Alliance urges traders to be vigilant after blaze

ALLIANCE Councillor Lynn Frazer (Newtownabbey) has urged traders to be vigilant after a Newtownabbey business was destroyed in a fire. Cllr Frazer said: “While arson has not yet been confirmed as the cause, there has been a series of incendiary attacks across Northern Ireland recently. No matter who is responsible, such attacks are putting lives, […]

Yorkshire Dales could hold key to north coast housing crisis

A PUBLIC enquiry into the Area Plan for an English national park could contain the key to resolving the problem on our own north coast of people being priced out of their local housing market. The inspector conducting the public enquiry into the Area Plan for the Yorkshire Dales National Park has reported that it […]

Alliance publishes response to ‘comprehensive agreement’

PROGRESS in a number of areas has been matched by the creation of more problems, the Alliance Party has said in its response to the Government’s ‘comprehensive agreement’. Party Leader David Ford stated: “There has been substantial progress on certain issues, and at last the DUP has accepted the principles of the Agreement as the […]

Alliance welcomes IFA efforts to beat racism

THE Alliance Party has welcomed efforts by the Irish Football Association to offer anti-racism training to players, coaches and referees in Northern Ireland. Alliance Sports Spokesperson, Castlereagh Councillor Michael Long, stated: “Just last month a Blackburn Rovers fan was fined £1,000 and banned from football grounds for five years for racially abusing Birmingham City player […]

Alliance Attacks Sinn Fein Hypocrisy on Asylum

Alliance Party Justice Spokesperson, Stephen Farry, has accused Sinn Fein MEP Bairbre de Brun of gross hypocrisy in welcoming a EU Report on the rights of asylum seekers, while Republicans continue to exile thousands of people to both within and outside Northern Ireland. Dr Farry stated: “Sinn Fein would like to reinvent themselves as the […]

Ending paramilitarism must be top priority: Ford

Speaking on the eve of the Hillsborough Talks to restore devolution in Northern Ireland, Alliance Party Leader David Ford MLA has expressed serious concerns regarding flaws in the proposed IRA statement. Mr Ford also stressed that Alliance will insist that the governments ensure the IRA deliver a clear and unambiguous commitment to end of all […]

Ford calls on Governments to address gaps in ‘agreement’

David Ford, Alliance Leader, has called on the two Governments to urgently address the gaps which are now becoming apparent in the ‘comprehensive agreement’ paper. David Ford said: “Detailed study of the annexes to the paper from the two Governments shows a number of worrying gaps in the proposals. “In particular, it is far from […]

SDLP Illogical Over Accountability: Alliance

Alliance Party General Secretary Dr Stephen Farry has questioned the SDLP’s logic in continuing to undermine moves to create greater accountability and collective responsibility within the Executive. Dr Farry stated: “Alliance welcomes many of the aspects in the Governments’ Joint Paper regarding greater collectivity and accountability. The proposals reflect a number of compromises ideas and […]

Talks now could resolve outstanding problem: Neeson

ALLIANCE Assembly member Sean Neeson (East Antrim) is urging political parties to urgently address the outstanding issue required to restore devolved government in Northern Ireland. Mr Neeson stated: “The parties need to get round the table urgently to discuss the final unresolved issue. People want local politicians making local decisions in their best interests, and […]

Public meeting demonstrates strong opposition to water charges

THE Government has been told in no uncertain terms that people in Newtownards are not prepared to pay twice for their water, Alliance Assembly member Kieran McCarthy (Strangford) has said. Alderman McCarthy was speaking after a public meeting in Queen’s Hall, Newtownards, last night to debate water charges. Representatives from the General Consumer Council and […]