Commenting on the end of the Blair Prime Ministership, Sinn Fin Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness said:

It is only right that as Mr Blair’s time in Downing Street comes to an end that we acknowledge the very positive contribution he has made to the peace process and to the building of new relationships in Ireland and between Ireland and Britain.

There is no doubt that Tony Blair devoted more time and energy on finding a peaceful way forward than any other British Prime Minister. But as Irish republicans, while we should acknowledge the positive contribution he made to the Irish Peace Process our job is to create the conditions in which the British sovereignty over any part of Ireland is removed and the relationship between the two islands is between two sovereign nations.

However this is all part of a process and we will continue to work constructively with the Gordon Browne to make further progress on the peace dividend, the truth around collusion and Irish reunification.

On other areas of foreign policy such as Afghanistan and Iraq on which we profoundly disagreed with him I dont believe he will be judged so
favorably.

Stanley Weatherup, Slievetrue Road, Carrickfergus, was convicted at Belfast Magistrates Court on 26 June 2007 of 12 charges under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 1972 and three charges under the Cattle Identification (No 2) Regulations (NI) 1998. In addition, he was convicted of two charges in relation to the welfare of dogs taken by the PSNI - he was fined £500 plus £46 costs in respect of these.

Derek Weatherup, Slievetrue Road, Carrickfergus, was convicted at Belfast Magistrates Court on 26 June 2007 of four charges under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 1972, and four charges under the Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (NI) 2000.

Stanley Weatherup received a three year ban from keeping cattle, pigs and dogs (commencing 1 October 2007). He also received a three month custodial sentence suspended for one year, a conditional discharge for one year, and was fined £250.

Derek Weatherup received a three year ban from keeping cattle and pigs (commencing 1 October 2007), he also received a three month custodial sentence suspended for one year, and was fined £750 plus £46 costs

A report out today claims that more than a third of teachers feel the poor design of their school has a negative effect on their ability to teach.

The research, carried out by the Teacher Support Network and the British Council for School Environments, marks the start of National School Environments Week, which runs from 25-30 June.

Almost 90 per cent of those who took part in the research said that classroom layout is the single most important factor in the school environment when it comes to teaching and learning.

Only 60 per cent, however, said they were able to make adjustments to aid teaching.

Concerns about levels of security were also expressed, with almost a quarter saying that their school did not have sufficient levels of safety and security.

The research also found that, while most teachers believed information and communication technologies to be a vital part of teaching, only 60 per cent said they had adequate resources, while more than a third of teachers did not have the workspace necessary for the preparation and planning of school activities.

The BCSE is calling on the Government to follow a list of recommendations aimed at establishing good practice in the design and build of schools.

It says that a regular, large-scale survey of teachers and pupils to find out what can be done to improve the design of schools across the country will also help to get the future design of schools right.

In addition, it is calling for the creation of a national databank containing information on designs that do and don’t work.

Director of the BCSE, Ty Goddard, is calling on for the Government’s schools capital funding programme to reconsider the design and building process for schools.

‘The promise of billions of pounds to refurbish or rebuild schools is a fantastic opportunity – a real cause for celebration. But this new research shows the importance of getting the design and build process right, or we’ll end up with new schools that don’t work and fail our children, teachers and communities,’ he says.

The survey results can be found at www.teachersupport.info.