Responding to the DUP’s announcement that some double jobbing DUP MPs will not stand for re-election to the Assembly Jim Allister said:

“It is not often that the EU Parliament gets things right but they were certainly correct when they decided that MEPs could not be members of their national parliaments. The ending of duel mandates is something which I have long called for.

“It is clear to me that the voters are tired of the double and triple jobbing politicians which are so common in Northern Ireland politics. Nor, might I add, have they much time for family dynasty building.”

Sinn Féin MEP for Foyle Bairbre de Brún speaking at her campaign launch  for the European elections on June 4th has said that Sinn Fein are fighting for every vote in every county in Ireland.

Ms de Brún was joined for the campaign launch by Party President Gerry Adams, deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Junior Minister Gerry Kelly

Speaking from yesterday’s campaign launch Ms de Brún  said:

“Sinn Féin has been out on the ground visiting local communities and listening to the concerns of people across the North. We are a strong voice for local communities when it comes to Europe and when it comes to defending the peace process. We are fighting for every vote not just in Derry City or the North but in every county in Ireland.

“Our campaign is based on our leadership – and our record at home and in Europe.

“Sinn Féin will continue to deliver progress on advancing Irish Unity, on policing, for local communities, on jobs and the economy, and to challenge those who want to slow down the process of change.”

Martin McGuinness  said:

“We want to maximise the Sinn Féin vote across Ireland and maximise the vote for progress – for political progress, for economic progress and for a new relationship with Europe that puts Ireland first.

“We know that a some small number of people are opposed to the progress of recent years and we are asking people to come out to defend the Peace Process; to defend the progress that we have made in the past decade; To give us a mandate for change.”

Alliance Europe candidate Ian Parsley has cautioned Translink’s move to increase fares saying it will hit people hard and stated that doing this during the downturn will have a very negative impact. Bus fares will increase on 18 May by 2% and rail fares by 3%.

Ian Parsley said: “With the economic downturn, many people are assessing whether or not they can afford to run their car. People want to use public transport more but may be deterred from it because Translink are increasing fares.

“As a regular user of the train, I know Translink should be acknowledging the tightened purse strings and freezing their prices instead of announcing hikes.

“The public are also now looking at their own carbon footprint, and getting more people to use public transport will help the environment. This move from Translink will however have done little to persuade people to change their means of transport.

“Congestion on our streets is getting worse, and public transport provides a solution, but only if it is affordable to all.”

SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone has reduced his carbon footprint by buying a low-carbon emission car.

Mr McGlone, chair of the Stormont Environment Committee, received the keys to his new Volkswagen BlueMotion Passat from Terence Donnelly, proprietor of Donnelly Motors, at Stormont on Tuesday.

A BlueMotion vehicle is extremely energy efficient and reduces the carbon emission of its engine as well as harnessing energy saving techniques from its design.

Mr McGlone said: “I decided to buy a BlueMotion vehicle because I became aware of the low CO2 emissions from its engines. As an MLA, I spend a lot of time travelling between my constituency in Mid Ulster and Stormont.

“As chair of the Environment Committee it’s my duty to set a good example and I also get great peace-of-mind from reducing my carbon footprint.

“Many people have to commute, sometimes long distances, for whatever reason, but there are options for them to offset their own carbon footprint. My BlueMotion car is just one of those options, but I feel if everybody makes that extra effort to reduce their CO2 emissions, then the quality of our environment will duly benefit.”

Mr Donnelly said: “I’m delighted Mr McGlone has decided to invest in the BlueMotion car, not only will he see the benefits on the roads but also to the environment.”

On 1st April Coalisland library celebrated day one of Libraries NI, the new library service for Northern Ireland with a range of treats for customers.  As well as handing out pens and pencils with details of the new website www.librariesni.org.uk , libraries also rewarded the first customers to borrow a book and use a computer with a book token.

Pictured are pupils from Primate Dixon Nursery in Coalisland Library.

Libraries NI will provide an integrated service through more than 100 libraries across Northern Ireland.  You can use your library card in any library, making it easier to borrow a book in Coalisland and return it to Bangor.   It is free to join the library, borrow books and use the computers with free Internet access.

Culture Minister Gregory Campbell officially launched Libraries NI. He said that Libraries NI will support a wide range of government priorities such as promoting literacy, lifelong learning, and addressing social exclusion.

Speaking at the launch David Elliott, Chairperson of Libraries NI said: “A good modern library is an information hub, providing a wide range of services for children, young people and adults of all ages. Membership is free and brings with it access to a wide range of services, not only books, but also free online access with skilled and knowledgeable staff who can help users to navigate their way through the mass of printed and online material that is available today. 

“At this time of economic recession the services that libraries provide are more important than ever. The moment we persuade anyone to cross that magical threshold into a library, we change their lives forever, and for the better.”