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Minister for Social Justice strengthens ties with Ireland during St David’s Day trip

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MINISTER Jane Hutt has reaffirmed Welsh Government’s commitment to the Ireland-Wales Shared Statement during a trip to Dublin to mark St David’s Day.

The Ireland-Wales Shared Statement has six areas of co-operation and includes a commitment from both countries to learn from each other and share best practice.

The Minister met the Irish Government’s Joe O’Brien, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Social Protection, to discuss how relations between the Welsh and Irish Government could continue to be strengthened.

In a two-day visit to Dublin, Jane Hutt, Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip, attended several cultural and business events.

This included a St David’s Day reception with partners from across government, industry, education and culture in Ireland, as well as the Welsh diaspora community.

During her time in Dublin the Minister met with the National Youth Council of Ireland and two of their Climate Youth Delegates, Oileán Carter Stritch and Jennifer Salmon, who are seeking to build a relationship with the Future Generations Commission team in Wales.

She also met with senior executives from the leading clinical research organisation ICON, which has been investing in Wales and expanding its workforce in Swansea.

The company has been growing its Swansea office over the last four years and is forging stronger links with universities in Wales, as it bids to take on more graduates and fill highly skilled roles in the life sciences sector.

Minister Jane Hutt also met Conor Falvey Assistant, Secretary General with responsibility for Arts and Culture, and Nadia Feldkircher, Lead Researcher on the Irish Government’s Basic Income for the Arts pilot, to discuss the strengths and challenges of such schemes.

Each pilot scheme has a different target audience in each respective country.

The Welsh Government’s Basic Income for Care Leavers in Wales pilot scheme has been targeted at a cohort of around 630 care leavers and is due to conclude in 2025.The formal enrolment period for the pilot ran for a year and ended on 30 June 2023.

Evaluation of the pilot scheme is ongoing. A statistical breakdown of the cohort enrolled was published last year, whilst the first evaluation report was published last month.

The Irish Government’s Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme will examine, over a three-year period until April 2025, the impact of a basic income on artists and creative arts workers.

Payments of €325 per week are made to 2,000 eligible artists and creative arts workers who were selected at random and invited to take part.

The Minister and lead official discussed the strengths and challenges of Basic Income schemes, as well as what could be learnt from each other about the respective initiatives.

Minister Jane Hutt said: “It has been a privilege to reaffirm our commitment to the Ireland-Wales Shared Statement and Joint Action Plan 2021-25 during my time in Dublin.

“St David’s Day has been a perfect opportunity to showcase our culture overseas and engage with our Welsh diaspora community.

“We are committed to learning from each other and sharing best practice, including through the likes of Basic Income schemes and the Future Generations Commission.”

Minister Joe O’Brien said: “The celebration of St David’s Day here in Dublin, and that of St Patrick’s Day in Cardiff later this month, show the warm and growing relations built on the deep historical and cultural ties between our two peoples.

“We are committed, including through the Ireland Wales Shared Statement, and today’s visit by Minister Hutt, to bringing Wales and Ireland closer together, deepening our cooperation and strengthening connections.”

 

News

Crackwell Street set to reopen after five-month closure

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ROADWORKS linked to structural repairs at Goscar House in Tenby are nearing completion, with Crackwell Street expected to reopen to through traffic today (Wednesday, June 24).

Scaffolding has now been removed from the property, with contractors carrying out a general clearance of the area.

The road has been closed for around five months while structural repair work has been taking place.

Local residents, businesses and visitors are expected to welcome the reopening, with Crackwell Street forming an important route through the town.

Pembrokeshire County Council has indicated that, all being well, the road will reopen later today.

Gareth Davies, of Gareth Davies Photography Tenby, said it was “good to see the removal of scaffolding today and general clearance on the property”.

He added that locals and visitors would be “so pleased” to see the road open once again.

Photo caption:

Clearance work: Contractors at Crackwell Street, Tenby, as scaffolding is removed from Goscar House (Pic: Gareth Davies).

 

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Crime

Dock woman given mental health treatment order after supermarket thefts

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A PEMBROKE DOCK woman has been placed on a mental health treatment requirement after repeatedly stealing meat, cheese and other grocery items from local supermarkets.

Lisa Stewart, 45, admitted three theft offences when she appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

The first offence took place on March 11, when Stewart stole Vanish, Lenor and three packs of Persil capsules from Home Bargains in Pembroke Dock, with a total value of £58.41.

The following month, she stole four small beef joints, four steaks and three blocks of cheese from Asda in Pembroke Dock, worth £55.68.

Seven days later, she stole four legs of lamb from Farmfoods in Pembroke Dock, valued at £99.96.

Stewart, of Truscott House, London Road, Pembroke Dock, also pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to police bail on or around May 26.

She was represented in court by solicitor Alaw Harries, who told magistrates the thefts involved items of relatively low value and were not the result of “sophisticated offending”.

“The defendant has had an exceptionally difficult time, as last year she lost her partner to cancer and has struggled profoundly to process that grief,” said Ms Harries.

“Instead, she has attempted to cope by taking more of her prescribed medication than she should. And this is what has led her to be here today.”

Ms Harries said Stewart is now motivated to address her issues.

Magistrates sentenced Stewart to an 18-month community order. She must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

The order will include monthly reviews in court.

Stewart must also pay £214.05 compensation to the supermarkets, together with a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

 

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Crime

Grandmother banned after cocaine drug-drive offence

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A GRANDMOTHER has been banned from the roads after being caught behind the wheel with 800 mcg of a cocaine metabolite in her system.

Eleri Phillips, 57, was stopped by police in the early hours of December 18 as she drove her Audi Q5 along Derwent Avenue, Steynton.

A roadside drugs swipe proved positive, and further blood tests carried out at the police station showed she had 45 mcg of cocaine in her system and 800 mcg of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite.

The legal limits are 10 mcg and 50 mcg respectively.

Phillips, of Brook Close, Steynton, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. She was legally represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“She is absolutely ashamed of what has happened,” Mr Kelleher told the court.

“She had been out with friends that evening and someone offered her cocaine. Very foolishly, she took it.

“As a result, she is now going to be disqualified from driving, which is going to cause problems not only for her but for her family, as she regularly helps look after her grandchildren with general pick-ups from school.”

Phillips was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £120. She must also pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

 

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