SDLP SUPPORTED WATER AND WATER SEWRAGE BILLING FOR CHURCHES AND OTHER NON DOMESTIC PROPERTIES

Department of Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy has told the Assembly that recommendations from the Independent Water Review Panel introduced in April 2008 and which included the charging of non domestic customers such as charities and places of worship, were accepted by all members of the Executive including the SDLP.

"As a matter of fact when the Panels Report was published the SDLP stated that it represented the central plank of SDLP policy on the issue" said the Minister who told the Assembly "Either the party did not read — or did not understand — the independent panel’s report, or else, as seems to be the case, it is trying to distance itself from decisions that it has already signed up to".

In relation to Non Domestic charges the Minister explained "I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water that, from 1 April 2008, all non-domestic customers have been subject to water and sewerage charges and to trade-effluent charges, where applicable. Non-domestic customers include farms; small, medium and large businesses; industrial users; voluntary organisations; charities; public bodies; places of worship; and any property that is not intended for permanent household use. The Executive accepted the independent water review panel’s recommendation that billing for water and sewerage services should be extended to all non-domestic properties from 1 April 2008, and they decided that that should be phased in overcharges for non domestic customers two years, with customers paying 50% of the full amount in 2008-09 and 100% of it from 2009-10. Accordingly, all non-domestic premises have been billed for water and sewerage services since April 2008.Places of worship are classed as non-domestic, and many have been paying metered water charges for many years. Before the extension of non-domestic payments, the Water Service was already billing some 1,200 church properties. It remains company policy to extend metering for billing purposes throughout the non-domestic sector".

The Minister also stated clearly that any suggestion that the issue had not been debated was erroneous. "The independent panel’s report was carefully scrutinised by the Committee for Regional Development, and the church issue was not raised at the time, nor was it raised at the Executive when the matter was voted on and agreed last October.  I made a statement to the Assembly on the implications of the panel’s report, and we had a full debate on the matter; again, the church issue was not raised.

Conor concluded by stating "When the Executive unanimously signed up to the introduction of billing to all non-domestic properties, we were aware that the decision would create hardship for some sectors. Nonetheless — as has been preciously been explained and accepted — 1,200 church properties were already being billed and had been for many years. If, as some are now suggesting should happen, one particular sector is exempted from the charge, the rest of the non-domestic sector will carry the cost. The panel recommended, and the Executive concluded, that the fairest way forward was to charge all non-domestic customers. The recent public attacks on me by the SDLP suggests that some of their elected representatives have not read or understood the report, or perhaps it is more likely that they are being disingenuous and trying to distance themselves from decisions to which they signed up earlier.

"Sinn Féin for sustainable communities" -Mickey Brady

Sinn Féin MLA Mickey Brady has said Sinn Féin are for sustainable rural and urban communities and an education which meets the needs of the children of those communities.

Commenting on the Sustainable Schools Policy, the Newry and Armagh MLA said "Sinn Féin are for sustainable rural and urban communities and an education which meets the needs of the children of those communities. We will be approaching the implementation of the Sustainable Schools policy from that starting point" and he continued "The policy sets out six criteria for helping to assess the important issue of the viability of schools, the educational experience of children, strength of links to the community and accessibility, enrolment trends, financial position, and school leadership and management".

Mickey said that all of the criteria were equally important and the debate about the future of any school did not boil down to a simple numbers equation. "It must be about the ability to deliver the standards and opportunities that our children need" said the MLA and he concluded by stating "At the heart of our education system must be the quality of education delivered to children in our schools. I would call on all to consider the document carefully and put education ahead of party politics."

LOYALIST FLAGS FESTOONED IN MALL AREA OF ARMAGH- DOES NOTHING TO PROMOTE GOOD RELATIONS-CITY MAYOR

Mayor of Armagh City and District Council Noel Sheridan has said the flying of Loyalist UVF and UDA flags and emblems on the Mall in Armagh City has disgusted and angered many.

"I have been approached by a number of residents regarding the flags on the Mall, they have all expressed their disgust that emblems of organisations which have been responsible for the deaths of innocence people are being allowed to remain on display in one of the most beautiful areas of the city” said the Mayor who added “Indeed some traders in the City pointed out that they were served with enforcement notices to remove advertisements from the same polls within 21 days or face being taken to court, but yet these emblems  festooned in the area are allowed to remain to the detriment of their businesses”.

The Mayor went on to say that the Mall was a shared space which all sides of the community enjoyed.

“Substantial amounts of Rate payer’s money is used to maintain what is regarded as one of the most celebrated areas of any Town or City in Ireland” said Noel and he continued “As Mayor I have pledged to play my part in promoting good relations. We all have our part to play to end the divisions and old hatreds, not only here in Armagh City and District but throughout our island. That means pro-actively tackling the scourge of sectarianism. Difference in our past meant division, in the future we need to ensure that difference isn't seen as a threat but instead as something to cherish and celebrate. I will be ensuring that the Council actively promotes a Good Relations policy”.

He concluded by stating that he recogonised that the issue of flags and emblems was not a one way street. “Where complaints are brought, we as civic leaders should investigate them and there has been hurt and offence expressed by victims of some of these groups whose flags are flying in this area”.

He confirmed that he would be asking the Council to contact the PSNI and Roads Service to request the removal of the offensive Loyalist killer gang flags and emblems