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Housing Minister Almost 50,000
Eoghan Murphy says a Mitchell Urges Northern counterfeit cigarettes have IRISH
new complex for home- been seized in the past
less people in Dublin is week.
an example of how his Leaders To Deal With It follows searches in EXAMINER
department can take Cavan and Dublin.
action against climate Problems In ‘A Realistic Following the search of a
change. home in Cavan on Tuesday |
It comes after Ireland evening, Revenue officers May
declared a climate emer- Fashion’
gency, becoming just the unstamped cigarettes.
second country in the
seized just over 41,000 15th,
world to do so. NZ, West, and Pall Mall
Focus Ireland has ren- have a retail value of
The cigarettes branded 2019
ovated a previous home- €26,000.
less hostel into a 31 unit The detection was made
development for over 70 with the help of Revenue
individuals and families. detector dog Bill.
They were handed the Meanwhile, Revenue
keys to their new homes officers at Dublin Port
at John’s Lane West in seized cigarettes and alco-
the city center on Friday. hol worth almost €10,000
Those moving in will during a routine search last
also be given additional Friday of a vehicle which
support to make sure they came from Romania via
can live as independently Holyhead.
as possible. An additional 165 liters
Focus Ireland says that of alcohol comprising of
it is on track to deliver vodka, beer and wine was
750 homes by 2020 as also seized from the vehi-
part of its five-year plan cle. C
It comes as homeless very effort should be accepting the principle of not have opportunity, are
figures are higher than made to avoid a non-violence in Northern unable to care for their chil- 24 protected disclosures
ever, going over 10,000 Ereturn to violence in Ireland. dren, unable to get their chil- by staff or members of the
for the first time, includ- Northern Ireland, former He helped produce the dren off to the good start in gardaí were made to
ing almost 4,000 chil- senator George Mitchell 1998 Belfast Agreement, life that they want, there lie GSOC last year and over
dren. has said. which he has always the ingredients for violence. 400 criminal investigations
Minister Murphy has The Good Friday described as part of a peace “Whether there are reli- were opened.
come in for criticism after Agreement negotiator urged process which needs constant gious differences or not, The garda watchdog’s
the number hit record Stormont’s politicians to maintenance. whether there are territorial annual report shows almost
highs and admits that the address their problems in a The veteran Democrat disputes or not, human 2,000 complaints detailing
number is unacceptable. realistic fashion. said: “We have to encourage beings need hope, they need almost 3,000 allegations
However, he believes Journalist Lyra McKee, 29, the political leaders of opportunity, they need self- were made against officers,
the new development has was shot dead by dissident Northern Ireland, in a realis- esteem if they are to be suc- a slight drop on the previ-
made good use of an republicans opposed to the tic way, to deal with their cessful, contributing mem- ous year’s figures.
existing building and out- peace process during unrest problems, but not to create bers of society and happy in Of 1,921 complaints
lines how his department in Derry last month. the impression that Northern their own lives. received against gardaí
will be involved in the cli- Mr Mitchell said: “We Ireland is unique or distinct “That is critical here in last year - most related to
mate action plan. should not ignore the fact or alone among democratic Northern Ireland today, just abuse of authority, neglect
“It’s a site within the that significant progress has societies in having social as it was 21 years ago, and I of duty, discourtesy and
city where we’ve be able been made in many areas, problems and political diffi- suspect 50 years ago and 75 allegations of assault,
to provide 31 new most notably in the absence culties. years ago. harassment or false impris-
homes, but also looking of, or a sharp reduction in, “You cannot ignore the “No one should lose sight onment.
at things like zero-ener- political violence in recent issues but you cannot dwell of that fact.” 74 sanctions were
gy buildings, those regu- years and we have to be con- on them to the point where Miss McKee died in Derry, imposed on individual
lations come into force scious of the fact that a return you render yourself incapable one of the most deprived members of the force while
this year and next for to violence continues as a of dealing with the issue. areas of the UK, which has 415 criminal investigations
residential homes but possibility not just in “Division over identity in traditionally suffered from were opened.
also commercial homes, Northern Ireland but in every Northern Ireland does remain high unemployment. Gardaí received 15
and then looking at society.” a threat to the stability of the A rallying call for action by referrals where the alleged
things like retro-fitting He added: “We have to institutions and addressing a priest at her funeral conduct of an officer result-
existing housing stock - take all steps, whatever is those issues must be a clear prompted renewed negotia- ed in a fatality and 17 pub-
all of those things are necessary, to reduce the like- commitment by all of the tions by political leaders at lic interest investigations
going to be addressed in lihood of a return to violence. political parties and all of the Stormont. were opened by GSOC.
the climate action plan “Here it is particularly leaders in Northern Ireland.” The British and Irish gov- The DPP directed that
coming from Minister acute of course because there Mr Mitchell said economic ernments are leading a bid to four cases be prosecuted
Bruton and we’ve been has been a long history of deprivation underlay sectari- secure a resurrection of the while another four were
working very closely with political violence here.” anism and violence. devolved institutions, which awaiting a decision at the
him on that.” C Mr Mitchell chaired nego- He said: “Where men and have been suspended for
tiations which led to all sides women do not have hope, do around two and a half years. C end of last year. C
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