Call for new air ambulance

Lisburn Councillor Jenny Palmer has challenged the Health Minister 'to seize the opportunity and use LIBOR cash fines as potential funding for a much-needed air ambulance for Lagan Valley constituents and the wider Northern Ireland community'.

By The Newsroom

Published 8th Feb 2016, 08:01 BST

The so-called LIBOR scandal arose when it was discovered that banks were falsely inflating or deflating their rates so as to profit from trades.

Millions of pounds has been raised in fines.

Mrs Palmer is publicly encouraging the Health Minister to use Libor fine monies if possible to support an air ambulance.

“There can be no doubting that an air ambulance is a much-needed medical facility specifically in Lagan Valley and across the Northern Ireland in general,” said Mrs Palmer.

“But as everyone probably knows, it costs a considerable amount of funding to maintain.

“Given that millions were raised through the LIBOR fines, some of that cash mountain could be used to pay for the purchase and maintenance of our air ambulance,”