds of the carrier bag levy, which was introduced in Northern Ireland in 2013, totalled £2.2 million, a decrease of £2.2m (50.5%) from the previous year. This was in part due to the levy being waived for home delivery of groceries between 1 April 2020 and 30 September 2020 to manage challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.
19 Aug, 2021 Sir Jeffrey Donaldson salutes courage of diplomatic staff Saluting the courageous people like our UK Ambassador, our diplomatic teams & our armed forces who are working flat out to help our British citizens and others evacuate from Afghanistan. https://t.co/bzbmMntUmV— Jeffrey Donaldson MP (@J_Donaldson_MP) August 19, 2021
18 Aug, 2021 Buckley calls for ‘sustained' action to tackle driver and vehicle testing gridlock DUP Upper Bann MLA and Chair of the Assembly’s Infrastructure Committee Jonathan Buckley has cautiously welcomed the increase in the number of practical driving tests carried out in the last three months but warned that ‘sustained’ action will be needed as demand for driver and vehicle testing continues to outstrip supply.
18 Aug, 2021 Sir Jeffrey Donaldson - not the day for point scoring we must help people stranded in Afghanistan
18 Aug, 2021 Ian Paisley reminds Prime Minister of plight facing religious minorities During the Prime Minister’s speech North Antrim MP Ian Paisley raises the plight of 228 missionaries who are in Afghanistan facing a death sentence.@BorisJohnson @HouseofCommons @OpenDoorsUK @ReleaseInt pic.twitter.com/nqqiLVxeWx— DUP (@duponline) August 18, 2021
17 Aug, 2021 Diane Dodds urges people to respond to childcare survey Childcare is one of the most important issues facing working parents and those who want to access the labour market. This is an important part of forming future policy. Please respond. https://t.co/2LikybkrCm— Diane Dodds MLA (@DianeDoddsMLA) August 16, 2021
17 Aug, 2021 Buckley calls for decisive action to address recruitment crisis in NI taxi sector DUP Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley has challenged the Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon to identify and implement measures to remove ‘prohibitive’ barriers facing those drivers who wish to forge a career in the taxi industry in Northern Ireland.
17 Aug, 2021 Jim Shannon - we have a moral duty to stand by those who stood by us Strangford MP Jim Shannon has urged the Government to put in place a proper process to ensure those who helped our troops in Afghanistan can have sanctuary in the UK.
17 Aug, 2021 Ian Paisley ecstatic at job announcement DUP North Antrim MP Ian Paisley has welcomed the news that Wrightbus will be increasing its employment by another 300 workers bringing the new total employees on the site to approximately 1000.
17 Aug, 2021 Cameron backs ‘Big Jab Weekend’ campaign DUP South Antrim MLA and Vice-Chair of the Assembly’s Health Committee Pam Cameron has urged anyone aged 18 and over not to miss the last opportunity to get their first Covid-19 jab at one of Northern Ireland’s mass vaccination centres.