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News from October 14, 2025

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Thanks for your 'patience,' Eby says to public over B.C. workers strike (BC)
Technology

Thanks for your 'patience,' Eby says to public over B.C. workers strike (BC)

British Columbia's premier says it's been a frustrating time for residents as a public service workers dispute drags into its seventh week, but he appreciates their patience. David Eby says the government is working closely to ensure a fair offer is being made to members of the BC General Employees' Union, and the government is hoping to get back to the bargaining table as soon as possible. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey, who speaks for the government in the dispute, said in a video statement over the weekend that the government can't agree to a deal that makes service delivery too expensive to maintain. About 25,000 union members are off the job across 20 ministries, Crown corporations, and agencies. Eby says once the strike is over, the supply challenges that the restaurant industry, and liquor and cannabis retailers face will be resolved soon. Paul Finch, president of the BCGEU, says there has been no indication from the provincial government that it will come back to the table with a fair offer. Finch says the union will let the impact of the strike sink in for now, but it is hoping to see the government come to the table with a reasonable offer. The union said earlier that it countered the government's offer of a five per cent wage increase over two years with a request for eight per cent over the same period.

The Canadian Press
OECS Powers Regional Push for Energy-Efficient Buildings
Technology

OECS Powers Regional Push for Energy-Efficient Buildings

Participating countries of the Caribbean Efficient and Green Buildings Project (CEGEB) met in Saint Lucia from September 24–25, 2025, to take part in a workshop that examined the lessons learned from the Preparation Activities undertaken to inform the project’s design and implementation. The CEGEB Project is a World Bank–financed (US$131.7 million) initiative supporting Grenada, Guyana, and Saint Lucia, with the objectives of saving energy, increasing the use of renewable energy (RE) in public buildings and facilities, and enhancing the regulatory framework for investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy in participating Caribbean countries. The OECS Commission, a partner on the project, is responsible for pooled procurement on behalf of the participating countries, drawing on its extensive experience with pooled procurement and sustainable energy. The Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE), also a project partner, is supporting the regulatory aspects of the project. The CEGEB Project will support investment and technical assistance for Energy Efficiency (EE) retrofitting and the installation of Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) systems in public buildings and other facilities in the three participating countries. Eligible public buildings and facilities may include central and regional administrative buildings, universities and schools, hospitals and clinics, stadiums, airports, and water supply and sewage utilities. Under the CEGEB Preparation Grant (PPG) Activities, the OECS Commission facilitated investment-grade energy audits of 33 buildings to identify the most appropriate energy efficiency measures for each building, as well as to develop design specifications for solar systems and the energy efficiency measures. The CEGEB PPG phase concluded on September 30, 2025, and a lessons learned workshop provided the opportunity to: Reflect on the successes, innovations, and challenges encountered during the CEGEB PPG; Document lessons learned and best practices to inform the CEGEB Project and future green building initiatives in the Caribbean and beyond; Facilitate knowledge exchange among stakeholders; and Identify pathways for sustaining project results, scaling good practices, and influencing policy for the implementation of the CEGEB Project. The workshop was facilitated by the Project Management Office and the Monitoring and Evaluation teams of the OECS Commission. Among the key lessons identified by participants was the need for strong visibility and communication among all stakeholders and at all levels of the project. The energy retrofit of public buildings under CEGEB is seen as a clear demonstration of government leadership in reducing public sector expenditure while simultaneously improving the working environment. Some of the energy efficiency measures identified under the project have a payback period of less than two years, demonstrating that energy efficiency retrofits in buildings are a practical and worthwhile investment. Project partners hope that the benefits and lessons from the CEGEB Project will inspire businesses and residential building owners to also adopt energy efficiency measures, helping to transform the building sector in the region into an efficient, green, and healthy one, with cross-cutting benefits. The OECS Commission views the CEGEB Project as another key initiative that supports the OECS Decade of Action on Sustainable Energy: 2025–2035 and the broader sustainable energy transition in the Caribbean.

ieyenews
NSWMA Extends Hours for Street Sweepers In St. Thomas
Technology

NSWMA Extends Hours for Street Sweepers In St. Thomas

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has approved extended working hours for sweepers in St. Thomas as part of targeted efforts to address the accumulation of silt along roadways, particularly in the western section of the parish. In recent months, mounting concerns have emerged regarding the accumulation of silt and other aggregates along segments of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project, particularly between Bull Bay and Albion. Speaking during the St. Thomas Municipal Corporation’s monthly meeting on October 9, NSWMA Public Cleansing Inspector in charge of Western St. Thomas, Kashane Grossett, indicated that the extended hours granted to sweepers will directly address the buildup of silt and debris along affected roadways. He appealed for collaboration involving the Municipal Corporation and the local police, stating that such support would “help us maximise the effect of this initiative”. Citing the buildup of silt as a significant safety hazard, Mr. Grossett emphasised the importance of inter-agency collaboration. “By collaborating with the police during these extended hours, we can assure smoother operations, enhance the safety of our workers, and ultimately create a cleaner and safer environment for everyone within this section of the parish,” he stated. Mr. Grossett also called on the Municipal Corporation and the police to assist in enforcing compliance among truck operators who are improperly transporting material and, thereby, contributing to the ongoing issue. “We are asking [for] whatever the Municipal Corporation can do and the police to help us to see how best we can stop these trucks that are traversing along the roadways and dumping a lot of silt, which is causing… accidents. We want to see how best we can eliminate this problem with your partnership,” he said.

Kamroy Ogilvie
CSIS lacked proper policies, procedures to manage new secret technology: spy watchdog (Canada)
Technology

CSIS lacked proper policies, procedures to manage new secret technology: spy watchdog (Canada)

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service lacked "adequate policies and procedures" to manage a confidential technology for collecting information, says a newly released spy watchdog report. The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency says CSIS mischaracterized a novel technical capability as an extension of existing know-how. CSIS also did not consult Public Safety Canada about its plans to acquire this novel technical capability and did not notify the public safety minister or the Federal Court before using it in an operation, the spy watchdog says. "Further, CSIS used this technology prior to satisfying all regulatory requirements," the report says. The review agency also found CSIS kept collected information without clearly spelling out its authority for retaining it. The Canadian Press obtained a heavily redacted version of the intelligence review agency's top secret report through the Access to Information Act. The descriptions of both the novel technology in question and the way CSIS used it have been censored from the report. The review agency reported that the technology introduced "a significant expansion of collection capabilities and operational risks." CSIS had no immediate comment on the watchdog report. In applying for a court warrant to use techniques that would otherwise be against the law, CSIS and Justice Department counsel are bound by a duty of candour, which entails providing adequate context and information about new technologies, the review agency says. The watchdog notes that when a CSIS team wants to develop or acquire a new technology, it is now required to present its proposal to the spy service's recently established Operational Technology Review Committee. The committee's role is to identify and assess potential risks related to the procurement, development, testing and use of the new technology. The committee may recommend that CSIS notify the minister and present the technology to the Federal Court to inform its decision on warrant applications. The review agency says that while the committee appears poised to address some of the issues of concern, it is less clear that the "broader cultural changes" required to realize the committee's potential are underway. Until CSIS's organizational culture shifts from a narrow focus on data collection — under a warrant or otherwise — to sound stewardship of data at every step, the spy service will continue to be at risk of non-compliance with the law and ministerial direction, the report concludes. The review agency makes several recommendations to improve policies and procedures relevant to use of the novel technology. It urges CSIS to ensure risk assessments conducted throughout the life cycle of new technologies and techniques are rigorous, documented and comprehensive in scope. It also says CSIS should invest in technical processes and systems that can assess, accept, label, use and destroy data in compliance with legal obligations.

Jim Bronskill,The Canadian Press
St. Catherine North Police No Loitering Campaign Keeping Students Off The Streets
Technology

St. Catherine North Police No Loitering Campaign Keeping Students Off The Streets

The St. Catherine North Division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has launched an initiative, aimed at keeping students off the streets and to ensure that they get to school on time. Called ‘Operation Learn, Not Loiter’, the programme, implemented in September 2025, seeks to promote discipline, improve attendance, and protect students from the dangers associated with loitering in town centres during school hours. It also reinforces the importance of education and responsible behaviour. It was conceptualised by Safe School Coordinator of the St. Catherine North Community Safety and Security Branch (CSSB), Constable Joel Robinson, who told JIS News that the idea stemmed from concern about the number of students seen idling on the roads. “Since I was invested with the role as a Safe School Coordinator, I told myself that I must do something about this because it is not a good sight,” he shared. Constable Robinson explained that the main goal is to ensure that students spend more time in the classroom where they can learn in a safe environment. The operation is currently being carried out in the Spanish Town business district, where officers engage with students to encourage punctuality and consistent attendance. Constable Robinson noted that there are plans to expand to Bog Walk, Linstead, and Ewarton, where similar challenges exist. “Students from the rural areas often come to the business centres where there are stores or plazas… . This is where they hang out, so we’re going to be targeting these areas,” he pointed out. Constable Robinson is encouraging other divisions within the JCF to adopt and replicate the initiative islandwide. “Teamwork makes the dream work. Together, we can do this because if it’s a one-off thing being done in one section, then it’s not going to be as effective as we want it to be,” he contended. Sub-Officer in charge of the St. Catherine North CSSB and Communication Liaison for the Division, Sergeant Kester Fennel, said the programme was launched at the start of the new school year to promote positive behaviour change among students. “We wanted to kick-start the new school year with that difference… . So far, we have been maintaining it on a daily basis, where our team of school resource officers go out in the mornings to get the students off the street,” he told JIS News. Sergeant Fennel said that the initiative has already yielded noticeable results. “We believe it has been impactful, so far, because what we’re seeing is that the gatherings are much smaller. By the time they see the police coming, everybody gets moving,” he pointed out. While the operation is currently carried out in the mornings, Sergeant Fennel said there are plans to extend it to the afternoons. “It’s not that we’re neglecting the afternoon segment. Currently, we just don’t have the resources to manage both… so we’re focusing on the primary area of getting them into the classrooms,” he said. He added that the initiative has received strong support from both parents and the wider public. Sergeant Fennel emphasised that the initiative aligns with the JCF’s broader strategy to tackle crime through prevention and community engagement. “In trying to tackle crime, we have to be proactive; we don’t want to wait until something happens to one of those students out on the street,” he pointed out. He encouraged students to value their education and make the most of their school time. “Despite what they might be seeing in social media or hearing in some of the songs they are listening to, education is the key,” he underscored.

Kamroy Ogilvie,Safe School Coordinator
Time served, two years probation for man who stabbed his sister (BC)
Technology

Time served, two years probation for man who stabbed his sister (BC)

Time served plus two years probation is the sentence for the man who pleaded guilty in June to stabbing his sister in the drug-induced belief that she was his ex-girlfriend. Blaze Tikal Lorenzon-Tom, 22, had been in jail since the July 17, 2024 aggravated assault. He confessed to police that he had taken speed and meth, had been drunk and was hallucinating. On Sept. 29 in Prince George Provincial Court, Judge David Simpkin agreed to the sentence, proposed jointly by Crown and defence lawyers. It includes bans on possessing weapons, alcohol and drugs, except prescription drugs. Simpkin ordered Lorenzon-Tom to attend counselling as directed by a probation officer, attend all scheduled medical appointments and take all medical treatments prescribed. “This is all designed to help you going forward,” Simpkin said. “You’re still a young guy.” Simpkin said the sentence he would have given him was 18 months in jail, but Lorenzon-Tom received credit for time served. Simpkin said a psychiatric and psychological assessment found Lorenzon-Tom a relatively high risk to reoffend violently, due to his mental health, instability and substance abuse. Simpkin said the report also reveals that Lorenzon-Tom has lived a “life blighted by substance misuse” of his own and that by his family members. He was diagnosed with specified anxiety disorder, borderline intellectual functioning and a history of complex trauma. However, Simpkin noted “some very concerning comments” in the report. Lorenzon-Tom said he wants to stop using drugs and spend time his family, but then said he intends to “drink booze and smoke meth” and “drink a ton when he is released.” “That answer does not seem to be an appropriate answer to the question that was asked, but perhaps indicates a state of mind for Mr. Lorenzon-Tom,” Simpkin said. Simpkin said the sentence addresses denunciation and deterrence and takes into account Lorenzon-Tom’s Indigenous heritage and his sister’s hopes for his rehabilitation. Lorenzon-Tom pleaded guilty to the aggravated assault charge, but not wilfully resisting or obstructing a peace officer, when his trial was scheduled to begin in June. He did not have a criminal record.

Bob Mackin,Contributed
O'Hare, Midway refuse to play video of Kristi Noem accusing Democrats of government shutdown
Technology

O'Hare, Midway refuse to play video of Kristi Noem accusing Democrats of government shutdown

O’Hare and Midway international airports have joined a growing list of airports refusing to play a video from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that accuses Democrats of causing the ongoing government shutdown and its impacts on flight operations. Mayor Brandon Johnson, in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, said he instructed the Chicago Department of Aviation to decline to play the video. “The video shows DHS Secretary Kristi Noem making political assertions about the ongoing government shutdown,” Johnson said in the statement. “Our airports are for Chicagoans and visitors to travel safely to and from our city; they are not for the Trump administration to spread propaganda using taxpayer resources.” In its own statement earlier Tuesday, the Chicago Department of Aviation said it declined to play the video because the video does not comply with its advertising and public service announcement guidelines, which prohibit content that endorses or opposes any named political party. “These guidelines help ensure the airports remain welcoming and neutral spaces for all travelers,” the Aviation Department said in its statement. Airports in Las Vegas, Charlotte, Atlanta, Phoenix and Seattle are also refusing to play the video due to its partisan messaging. The shutdown has halted routine operations and left airports scrambling with flight disruptions. Democrats say any deal to reopen the government has to address their health care demands, and Republicans say they won’t negotiate until they agree to fund the government. Insurance premiums would double if Congress fails to renew the subsidy payments that expire Dec. 31. In the video, Noem says that TSA’s “top priority” is to help make travel pleasant and efficient while keeping passengers safe. “However, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government, and because of this, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our TSA employees are working without pay,” she says. The Transportation Security Administration falls under the Department of Homeland Security. Roughly 61,000 of the agency’s 64,130 employees are required to continue working during the shutdown. The Department said Friday that the video is being rolled out to airports across the country. A DHS spokeswoman responded to a request for comment restating some of the message from Noem’s video. “It’s unfortunate our workforce has been put in this position due to political gamesmanship. Our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government,” spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said. Contributing: Associated Press

David Struett
Province to build new plant, animal health centre in Abbotsford, B.C. (BC)
Technology

Province to build new plant, animal health centre in Abbotsford, B.C. (BC)

The British Columbia government has announced its plans to build a new plant and animal health centre to monitor, detect and prevent the spread of diseases such as avian flu. It says the current centre is about 30 years old, suffered "extensive damages" during the 2021 flooding in Abbotsford and needs to be replaced to meet increasing testing demands. The province says the centre handles more than 10,000 cases each year, helping to detect and monitor for diseases such as avian influenza, West Nile virus and chronic wasting disease. A provincial news release says the government has now approved up to $496 million to purchase the land for the new centre in Abbotsford, build the new facility and buy equipment. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 with a goal of being operational by 2032. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham says in the release that farmers, producers and processors rely on fast and accurate testing at such facilities to keep their animals healthy and operations running smoothly. "This new centre will help producers prevent and respond to disease threats, protect our food supply and support public health," she says in the release. "This is a forward-looking investment that will strengthen B.C.'s agriculture sector and safeguard food security for generations to come." The new centre will be located at 34252 King Rd., just off Highway 1 and next to the University of the Fraser Valley's Abbotsford campus.

The Canadian Press
City to weigh $15.5M in settlements for families whose relatives died during encounters with first responders
Technology

City to weigh $15.5M in settlements for families whose relatives died during encounters with first responders

Chicago taxpayers will be asked to pay $15.5 million to compensate two families who lost relatives because of alleged mistakes made by first responders. The largest of the settlements before the City Council’s Finance Committee Wednesday, $8 million, would go to the family of Leonardo Guerrero, 44, who stopped breathing after being strapped to a stretcher in a Chicago Fire Department ambulance Aug. 31, 2022. The Cook County medical examiner’s office ruled Guerrero’s death of cardiac arrest a homicide after determining that his fatal heart attack was caused in part by the physical restraints applied by paramedics. High blood pressure triggered by alcohol and cocaine use was a contributing factor, the medical examiner said. The city’s liability for Guerrero’s death was heightened by the fact that the paramedic-in-charge was fired for failing to attend to the patient, and allegedly trying to cover up his mistakes by falsifying his report about Guerrero’s death. Another paramedic was suspended. The family’s lawsuit against the city accused the paramedics of arriving on the scene of a parking lot near Guerrero’s Buena Park home at around 2:35 a.m. to find Guerrero naked and in a state of physical and emotional duress, saying he was “going to die and experiencing labored breathing.” The paramedics did not perform a physical examination, and did not take his vitals or patient history. Instead, they told Guerrero to get up and required him to walk unassisted for 50 to 60 feet to an ambulance, where they handcuffed him, put him on a stretcher with a chest restraint and transported him to Thorek Hospital as he was “lapsing in and out of consciousness,” the lawsuit states. Guerrero spent “five-to-six minutes” in the ambulance outside the hospital before the paramedic-in-charge loosened the chest restraint, checked Guerrero’s pulse for the first time and discovered that he had stopped breathing. By the time the second paramedic returned to the ambulance from inside the emergency room, Guerrero was in cardiac arrest with “ECG leads and a blood pressure cuff applied for the first time,” the lawsuit states. The paramedic in charge was performing CPR. The falsified report was described in the lawsuit as erroneously claiming that Guerrero “just coded right as we pulled in” to the hospital parking lot; that the paramedic-in-charge had performed medical assessments and called Thorek Hospital three times prior to arriving; and that paramedics were the first to notice that a combative Guerrero had stopped breathing, when it was a police officer in the ambulance who noticed. The Finance Committee will also consider authorizing a $7.5 million settlement to compensate the family of Adelbert and Yvonne Lee-Wilson. The pastor and her husband were driving home from church in the Far South Side’s Pullman neighborhood in February 2022 when their car was struck by a motorist being chased at high speeds by Chicago police. The Wilsons were killed in the collision. According to the lawsuit, the officers allegedly initiated the pursuit without probable cause; continued the chase at dangerously high speeds without regard to conditions; ignored general orders restricting pursuits through residential areas; and failed to cut off the chase “when the risks to human life outweighed the benefits” of capturing the suspect. Yvonne Lee-Wilson was 66 at the time of her death. Adelbert Wilson was 69. Yet another settlement, for $950,000, goes to former Chicago police lieutenant-turned-whistleblower, Franklin Paz. It resolves a January 2021 lawsuit that claims Paz was dumped from the citywide Community Safety Team after he pushed back on “illegal” quotas that then-Deputy Chief Michael Barz set for traffic stops, arrests and other forms of police “activity.” The unit’s roster included Officer Ella French, who was fatally shot while making a traffic stop in Englewood on Aug. 7, 2021. Her partner Carlos Yanez was seriously wounded during the stop. According to the lawsuit, Barz told Paz that each officer he was supervising was expected to generate at least 10 “blue cards” every day, referring to the state-mandated documentation used to gather demographic information about people who are stopped. Paz was then demoted. The settlement averts a civil trial that was expected to lay bare accusations that department leaders pushed quotas for traffic stops at the behest of former Supt. David Brown, who according to pretrial testimony in the case, called for 10,000 such stops each week and insisted the practice would build trust. Contributing: Tom Schuba.

Fran Spielman
Vojska preuzela kontrolu nad Madagaskarom, predsjednik napustio zemlju, oglasio se novi lider

Vojska preuzela kontrolu nad Madagaskarom, predsjednik napustio zemlju, oglasio se novi lider

Novi vojni lider Madagaskara pukovnik Mišel Randrianirina, komandant elitne vojne jedinice, proglasio je prelazni period od dvije godine tokom kojeg će ostati na vlasti, nakon čega će, kako je istakao, uslijediti novi izbori. Novi vojni lider Madagaskara istakao je da će tokom perioda od najviše dvije godine biti održan referendum za donošenje novog Ustava. “Poslije toga će uslijediti izbori za postepeno uspostavljanje novih institucija”, rekao je novinarima Randrianirina, a prenio je Rojters. Prethodno je izjavio da je vojska preuzela kontrolu nad tom afričkom ostrvskom zemljom. Vojni lideri Madagaskara preuzeli su vlast pošto su raspustili senat, Ustavni sud, izborno tijelo i druge državne institucije. Prethodno je predsjednik Madagaskara Andrij Radžoelini napustio tu zemlju i raspustio skupštinu usljed višenedjeljnih antivladinih protesta. Poslanici su ranije u toku dana pokrenuli postupak opoziva predsjednika, a iz predsjedništva je saopšteno da je sastanak parlamenta bio neustavan i da je svaka odluka ili rezolucija koja je proistekla iz njega ništavna nakon raspuštanja skupštine. U međuvremenu, snage Madagaskara su se pridružile demonstrantima koje predvode mladi, a koji se protive predsjedniku Radžoeliniju. Šef policije je dodatno istakao solidarnost sa vojskom i nacionalnom žandarmerijom, ističući rastuću institucionalnu podršku demonstracijama, navodi se u saopštenju. U obraćanju naciji sa neotkrivene lokacije u ponedjeljak, Radžoelina je odbio da podnese ostavku uprkos pritisku višenedjeljnih protesta građana koji zahtijevaju njegovu zvaničnu ostavku.

Amra Nikočević
Adams accuses UK government of ‘duplicity’ over move to block compensation payout
Technology

Adams accuses UK government of ‘duplicity’ over move to block compensation payout

Former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has accused the UK government of “hypocrisy and duplicity” after it proposed a retrospective law change to block him from securing compensation for being interned during the Troubles. Mr Adams was responding to a measure outlined in the Government’s Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which was presented to Parliament on Tuesday, that will seek to prevent him and others detained without trial from seeking payouts based on a judicial decision that ruled their internment unlawful on a legal technicality. The veteran republican said he would be consulting with lawyers to explore what legal options there are, both in the UK and Europe, to challenge the move. Mr Adams highlighted that the measure was included in a Bill that also introduced new “protections” designed to address concerns of military veterans who are asked to engage in legacy mechanisms in Northern Ireland. The measures include the option of witnesses giving evidence remotely. “In 2020 the British Supreme Court determined that I was wrongfully interned for a period in the 1970s,” said Mr Adams. “The decision by the court was explicit. “Interim Custody Orders not authorised and approved by the Secretary of State were illegal. “It is believed that upwards of 400 other internees are similarly affected. “The British government, which knew it was in the wrong at that time, knowingly broke its own law. “In January Keir Starmer made it clear that he would look at ‘every conceivable way’ to ensure that I and others impacted by this did not receive compensation. “Today, at the stroke of a pen what was illegal five decades ago has been made legal as the British state changes the rules to suit its own agenda and protect its own military personnel.” Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn had already signalled the Government’s intent to ensure the draft legislation acted on the issue of potential compensation to internees whose detention without trial during the conflict has since been ruled to have been unlawful. A Supreme Court judgment in 2020 paved the way for Mr Adams to secure compensation over his internment in the early 1970s. Mr Adams won his appeal to overturn historical convictions for two attempted prison breaks, after he was interned in 1973 at Long Kesh internment camp, also known as Maze Prison, near Lisburn. The Supreme Court ruled that his detention was unlawful because the interim custody order (ICO) used to initially detain him had not been “considered personally” by then secretary of state for Northern Ireland Willie Whitelaw. At the time of the case, the previous government contended that the ICOs were lawful because of a long-standing convention, known as the Carltona principle, where officials and junior ministers routinely act in the name of the secretary of state. Mr Adams subsequently successfully challenged a decision to deny an application for compensation for his detention. However, the 2023 Legacy Act introduced by the last Conservative government stopped such payouts to Mr Adams and other former internees. The Act retrospectively validated the ICOs to make them lawful and halted civil claims related to the orders. However, in February last year, the High Court in Belfast ruled that the provisions of the Act related to the ICOs were incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. The Labour Government did not appeal against that section of the High Court judgment but Mr Benn pledged to find a lawful means to block payouts. The Troubles Bill has now proposed to reaffirm the so-called Carltona principle into law, a move the Government believes will prevent payouts. While the Legacy Act’s provisions in relation to ICOs, sections 46 and 47, were ruled incompatible with ECHR by the High Court, the Government is retaining those sections on the statute book until such time as the Troubles Bill becomes law. The Bill gives legislative effect to several measures contained in a joint framework for dealing with the legacy of the Troubles recently agreed by the UK and Irish governments. The measures designed for veterans engaging in legacy processes are not contained in the UK-Irish framework. However, Mr Adams accused the Irish government of colluding with the UK on the issue, something he branded as “disgraceful”, as he said Ireland had signed up to laws he claimed would protect former soldiers who had been involved in atrocities during the Troubles. He added: “The British want to close the door on their past actions. “Like many others I will be speaking to my legal team in the next few days to examine what options here and within Europe are open to us.”

BreakingNews.ie,Press Association
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