Irish Labour TD raises concern over ‘bespoke’ Irish legislation for Omagh Bombing inquiry co-operation
The Journal, Dublin, March 25th, 2026
Irish Labour Party TD Alan Kelly says the direction on deciding whether to grant information was ‘vague’ and ‘generic’.
CONCERNS HAVE BEEN raised in relation to legislation being tabled that would allow Irish ministers, gardaí and soldiers to give evidence to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry.
The International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026 would allow for current or former members of the Gardaí, the Irish army, the Civil Service or the Government to engage with the inquiry examining the 1998 atrocity in the Co Tyrone town.
The Government’s legislation provides for a “bespoke legal mechanism”, which is triggered by a request from the Omagh inquiry chairman, to allow sworn evidence to be taken before a High Court judge in Ireland.
The Real IRA bomb killed 29 people, including the mother of unborn twins.
The inquiry, chaired by House of Lords peer Andrew Turnbull, was set up following a number of legal challenges brought by campaigners, to examine whether the explosion could have been prevented by UK authorities.
The next stage of the hearing, which will begin on 21 September, will explore what can be established based on information including construction of the bomb, warning calls, claims of responsibility, arrests and subsequent court proceedings.
The Irish Government’s Bill was before the Dáil this evening.
‘Not without challenges’
Speaking in the Dáil, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said that assisting an inquiry established by another jurisdiction was “not without its challenges”.
“There are legal complexities that must be navigated to ensure consistency with the laws of Ireland and the Government’s duty to safeguard the essential interests of the state and the constitutional and other rights of citizens,” he said.
He said they had looked to assist the inquiry, including by agreeing a Memorandum of Understanding with Turnbull, and implementing measures with the aim of disclosing sensitive personal data, mostly material from An Garda Síochána.
“To date, approximately 20,000 pages of material have been provided by the Irish state to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry,” O’Callaghan said.
He said the Bill before the Oireachtas provides a “bespoke legal mechanism” to allow sworn evidence to be taken before a High Court judge in Ireland if the inquiry chairman requests such evidence.
He said the Bill would only provide for assistance with the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, which recognises its significance and allows for “speedy enactment”.
He said the mechanism is triggered by the chairman of the inquiry requesting assistance, which can be made to the Garda Commissioner or to the other heads of state bodies, including secretaries general.
“The assessment requires an individual consideration of each question and the potential evidence concerned,” he said.
“There are no classes of records that are automatically excluded from being put into evidence using this mechanism.”
He said the High Court judge will certify the transcript and provide it to the inquiry chairman, and the publication and dissemination of the transcript will be a matter for the chairman.
Labour TD Alan Kelly called the bombing “mass murder on our island” and said those who covered it up were “the worst kind of human beings that ever existed”.
The former minister welcomed the legislation, including the presence of family members while evidence is given, but said he had concerns that required “consideration and clarification”.
Customised to suit state bodies, not victims
He said under Section Five and Section Six of the Bill, “it is for the head of a designated state body themselves to make a determination as to whether the information they are being asked to provide should be privileged from disclosure”.
“They’re so vague. They’re actually meaningless, because they’re so vague,” he told the Dail.
“I fail to see under the way this is written, in this Bill, in this piece of legislation, how the head of a designated body is supposed to make such a determination.
“It’s so subjective, customisable to their own opinions, rather than given confirmed, direct provision for determination from the designated head of any body that is requested here, so it’s really at their whim.
“This needs to be more defined – I’m not alone in saying this.
“It’s too open ended, it’s not defined enough, and it’s a serious concern because it really is at the core of everything in it.”
He said that amendments would be tabled at committee stage and suggested that no pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill was a “mistake”.
He added: “There are so many outs here for those who – although have to be protected under the Constitution – need to be encouraged or need to give evidence and give access to information, access to records, access to data, that I don’t think we’re going to get the fulsome information that these people so desperately deserve, need and require.”
He also urged the minister to meet with the families of victims and survivors in relation to the legislation.
O'Neill and Little-Pengelly stand 'shoulder to shoulder', but separately, to tackle violence against women
REBECCA BLACK and JONATHAN MCCAMBRIDGE, Belfast Telegraph, March 25th, 2026
STORMONT LEADERS APPEAR SEPARATELY, BUT INSIST THEY ARE UNITED OVER 'HUGE MISOGYNY PROBLEM'
Northern Ireland's First and Deputy First Ministers have insisted they are working shoulder to shoulder to tackle violence against women and girls despite separate media appearances.
Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly were speaking following the murder of two women this month as well as the conviction of Stephen McCullagh for the murder of his pregnant partner Natalie McNally at Belfast Crown Court.
A murder investigation is ongoing following the death of Amy Doherty in Londonderry at the weekend, while a man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Ellie Flanagan in Fermanagh earlier this month.
Ms O'Neill told reporters at Stormont: “Enough is enough”.
Ending violence against women and girls is a focus of a major government strategy.
Ms O'Neill said she believes in the ongoing work, but described an “ingrained problem in our society”.
“We knew that two years of a strategy isn't going to turn around the problems, you only have to look at the shameful history of this place as to how women have been treated down through the decades, as recently as the Magdalen laundries,” she said, adding that some of the ongoing work includes with young people and across the justice system.
“But we're trying to turn around a generational problem, and unfortunately I don't think we're going to do that in two years, in the next number of weeks we're bringing the next stage of our plan to the Executive.
“We have a job, all of us collectively as a society, in terms of ending violence against women and girls. Enough is enough.
“It needs to be an ongoing conversation, we need to challenge the misogyny we see every day, we need all of us to work together to collectively turn the misogynistic element we have out there in our society.
“We have a huge problem. It is a fixable problem but it is going to require all of us working together.”
Ms O'Neill also commended Ms McNally's family for “using the most harrowing experience of their life” to raise awareness around violence against women and girls. Asked by media why she was not standing beside Ms Little-Pengelly for the comment, Ms O'Neill said the two would later speak together at an event with 600 young people, and insisted “all of our shoulders are to the wheel”.
Nothing to see here
Pressed again on why they were speaking to media separately about the issue, she responded: “There is no issue to see here.
“This is about me coming out to firstly offer my condolences to the McNally family, and offer my love and my support to them on the back of the outcome of the case yesterday, but also because of the day that is in it, and that we're about to head off and do different events.
“There is nothing to see here, we're all committed to tackling this work and I think that is what we should all keep focusing on.”
Speaking separately at Parliament Buildings, Ms Little-Pengelly welcomed the conviction of McCullagh.
“It has been a very long journey, very upsetting journey, Natalie was a young woman with her entire life in front of her and the terrible murder of her and her unborn child was absolutely appalling,” she said.
“I want to pay tribute to the McNally family. I know that they would take some comfort from the verdict, but of course nothing can undo the terrible violence that happened to Natalie.
“I also know the McNally family have been incredible in the work that they have done since the murder of Natalie, they've been incredibly brave and stepped forward to try and ensure that this should not happen to another woman or girl.”
Asked about not speaking in a joint appearance with Ms O'Neill, Ms Little-Pengelly said were united against violence against women and girls.
“We have stood shoulder to shoulder at absolutely every opportunity in terms of this strategy,” she said.
‘Makes me really angry’
“It makes me really angry every time I hear about the murder of a woman in Northern Ireland, I think that it should make all of us really angry when we hear that.
“We want to end violence against women and girls, the level of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland is just completely unacceptable.”
Earlier Justice Minister Naomi Long said violence against women and girls is a “particularly difficult” problem in Northern Ireland.
Ms Long said the region remains a “patriarchal society” where there is still a “lot of sexism, chauvinism and misogyny”. Ms Long paid tribute to Ms McNally's parents Bernie and Noel, who attended every day of the trial.
She told the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme they had been “so dignified throughout this whole ordeal”.
Ms Long added: “The pain they have gone through is unimaginable and it has been further compounded as they have been going through all of this that they have had to sit through such an ordeal in court. I am glad they have got the justice that they and Natalie deserve.”
Ms Long said she believed society and politicians needed to “do better” with regards to violence against women and girls. She said: “Sitting here with 30 women killed in six years, we have to say that pain that the McNallys have gone through is a pain that many families are going through, too many families.
“We want to do more to try and address these issues.
“In the last mandate we brought forward new legislation to deal with many of the issues, we are bringing forward further legislation in this mandate in the Department of Justice.
“We are also bringing forward policy that we hope will offer additional protections to women who may be at risk of domestic violence and abuse.
“But it is not just about what justice can do, because by then there are already victims and pain has been caused, it is about how we change the conversation in society, how we change the dial in terms of the vulnerability of women and girls to this kind of predatory behaviour and how we actually create a society that women and girls, and men and boys, are safe on our streets, in their homes and able to go about their lives without the constant fear of being victim to someone who has set out for violence or aggression. Unfortunately, I don't think we are there yet.”
Asked if violence against women was a Northern Ireland problem, the minister said: “I don't think it is a Northern Ireland-only problem, but I think it is a particularly difficult issue in Northern Ireland in what we do have is a wider prevalence of violence against women and girls.
“Northern Ireland remains a very patriarchal society, abuse of women generally is still accepted.
“There is still a lot of sexism, chauvinism, misogyny in our society.
“We also have, coming out of a post-conflict society, a higher tolerance for violence, higher levels of PTSD and other risk factors which could allow people to become perpetrators.
“When we look at some of the research that has been done, the connection between domestic abuse and concentrated paramilitarism in communities also exacerbates some of these harms in that people are either, at the very basic level, afraid to report what is happening to them, afraid of being seen to be engaging with the PSNI where that is frowned upon.”
Family of IRA man shot in SAS ambush challenge assessment he posed threat
ALAN ERWIN, Irish News, March 25th, 2026
A CORONER failed to properly assess the level of threat posed by an unarmed IRA driver ambushed and shot dead by the SAS in a Co Tyrone village, the Court of Appeal heard yesterday.
Senior judges were told a distinction should have been made between Tony Doris and two paramilitary associates also killed in Coagh back in June nearly 35 years ago.
Relatives of Doris are seeking to overturn a ruling that one of the soldiers was justified in opening fire on him.
He died alongside Peter Ryan and Lawrence McNally during the military operation mounted in June 1991.
The three men, part of an IRA East Tyrone brigade active service unit, were intercepted in a stolen car on suspicion they intended to murder a member of the security forces.
Up to 150 rounds were discharged in the hail of gunfire.
In 2024 a coroner ruled that the SAS was justified in its “reasonable and proportionate” use of lethal force at Coagh.
He found the soldiers had an honest belief that it was necessary in order to prevent loss of life.
Challenge
A judicial review challenge was mounted against the coroner’s verdict by relatives of Doris, alleging the circumstances breached the Article 2 right to life under European law.
Their lawyers claimed he had been wrongly “executed” as the unarmed driver who did not pose the same threat as those with weapons.
The SAS member who opened fire, referred to as Soldier B, had acted disproportionately, it was contended.
A High Court judge dismissed the case after backing the inquest verdict that the actions of Doris posed an immediate threat to life.
But Karen Quinlivan KC argued today that the assessment of Soldier B’s use of force had been wrong.
She told the Court of Appeal any assessment of the proportionality of his decision to open fire was completely inadequate.
“This was not a detailed and rigorous examination of the soldier that shot and killed Mr Doris,” the barrister submitted.
“Whatever happens, you should not shoot somebody unless it is absolutely necessary.”
The court heard Doris had been targeted as he tried to drive away from the scene.
“The threat presented by a driver is clearly distinguishable from the threat from armed passengers,” Ms Quinlivan insisted.
“On this issue the coroner has fallen into legal error.”
The appeal continues.
Former leading loyalist granted permission to challenge scope of Finucane inquiry
ALAN ERWIN, Irish News, March 25th, 2026
A ONE-TIME high-profile loyalist has secured High Court permission to challenge the scope of a public inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane.
William ‘Mo’ Courtney was granted leave to apply for a judicial review into terms of reference about seeking to establish the identity of all those involved in the killing.
The UDA veteran claims the decision taken by Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn is unlawful.
Mr Finucane, 39, was shot dead by loyalist paramilitary gunmen in front of his wife and three children at their north Belfast home in February 1989.
Previous probes have found evidence of security force collusion in one of the most notorious murders carried out during the Troubles.
Following a campaign by the Finucane family, in 2024 the UK government announced an independent statutory inquiry would be set up to examine the full circumstances surrounding the solicitor’s death.
Sir Gary Hickinbottom was later appointed to chair the tribunal which, under the Inquiries Act 2005, can compel the production of documents and summon witnesses to give evidence on oath.
Earlier this month Mr Benn published its terms of reference, saying they would enable the State to discharge its obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
In 2002, Courtney was reportedly arrested and questioned in connection with the murder of Mr Finucane, but released without any charge.
The 62-year-old, from the Shankill area of Belfast, is now taking legal action over the scope of the Pat Finucane Inquiry.
His lawyers claim terms of reference seeking to “establish the identity of all those involved in his murder and the nature of their involvement” represent a breach of the 2005 Act.
The legislation provides the inquiry panel with no power to determine any individual’s civil or criminal liability, they contend.
In an unusual move, a judge granted Courtney leave to apply for judicial review based on an assessment of written arguments.
The challenge against the Secretary of State will advance to a full hearing at the High Court in Belfast later this year.
“The courts must be accessible for all citizens to vindicate their rights,” Mr Bryson insisted.
Speaking later, Courtney’s representative Jamie Bryson confirmed he has cleared the first stage in the legal challenge.
“It is welcome that a High Court judge has ruled that Mr Courtney’s case establishes an arguable point of law which enjoys a reasonable prospect of success.“
Council uses contractors to remove Union flags from children’s playpark
CONNLA YOUNG CRIME and SECURITY CORRESPONDENT, Irish News, March 25th, 2026
BELFAST City Council has used contractors to remove Union and other flags from around a children’s playpark in the east of the city.
Details have emerged as graffiti was daubed on a wall close to the playground, in the Ballymacarrett area, warning that “anyone who touches these flags does so at their own risk”.
It has now emerged that city chiefs have brought in outside contractors to take down the flags, which have since been replaced.
In a statement a spokeswoman for the council confirmed the removal of flags.
“Following discussion at the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on 19 December 2025 in relation to the council’s approach to the display of all flags and banners at its assets, elected members highlighted the council’s commitment to creating a good and harmonious environment for both staff and residents, and agreed to undertake an audit in relation to this issue.
“In line with this decision, any flags in place have now been removed, reflecting the council’s existing policy.”
The council later confirmed the part played by contractors.
‘Jesus flags’
“Operational decisions on how we remove flags and banners from council assets, in line with our existing policy, will be taken on a case-bycase basis,” a spokeswoman said.
“On this specific occasion, a contractor was used.”
When pressed, the council refused to confirm at how locations flags have been removed since the audit was agreed in December.
There was controversy in 2012 when Belfast City Council voted to limit the days the Union flag would fly from city hall. The move prompted a series of protests, many of which ended in violence,
Meanwhile, a menacing message is believed to have been scrawled on a nearby wall after the flags were recently removed.
Claims had been made on social media that the council was responsible for removing the Union flags and other religiously themed flags, described as ‘Jesus flags’.
East Belfast Alliance assembly member Peter McReynolds slammed the threat.
“I utterly condemn this sinister graffiti which is designed to harass and intimidate,” he said.
“Those behind it offer nothing but harm for the community they purport to help.
“The people of East Belfast do not want these threats of violence.”
Mr McReynolds said he had reported the matter to the PSNI.
A spokesman for the PSNI said “police are aware of graffiti in the Severn Street area of east Belfast” and that “enquiries are ongoing”.
Party conferences can be a yawn fest but not the TUV's
SUZANNE BREEN, Belfast Telegraph, March 25th, 2026
Some parties' annual conferences are a snooze fest. You sit through long, meandering speeches that circle the same points without landing anywhere. The applause comes in polite, pre-arranged bursts rather than from genuine enthusiasm. Even the most committed attendees are quietly checking their watches.
Not the TUV. Delegates at its gathering at Cookstown last weekend were asked to give “a rowdy welcome” to Jim Allister — and they more than obliged.
Earlier, there was even a touch of risqué humour. Deputy leader Ron McDowell joked about a woman married three times whose husbands hadn't consummated the marriage.
Her third spouse was a DUP member who “sat on the end of the bed” every night telling her “how good it was going to be” without ever delivering.
By contrast, the TUV was “ready to consummate our Union with England, Scotland and Wales with actions, not just words of how good things are going to be”.
It was like a Sammy Wilson gag from decades ago when DUP conferences were pantomime-esque.
McDowell has often made the headlines in City Hall, and his party is keen to have him elected to Stormont.
He'll have to choose whether to go up against the DUP's Frank McCoubrey in West Belfast, where boundary changes mean there could now be a sole unionist seat, or North Belfast, where he'd aim for the DUP's second seat, currently held by Brian Kingston.
Don’t say Boo to Alliance
Allister took his usual combative approach in his address. He denounced “thin-skinned Alliance — the officially approved party of the woke media. Oh, yes, they can dish it out, but say boo to Naomi and you're a misogynist.”
The DUP was branded “Sinn Féin's little helpers”, with “big sister Michelle” also getting a touch. “Some claim to designate as women. Ms O'Neill claims to self-designate as 'First Minister for All'. It's just as impossible.”
Allister rounded on the “lies of the Dud Donaldson DUP deal” and “Gave-in Gavin”. There was only one good guy in his eyes: “The tenacious, bubble-bursting, truth-telling Timothy Gaston, the nemesis of Paula Bradshaw but the hero of North Antrim and of us all.”
TUV's confrontational style means that you don't need a dictionary to understand its message. In terms of branding, its simplicity is its strength. Yet, that all-swinging approach at political opponents also results in few transfers on polling day.
Reform UK's visiting MP Danny Kruger liked the “fiery political rhetoric” of TUV, although he stressed that his party wasn't taking sides in inter-unionist battles, and he spoke of his admiration for Gavin Robinson and Robin Swann.
Some party members believe that Reform UK shouldn't have been invited to the conference. One wrote on Facebook that it was a “sad, sad day”. He said that Nigel Farage would “sell us down the river as soon as he could”.
The Belfast member said he had emailed his local branch saying that he “no longer wish[ed] to be part of the TUV, if this is the direction the party is going”.
TUV Youth was launched at the conference with a discussion involving six young men. The lack of female faces prominent in the party is a problem. There was only one woman speaker at the conference, general secretary Ann McClure, who gave the final address.
‘Widespread shortcomings’ in department monitoring of bodies in charge of £18.5bn budget
JOHN BRESLIN, Irish News, March 25th, 2026
WIDESPREAD shortcomings in government department oversight of arm’s length bodies controlling the vast majority of Northern Ireland’s £18.5 billion budget have been identified in a new report.
Many agreements due to be introduced from 2020 were not in place at the start of the year, including one between the Department of Education (DoE) and the £3.35bn Education Authority (EA), the Northern Ireland Audit Office found.
The report also noted it was not even clear how many such bodies exist, with the different departments saying just over 100, but the Department of Finance (DoF) claiming a lower number. No definitive list, or even formal definition, exists.
Approximately 77% of the Executive’s £18.5bn 2024/25 budget is controlled by arms length bodies (ALBs) “undertaking functions critical to health, education, justice, infrastructure, and cultural development”.
“Despite their significance, this review highlights widespread shortcomings in the way central government departments oversee and work with their ALBs,” the audit office found.
A 2018 DoF report made recommendations including that partnership agreements should be set up between ALBs and their sponsor department.
These Agreements “aim to clearly define the governance and assurance framework for individual ALBs; the roles and responsibilities of ALBs and their respective departments; and the annual plan for engagement between the two”.
Only 59 of 101 oversight bodies in place
As of January 2026, only 59 of 101 ALBs identified by government departments have agreements in place and published.
“Some of the largest and most strategically critical bodies continue to operate without signed partnership agreements,” the report stated.
“It is particularly disappointing that some bodies with significant expenditure, such as the Education Authority and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, did not have signed Partnership Agreements in place at the time of this review, thereby failing to implement the governance improvements intended by the 2019 guidance,” the report reads.
Apart from the EA, the largest budgets are controlled by the health trusts at £6.9bn, the PSNI at £989m, NI Water at £615m and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) at £369m.
DoF does not routinely track which bodies have agreements in place and “has not monitored whether departments are conducting the required annual and three yearly reviews of partnership working arrangements”.
The department advised that it is not its role to monitor the implementation of any guidance and that this is the responsibility of individual accounting officers.
NIAO “was surprised to find that although DoF issues guidance which ALBs are required to follow, neither they nor the other departments have a clear definition of what an ALB is” making it unclear which ones should be involved in agreements.
No list of bodies kept
It added: “When we commenced our review, the NIAO was advised that neither the Department of Finance (DoF) nor any other Department maintains a definitive list of ALBs.”
Comptroller and Auditor General Dorinnia Carville said the programme for government “reinforces that ‘working in partnership’ is essential for successful delivery of public services in Northern Ireland”.
“Oversight of arm’s length bodies is essential for providing assurance that the services they deliver, and the significant public expenditure involved, are being managed effectively and efficiently,” Ms Carville added.
“However, such oversight should be proportionate and based on relationships defined by transparency and trust.
“Existing guidance from the Department of Finance offers a solid foundation for partnership working, but this needs support at a system-wide level.”
A spokesperson for the finance department noted the comments made by the comptroller on “existing guidance”.
“Given that arm’s length bodies account for around three quarters of the resource budget and employ the majority of our publicsector workforce, it is essential that partner departments engage with ALBs to ensure these bodies operate efficiently and deliver maximum value.”
Ms Carville said the report “recommends that more is done to support departments and ALBs to adopt a more consistent and appropriate level of oversight”.
Policing Board members paid £190,000 tabled just 27 written questions last year
CONNLA YOUNG, Irish News, March 25th, 2026
POLICING Board members who pocketed £190,000 from the public purse in 2025 tabled just 27 written questions last year.
Figures obtained by The Irish News reveal that almost half the members of the oversight body put forward no written questions at all in 2025.
This includes the board’s chairman Mukesh Sharma, who is paid £50,000 for three days work a week, and his deputy Brendan Mullan, who lifts £35,000 for two days.
There are currently nine independent members on the board, including the chair and vice chair, with the remainder picking up £15,000 each for a minimum of four days per month working on the organisation’s business.
In total independent members of the board picked up £190,00 last year, which worked out at over £7,000 a written question.
Of the 27 questions asked by independent members Kate Laverty was responsible for 13, almost half, with Les Allamby listing eight.
Elected representatives tabled just 14 questions over the same 12-month period.
Independent members of the board were responsible for around double the amount posed by political representatives – 14 in total over the course of the year.
While political representatives do not receive a specific payment for sitting on the board, all the main parties are preparing to accept a recent 27 percent hike in salary, bringing the basic MLA wage to over £67,000.
All the main political parties are represented on the board, with Sinn Féin and the DUP holding three seats each.
The Alliance Party hold two, with the SDLP and UUP sitting on one each.
According to board figures, Sinn Féin put forward just two written questions to senior PSNI officers last year, while their DUP counterparts set down a paltry four.
One of the Sinn Féin questions was submitted by Cathal Boylan, who was replaced on the board by Deirdre Hargey in recent months.
The two Alliance Party representatives lodged five questions between them, while the SDLP’s Colin McGrath, who also joined the board last year, tabled two questions.
The Policing Board was set up as part of the Patten policing reforms to act as an overview body intended to hold senior PSNI officials to account.
High-ranking officers, including chief constable Jon Boutcher, regularly attend board meetings and once a month a limited number of oral questions are asked in public session.
Assembly member Gerry Carroll said “it appears that Policing Board members are failing to make full use of their scrutiny role.
“Written questions are one of the most powerful tools available to them – yet the Chair and Vice Chair have not tabled a single one, despite being well remunerated for their positions,” he said.
Mr Carroll said the opportunity to hold the PSNI to full account is being wasted.
“Political members have fared little better, asking a paltry few,” he said.
Squandered opportunities
“This is a unique opportunity to hold the PSNI to account, and it is being squandered. That should alarm anyone who cares about accountability and transparency in policing.”
A spokeswoman for the Policing Board said its “oversight and scrutiny work” is “multi-faceted and is discharged through a range of forums including board and committee scrutiny meetings”.
The spokeswoman said an Independent Review, commissioned by justice minister Naomi Long and published last year, “reports in detail on the wide-ranging oversight work of the board and its importance and value in scrutinising the work of the PSNI.
“A responsibility and role that all the board members take seriously given the importance of policing in our community,” she added.
The spokeswoman added that between April 2025 – March 2026 there were 12 Board meetings and 34 committee scrutiny meetings “at which the board questioned the Chief Constable and senior officers “on all aspects of the work of the PSNI”.
Stormont politics ‘overrides good public health policy’
JOHN MANLEY POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, Irish News, March 25th, 2026
PLANS by the Stormont health minister to introduce a minimum unit price (MUP) on alcohol have been blocked by the DUP.
Mike Nesbitt said that “despite exhausting all appropriate options” at the executive, he was thwarted in his efforts to bring forward legislation in this mandate that would have imposed a floor price for alcohol.
It means Northern Ireland is the only region in Ireland and Britain were MUP does not apply.
Speaking in the assembly yesterday, the minister declined to discuss confidential executive business but highlighted how all of Stormont’s other main parties, with the exception of the DUP, supported MUP.
Mr Nesbitt’s party colleague Alan Chambers went further, however, accusing the DUP of using a “veto” to block the legislation.
In the past, the DUP has cited a lack of evidence demonstrating that MUP is effective.
The minister said it was estimated the measure would lead to 82 fewer alcohol-related deaths in Northern Ireland each year and healthcare savings of more than £114m.
Dr Katherine Severi, chief executive of the Institute of Alcohol Studies said the north was the only UK region where alcohol deaths increased last year.
“The DUP’s continued resistance to MUP – despite the weight of evidence, despite the calls from health professionals, and despite historically supporting the principle – is costing lives,” the spokesperson said.
“Politics should never be allowed to override good public health policy, and that is exactly what is happening here.”
DUP denies blocking proposals
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly denied her party blocked the proposals.
“The questions were put to the health minister to demonstrate that this intervention would actually work and would actually result in the outcomes that people want to see,” she said.
“Of course we want to reduce alcohol related deaths, this hits at a particular type of issue but the vast majority of alcohol for sale would not impacted by this measure, and alcohol deaths hit on every part of our society. Alcohol misuse is something that is a huge burden for the health service.”
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan said it was “deeply disappointing that the DUP ignored scientific and medical evidence”.
“There is clear and compelling evidence about the serious harm caused by excessive alcohol consumption and the clear publichealth benefits, for individuals, families and communities associated with introducing Minimum Unit Pricing including saving lives from alcohol related death,” he said.
SDLP health spokesperson Colin McGrath said it was unacceptable that “one party is able to weaponise its veto” in the executive.
“MUP is not a solution on its own, but it has been repeatedly shown to reduce alcohol-related harm and deaths – surely that is enough to support this policy and save lives?” he said.
IN THE NAVY: Irish Times, Letters, March 25th, 2026
A deep dive into the Naval Service
Sir, – Conor Gallagher reports on a welcome development in his article about plans to improve the capabilities of the Irish Naval Service (“Ireland joins the hunt for Russian submarines,” March 21st).
Plans to retrofit a number of existing vessels with Sonar and air-search radar will undoubtedly improve our current capabilities, but what happens if something is detected?
There are no plans to purchase weapons systems, either for sub-surface defence or air defence. So, we may know a threat exists, but how do we deal with it? Or who do we call?
Ireland once had vessels equipped for sub-surface defence. I am referring to the Flower-class corvettes, which were purchased in the late 1940s and served until the late 1960s.
The Minister and the Department of Defence should be providing a number of modern naval vessels.
The Type 26 frigate currently under construction for the Royal Navy and the Royal Norwegian Navy would be suitable. Similar can be said about the planned European Corvette, which Ireland is involved in through its observer status in the project.
If the Government and Department of Defence are serious about addressing our defence shortcomings, more ambition and accelerated efforts would certainly help matters. – Yours, etc,
CONOR HOGARTY,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – As someone who lives close to the Irish naval base at Haulbowline, at the entrance to Cork Harbour, I was amused by Conor Gallagher’s article about Ireland joining the hunt for Russian submarines. Since the majority of Irish naval ships (boats really) are permanently tied up at Haulbowline, I fail to see how this can be done.
As someone conscious of my civic responsibilities, I am prepared to do my bit for the country. So I have the snorkel and goggles at the ready and will be patrolling the waters of my local beach on the lookout for anything that resembles a Russian submarine.
However, given how cold the Atlantic is at this time of year, I can’t really see myself doing this for more than five minutes each day.
After that, Russian submarines will be free to go wherever they like. – Yours, etc,
THOMAS G COTTER,
Crosshaven,
Co Cork.
