ALLIANCE Victims Spokesperson Eileen Bell MLA has accused the Government of treating Northern Ireland victims as “not even an after-thought” following a Westminster debate on the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill. Mrs Bell said that the legislation would create a Victims’ Commissioner in England and Wales, but not in Northern Ireland “where one is […]
SOUTH Antrim Assembly member and Alliance Party Leader David Ford has condemned the actions of those who left a number of incendiary devices under cars in Randalstown today. Mr Ford said: “I utterly condemn these attacks in Randalstown. It seems that some people are determined to try and raise fears and tension in the town […]
ALLIANCE Councillor and newly-instated Lord Mayor of Belfast, Tom Ekin, has defended the decision of the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church to invite Archbishop Sean Brady to the church’s General Assembly last night. Councillor Ekin, who attended the ceremony, said: “I have always worked to bring people from different backgrounds together, and I support others […]
Reacting to news of the death of journalist Mary Holland, Alliance Party leader David Ford said: “Mary’s writing deserved respect even when you disagreed with her conclusions. She contributed much to the changes in Irish society in recent years, and I would express my own sympathy and those of my colleagues to all those who […]
ALLIANCE Councillor Sara Duncan has welcomed the news that more patients in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board area will receive medication as part of a programme to relieve the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. However, figures provided by the EHSSB show that 113 patients in the Board’s area would still not be provided with […]
Responding to the news that more than £9m owed to the Department of Agriculture has not been recovered from developers in Northern Ireland over the past 14 years, Alliance Finance Spokesperson and former Stormont Public Accounts Committee member Seamus Close MLA said: “If ever there was an expose of non-joined-up government, indecision and wastage of […]
ALLIANCE South Antrim MLA David Ford has congratulated Councillor Bobby Loughran on becoming Antrim Borough’s first nationalist mayor. Mr Ford said: “I want to congratulate Bobby on achieving the top post in Antrim, which he thoroughly deserves after so many years of service to his constituents. I know he will do a good job as […]
ALLIANCE Councillor Michael Long has condemned the recent violence in east Belfast . A woman was intimidated from her home when masked men smashed up her Roslyn Street home on Wednesday night, and shots were fired at a house in the Braniel on Thursday morning. Cllr Long said: “I completely condemn both of these attacks. […]
ALLIANCE Assembly member, Alderman Kieran McCarthy, has welcomed the opening of the new waste water treatment works at Kircubbin on the Ards peninsula today. The official opening of the £1.5 million works was conducted by Minister of State John Spellar. Alderman McCarthy said: “The is great news for Kircubbin, as it gives us a facility […]
ALLIANCE Councillor Tom Ekin has been elected Lord Mayor of Belfast at a meeting of Belfast City Council in City Hall tonight. After receiving the chain of office and thanking the outgoing Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor and High Sheriffs, Councillor Ekin said he would conduct the functions of Lord Mayor with leadership, responsibility, dignity […]