In this episode of Check it Out, Jacqui Berkeley and Eamonn Holmes explore the topics of air pollution, street traders and road safety and much more!
How much money do you put on the plate every Sunday? This is the question Jacqui is asking, as most churches have started to take advantage of the tax advantages of being treated as a charity. As Rev. Bob Cobain, Presbyterian Church, states "it's just good house keeping" and for every £3 somebody gives under covenant, it soon becomes £4.
Next, Ronan Kelly is patrolling the streets in Belfast and speaking to local street traders. Michael Drysdale, Belfast City Council, states that all traders need a licence and not having one will mean fines. However, that's not putting off our resident Santa who states that he has "five kids... and coming up to Christmas it's hard". Similarly Christopher Tyrell has already served 4 months in prison this year for trading and refuses to pay a fine for making a living. When the question of street trading was put to the public, none responded negatively, with the general consensus being that they brought atmosphere and it was better than not working at all.
In more serious news, Belfast has been declared the "worst city in the world for Sulphur Dioxide pollution" and just last week had to issue a health warning. Though the episode ends on a cheerful note with Ronan Kelly singing Christmas songs with children at the Cornmarket, Belfast.