04/08/2014

Denied new life saving drugs because they live in Northern Ireland. That's the claim from people suffering from cancer here. They're furious at what they see is a post code lottery and they're calling on the Health Minister to help.

It's led to Cancer Focus NI launching an equal access campaign. The charity is waiting to put its case to the first and deputy first ministers after it was promised a meeting with Northern Ireland's two main leaders.

Lords of the ring. Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlon fought their way to glory over the weekend and picked up a gold medal each at the Commonwealth Games boxing in Glasgow. The Northern Ireland lads both put on exceptional performances defeating strong opponents.<?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Jim Allister has lashed out at his fellow MLAs saying it's taking more mints than ever to keep them sweet. <?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

The TUV leader has discovered that Stormont Assembly Members are chewing more publicly funded mints than ever before. Demand for the free sweets has risen by over 50% in the past year, taking the cost to the public purse, since the practice began 5 years ago, to nearly 1400 pounds.

But at a time when Northern Ireland's budget is under severe pressure should the free sweety train be stopped in its tracks?