Politicians were today facing a grilling from members of the North’s voluntary and community sector.

A new pay-as-you-go car-ownership scheme is being examined in a move to ease traffic congestion in Belfast, it was announced today.

Government departments in the North have been accused of being incompetent or incapable of enacting the legislation designed to protect the natural environment.

The North is edging closer to having its own environmental protection agency, it was claimed today.