The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's cross-community party

 David Ford

Neeson hails victory for Asbestos victims

11.46.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 6th Jun 2008

Portrait-yellow: NEESON Sean (photography: Allan Leonard)

East Antrim Alliance MLA Sean Neeson

East Antrim Alliance MLA Sean Neeson has welcomed the creation of legislation that will benefit victims of asbestos inhalation. The Mesothelioma Bill was discussed this week in the Assembly and Mr Neeson has campaigned for a long time for such assistance to be provided.

Sean Neeson MLA said: "I strongly welcome the introduction of this legislation. It is long overdue and I pay tribute to all those who have campaigned for such measures over the years. I hope that the application of the legislation will not be complicated and I also welcome the fact decisions can be appealed.

"Almost 10 years ago, the late Bobby Brown from Carrickfergus founded the organisation, Justice for Asbestos Victims. That prompted me, together with the late Mr John Kelly, to propose a debate on the subject in the Assembly.

"At around that time, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment set aside a sum to compensate former employees of Harland and Wolff who had contracted the disease while working for that company before privatisation.

"I am pleased that Minister has this week assured me that the lump sum that is guaranteed by this new Bill will not affect other forms of compensation."

ENDS

Bookmark this story at: del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg FacebookFacebook redditreddit StumbleUponStumbleUpon
Print this news story.
Previous news story: Why is Poots letting civil servants run his department? (Fri 6th Jun 2008).
Next news story: Neeson heaps pressure on Minister to improve Larne-Belfast Road (Fri 6th Jun 2008).

Related News Stories:

Tue 30th Sep 2008:

Neeson hails green light for Carrickfergus road improvement .

Mon 29th Sep 2008:

Alliance hails victory in their prescription charges' campaign .

Thu 18th Sep 2008:

Neeson hails Larne jobs boost.

Mon 7th Jul 2008:

Neeson hails Citi jobs announcement .

Thu 1st May 2008:

Neeson hails Firstsource jobs boost for Northern Ireland.

Tue 23rd Oct 2007:

Neeson hails company expansion saying it boosts NI-USA relationship.

Fri 5th Oct 2007:

Neeson hails Carrickfergus jobs boost .

Wed 15th Aug 2007:

Neeson hails drop in unemployment but says more private sector jobs needed .

Wed 18th Jul 2007:

Alliance hails their victory in campaign against rip-off TV phone quizzes.

Wed 4th Jul 2007:

Parsley hails victory on road safety ads, demands reallocation of funding.

Fri 29th Jun 2007:

Neeson hails 200 jobs boost for Belfast from Indian IT firm.

Thu 14th Jun 2007:

Neeson hails 100 IT job boost for Belfast.

Thu 7th Jun 2007:

Neeson hails expansion of Kilroot Power Station .

Wed 6th Jun 2007:

Neeson hails 400 new jobs created by IT giant .

Tue 22nd May 2007:

Alliance hails victory on plastic bag levy at Marks and Spencer.

Thu 26th Jan 2006:

Neeson hails Nomadic purchase.

Wed 26th Jan 2005:

Concern for asbestos victims after court overturns damages decision.

Related Speeches:

Thu 20th May 2004:

Justice for Asbestos Victims (JAV).

Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Ltd, 82b Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BX.
Published and promoted by The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, 88 University Street, Belfast, BT7 1HE.
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.