Derry's Year in review: March 2023

March saw the newly-refurbished cinematic arts studio at Ulster University’s Derry campus named after former British Secretary of State and Labour politician, the late Mo Mowlam.

The studio was officially opened ahead of the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, which Ms Mowlam oversaw as then Secretary of State.

Those in attendance at the official opening included Ms Mowlam’s stepdaughter, director and producer Henrietta Norton; current leader of the British Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer; current British Shadow Secretary of State, Peter Kyle; and former British Shadow Secretary of State, Louise Haigh.

The dedicated space in the Walled City’s much-loved Foyle Arts Centre has been transformed into a fit-for-purpose studio which will enable Ulster University’s Cinematic Arts students to harness their creative talents and develop their skills in a controlled environment, replicating a professional film studio.

Local man Patsy Duffy, one of 270 images of State Violence and State Collusion Victims, projected on to Free Derry Wall, in protest against the Legacy Bill.

A long-standing Seagate employee and campaigner for trade union rights revealed in March, Unite the Union was on the verge of recognition at the company’s Springtown plant.

The activist described the prospect as “a historic event, not just in Seagate but in the city”.

They recalled how the long journey to union recognition had started with four or five people, who between them had more than 100 years service in Seagate.

“We were drawn from the original 37-strong group of union members which had historically existed at Springtown. We then organised a diverse, cross-shift group of 16 people who started the campaign to increase union membership on-site,” they said.

“This began with prospective union members signing a petition calling for union recognition here. Our petition was hugely successful.
“We gathered almost 500 signatures saying we would like Unite the Union to represent us in negotiations with the company, in regards to pay and terms and conditions.”

Meanwhile, Derry City and Strabane District Council’s ‘register’ of properties affected by defective concrete products and blocks should not be restricted to the minerals, mica, pyrite and pyrrhotite, according to a member of Donegal County Council.

Cllr Frank McBrearty, himself an affected homeowner, said it was vital Derry City and Strabane District Council’s definition be widened to include “all deleterious materials and all reactive sulphide minerals”.

He said: “As a result of two years of investigation, undertaken by Derry’s Dr Ambrose McCloskey, chartered engineer and IS465 registered engineer; and Kieran Coyle, chartered structural engineer; and international experts, Professor Paul Dunlop and Dr Andreas Leemann; other experts from Canada, US and Norway; and myself, I believe, Derry City and Strabane District Council must now look at an investigation into all deleterious materials and reactive iron sulphide minerals, which could possibly be present in properties in the North of Ireland, constructed with concrete products bought from Donegal.”

“I really do believe there are a considerable number of homes across Derry, Tyrone and Fermanagh affected by defective concrete blocks and people won’t know until it is too late.”

This was the prediction of West Tyrone MLA, Daniel McCrossan, speaking to Derry News at the SDLP’s annual conference in Derry’s St Columb’s Hall in March.

Mr McCrossan said he was supporting Derry City and Strabane District Council’s ongoing initiative to establish how many properties in its area were affected by defective concrete products and blocks.

He added: “However, the problem is that when people find out this is in their property, there is nowhere to go next.

“So, while Derry City and Strabane District Council’s scheme is welcome, it is hampered by the fact there is no proper communication between council officials, who have a serious concern about the obvious signs there are defective concrete blocks in homes in our area, in Strabane, Derry and Castlederg, in border constituencies generally, and decision-makers at Assembly or Government level.

“It is entirely to be expected homes here are going to display the signs they contain defective concrete blocks, given how Donegal and Tyrone and Derry operate together.”

The Strabane-based MLA said the defective concrete block issue was a “major concern” for the SDLP.

It also emerged in March, the Department of Health was still spending “hundreds of thousands” of pounds on the Covid Passport app, which has not been required for more than a year.

The Covid Vaccination Passport was made mandatory by the then Executive for only 45 days between December 2020 and January 2021. Speaking to Derry News, Derry City and Strabane District councillor, Emmet Doyle (Aontú) said the App cost more than £20m and is still costing taxpayers a “significant amount of money”.

Cllr Doyle said it was outrageous the Department of Health was still spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on a Covid Passport app when it had not been required for over a year.

He added: ““This scheme cost £20.5m up to December 2022 and in each month of the financial year 2022/23, the Department has spent a further £440k on it. This spending is wasteful whilst our frontline health services are under intense and sustained pressure.

“In December of last year, I was contacted by a number of constituents who had received a notification from their dormant Covid-19 app informing them a renewed certificate has been downloaded for them. Many expressed surprise this scheme was still running, given the Executive scrapped it as a requirement over a year ago.

“I contacted the Department of Health to seek an explanation. I was shocked to learn that the Covid Passport (officially named the Covid Certification Scheme) was not only still running, but was costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds to administer.

“At a time when GP surgeries are handing back their contracts and when Emergency Departments are under constant pressure, the Department has no reason to be spending money on a provision that lasted only 45 days and is not required when travelling in most parts of the world today – and not in the EU at all,” said Cllr Doyle.

Sadly, it emerged in March, Derry’s award-winning, monthly Walled City Market was being axed.

Harry Canning, a stallholder in the Market for the past 10 years who sells handmade crafts, said there was consternation among the traders about the Market’s closure, how the decision was communicated, and the negative impact it will have on Derry City Centre going forward.

“None of the traders have heard a word from the Council since we received the email from its Market’s Development Officer last week telling us about the closure. All the traders are disgusted we were not consulted.