Headlines From Belfast Newsletter Wed 15th Oct 2014

Belfast Newsletter News Teen knocked down and killed on Malone Road in Belfast A teenager has been killed in a road crash in south Belfast. Read more... Relief and disappointment mix as Dublin chosen as child heart op centre The news that Northern Irish children will have to travel to the Republic for heart surgery has been greeted with a mixture of disappointment and relief. Read more... Vote to recognise a Palestinian state 'regrettable': MLA The vote in Westminster to recognise Palestine has been described as “regrettable” by one DUP member with a close interest in the subject. Read more... There was a radically split reaction to the fact that a bill aiming to set up a single educational body is to be fast-tracked through Stormont. Sinn Fein said that speeding up the efforts to get the law onto the statute books was “a real opportunity for much needed progress” – although the UUP said it means it will be deprived of the usual scrutiny. If passed, it would set up one overall administrative support body for the Province’s schools. Danny Kinahan MLA said the draft law to bring it into being has only six clauses and four schedules. “However, short is not always sweet,” he said. “We talk of ‘shared education’ and the need to tackle the stubbornly high levels of educational underachievement in some areas. “However the administrative support for schools must be fit for purpose, focused and equitable.” Independent unionist MLA John McCallister declared himself “astounded by the disinterested manner in which MLAs agreed to the accelerated passage”. Sinn Fein said that with the Reform of Public Administration coming into effect on April 1, 2015, “the existing Education & Library Boards would be left in a precarious legal position if subsequent educational administrative reform was not agreed.” The DUP said the controlled sector had long been left behind in issues such as addressing educational underachievement, and this bill could help right that “grave injustice”. The Alliance Party said it was concerned the integrated and Irish medium sectors will be under-represented. Read more... Hope for European fund for workers Two unionist MEPs have met with European Commission officials to press for support to be offered to redundant JTI employees. Read more...   Sport Graeme McDowell predicts 'epic' 2016 Ryder Cup after American fallout Graeme McDowell believes the continuing fallout from Europe’s Ryder Cup victory at Gleneagles will ensure a “fairly epic” contest in two years’ time. Read more... Levy wins rain-hit Portugal Masters Alexander Levy has won the Portugal Masters after the event was reduced to 36 holes as more rain battered the Oceanico Victoria Golf Club. Read more... Michael Hoey trails leaderLevy at rain hit Portugal Masters The Portugal Masters has been reduced to 54 holes after heavy rain caused lengthy delays in Vilamoura yesterday with only six players, including leader Alexander Levy, completing their second rounds. Read more... Rory's coach Bannon to host clinic at PGA event Rory McIlroy’s noted coach, Michael Bannon, will host a clinic at the 2014 PGA in the North of Ireland Championship at St Patrick’s Golf Club, Downpatrick. Read more... Mooney heads up strong field for PGA North of Ireland Championship The PGA in the North of Ireland in collaboration with sponsor RJ & SE Scullion LLP will stage the 2014 PGA in the North of Ireland Championship at the Saint Patrick’s Golf Club, Downpatrick on Thursday and Friday 16th and 17th October 2014. Read more...   Please do not respond directly to this email as this mailbox is not monitored. To contact Belfast Newsletter direct go to http://www.newsletter.co.uk/ and click on Contact Us Johnston Press are the publishers of Belfast Newsletter. You have received this email as you have subscribed to this newsletter on our website. Edit or Unsubscribe Preferences | Edit Your Profile Company Name: Johnston Press plc | Registered in Scotland no: SCO15382 | Registered Office: 108 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8AS