INFRASTRUCTURE Minister John O’Dowd has outlined several measures to tackle MOT waiting lists across the North. Speaking in the Assembly on Monday, Mr O’Dowd said more than 50 newly recruited examiners would start working in test centres from June. “The DVA currently has 55 MOT examiner vacancies across its network of test centres,” the minister told MLAs. “It […]
Fermanagh’s future leaders take seats at the Townhall
THERE were no doubt a few future leaders among the St Kevin’s Student Council who had the opportunity to sample the workings of local government last week. Recently the students from the Lisnaskea college had the change to hold their first Student Council meeting of the new term in the chamber of Enniskillen Townhall. The Student Council, […]
Three-day Translink strike suspended
A THREE-DAY strike this week by transport workers in Northern Ireland, which threatened to disrupt the travel plans of thousands of Fermanagh commuters, has been suspended. Translink workers were due to walk out yesterday (Tuesday) for three days after their unions rejected a payment offer from the government. However, following talks on Sunday, the unions said there had been an […]
Work on Enniskillen bypass to resume
IT has been a long time coming, but the A4 Enniskillen bypass is back on the road. On Monday night, news emerged that Northern Ireland’s Minister for Finance, Caoimhe Archibald, has allocated over £16 million to help with the development of the long-awaited Enniskillen Southern Bypass. Up until now, the development has had its fair share […]
Cabinet Office’s view was to ‘let Bobby Sands die’
A NEW book by a respected Irish journalist has revealed the ultra-hard line a top civil servant had on the hunger strikes and that the Cabinet office’s approach to Bobby Sands was “let the hoor die”. In his memoir, ‘Eyewitness to War and Peace’, journalist Eamonn Mallie said he was shocked by the ferocity of the language […]
Fear Enniskillen businesses could be hit by DfI move
THERE are fears local businesses could lose trade in Enniskillen town centre after many had their advertising signs removed last week. A common sight in the county town, many businesses use ‘A’ boards to advertise their services. However, last Friday staff from the Department of Infrastructure (DfI) removed some of the signs from the footpaths. The […]
Sinn Féin’s Dolan backs Gildernew for EU seat
A FERMANAGH and South Tyrone MLA has backed Michelle Gildernew to ‘call out the EU when needed’ if she’s elected later this year. Last week it was confirmed that Ms Gildernew will contest the European Union in July in the Midlands/ North West constituency. It’ll bring the curtain down on her 20-odd year campaign as […]
SOAS seeks meeting with NI Health Minister Robin Swann
NEWLY re-appointed Health Minister Robin Swann has been urged to commit to restoring emergency general surgery (EGS) at the SWAH. Campaign group Save Our Acute Services has already written to Minister Swann requesting an urgent meeting on the situation. The decision by the Western Trust to withdraw the EGS service at the Enniskillen hospital was announced a […]
Saving SWAH and fixing roads key for Fermanagh MLAs
SUPPORTING the South West Acute Hospital, improving infrastructure in Fermanagh and fighting for better public sector pay are the key priorities for our local politicians as they return to Stormont this week. After a two-year absence, the Northern Ireland Executive is finally back up and running and the elected representatives for Fermanagh and South Tyrone […]
‘DUP sold us a lie’, says TUV’s Crawford
A MEMBER of the TUV in Fermanagh, who erected a ‘Stop DUP Sell-out’ banner in Enniskillen, has said he ‘feels very strongly’ that action needs to be taken after the Stormont Executive was restored. After a two-year absence, the Stormont Executive returned on Saturday. Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill was elected as First Minister, with Emma […]