SDLP Youth have today urged young people to challenge unfair bank charges.

SDLP Youth Belfast Representative Peter Armstrong said “We have recently seen cases were consumers have challenged their banks and have been refunded thousands in unfair charges. This is great news.

“It is proof that the banks are taking advantage of their market position and over-charging consumers. Banks especially market credit cards and current accounts at students; students are no less affected by large penalties for going slightly over their overdraft limit or having a bill payment bounce.

“SDLP Youth want to make it clear to all the banks that young people won’t accept unfair charges. Students have enough financial worries without their banks taking their well-earned money.

“SDLP Youth wish to highlight the Consumer Council’s Stop Unfair Charges campaign, which has helped many students’ recover money from their banks. Their website provides useful advice and a letter template for writing to your bank. This is not about whether you should be charged or not - it is about how much you are being charged. SDLP Youth and the Consumer Council believe that the charges placed on accounts, which go into the red without permission, are excessive and unfair.

“SDLP Youth urge young people to avail of the Consumer Council’s expertise. Contesting bank charges isn’t hard to do. The first step is to send a letter asking for your charges to be refunded - the Consumer Council website has a sample you can download. The second step is to then make an application to the Small Claims Court - again the Consumer Council website has a sample you can download. The message is - don’t give up or be fobbed off. The banks are refunding charges here and none have taken the opportunity to defend their charges in Court to date.

“The Consumer Council is keeping a database of people who have been successful in getting their unfair charges refunded. Let them know how you get on so they can advise others facing the same problem of excessive penalty charges.”

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General Consumer Council NI website

SDLP Youth have sent greetings to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on the occasion of her 61st Birthday, on 19th June. She has so far spent 10 years and 238 days in prison. This latest period of arrest has been extended for another year until 26 May 2007.

The Burmese Military regime is blight on world democracy. Unless aligned to government officials, most of the country’s 50 million inhabitants live without human rights and mainly in poverty, under a strict and often brutal regime which routinely employs forced labour, including children, and has been known to use rape as a weapon of war. There is no independent judiciary, and political opposition is violently suppressed.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratic opposition party won a landslide election victory in 1990 but the military junta refused to hand over power. In 1991 Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her commitment to peaceful change.

For more information visit http://www.burmaactionireland.org/

“I would like the west to see us not as a country rather far away whose sufferings do not matter, but as fellow human beings in need of human rights and who could do so much for the world, if we were allowed. Use your liberty to promote ours”
- Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

“SDLP Youth members will be attending a debate entitled “The Role of the Republic in the North’s Affairs” hosted by Meath West Ógra Fianna Fáil. Margaret Ritchie MLA for South Down will be on the panel along with other distinguished politicians.

* Margaret Ritchie MLA
* Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern TD
* Senator Martin Mansergh
* David Ford MLA
Jim Wells MLA has also been invited to attend.

“SDLP Youth are looking forward to taking part in what will hopefully materialise as a productive and challenging debate looking at ways to foster better relations in Ireland and coming up with fresh initatives.

“The debate takes place at the Newgrange Hotel, Navan on Thursday 22nd June at 8pm.”

“On 20 June some 2,000 athletes, 500 coaches and delegates, 5,500 volunteers and 4,000 families, friends and guests will begin arriving in Belfast for the Special Olympics Ireland Games. Started in 1998 the Special Olympics Ireland Games have gained a very high profile. In 2003 Ireland was the host nation for the Special Olympics World Games which was an enormous success. This year Belfast is proudly hosting the Games for the whole island.

“Special Olympics help young people with learning disabilities take part in an immensely fulfilling and worthwhile event. The athletes taking part are highly talented and dedicated to the Games, and the Games also provide a huge social benefit for all who take part, making it an enjoyable occasion.

“5,500 volunteers are giving their time and putting a great effort in to make this a tremendous year for Special Olympics. Guests from all over the world will be in the city.

“SDLP Youth wish all the athletes great success in the Games. We are delighted that Belfast has the opportunity to host Special Olympics Ireland. SDLP in West Belfast are holding a Fundraiser event, being held on Friday 9 June 2006. We hope to see a large turnout and raise lots for Special Olympics.”

SDLP West Belfast Fundraiser for Special Olympics
Pat’s Bar, 19-22 Princes Dock Street, Belfast.
There will be music and a barbecue from 7.00pm onwards.
£10 minimum donation.

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Special Olympics website

SDLP Youth have today criticised the lack of seat belts on school buses.

SDLP Youth Colleges Officer Peter Armstrong said “It is an unacceptable situation that our school children face. Inquiry after inquiry and report after report indicate that we need a seat belt for every child on our school buses.

“The report released this week and produced by the University of Ulster shows what we already knew - not wearing a seat belt is deadly - but this time they have asked children what they thought. The children have said overwhelmingly that they do not feel safe travelling to and from school. There is no better evidence than children’s fear for their safety.

“We need to stop putting three children on seats designed for two. The ‘three for two’ rule is bargaining with our young peoples’ lives.

“SDLP Youth have long called for legislation to be brought in to fund safety on public transport. It is time the government introduced the necessary legislation. It is lunacy that school buses are exempt from seat belt laws.”

SDLP Youth have welcomed the end to university lecturers’ industrial action after a pay deal was reached between the universities and the UCU trade union.

SDLP Youth University & Colleges Officer Peter Armstrong said “SDLP Youth highlighted the students’ cause and tirelessly supported the lecturers’ campaign. It is excellent news that has a resolution has been agreed.

“Students have had to put up with a very bad service recently from their universities. They have been let down during their exams. SDLP Youth are glad to see the end of this dispute, with a resolution which should see staff pay levels agreed up until 2009.

“Universities need to get their act together so students’ do not get their exams and coursework cancelled in the years to come. Students expect certain standards from their universities, and this year the university vice chancellor’s have failed.”