Alliance Vice Chair and Castlereagh Councillor Michael Long has warned of a potential quadruple rates whammy for ratepayers in parts of Castlereagh as a result of the proposed creation of the new super councils which will see the incorporation of large parts of Castlereagh into the new Belfast Council. Cllr. Long has highlighted that currently […]
Alliance Party Leader David Ford and Newtownabbey Mayor Lynn Frazer have called for meeting with the Northern Health and Social Services Board to secure adequate ambulance coverage for the Newtownabbey area. Their call is in response to a reduction in the opening hours at the Accident and Emergency Department in Whiteabbey Hospital. David Ford said: […]
Alliance Leader, David Ford has demanded action on the real education crisis which will soon hit Northern Ireland because the sectarian parties cannot resolve the academic selection issue. He stated that the tribal parties are in a sectarian gridlock which will create a vacuum in the local education system and will harm local children. He […]
Strangford Alliance Assembly Member Kieran McCarthy has slammed a decision to stop providing a live-in assistant to help older people at sheltered housing in Ballywalter. A decision was taken by Corinthian Housing Association not to replace the live-in coordinator for older people when the current one retires at the end of November. The sheltered accommodation […]
Alliance Party Finance Spokesperson, Cllr Alan Lawther, has slammed a VAT loophole which is harming local business in the run-up to Christmas. Northern Ireland shops selling CDs and DVDs are being hit hard because businesses in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man have lower VAT rates, so they can charge less for these products. […]
Alliance Party Health Spokesperson Kieran McCarthy has stated that plans to crackdown on junk food ads during TV programmes for under 16s must be part of an awareness campaign to fight obesity. He outlined the need for a wide-ranging campaign to fight obesity, which includes getting more children involved in sports, and teaching them about […]
Former Lord Mayor of Belfast, Tom Ekin, has hit out at those who set fire to two buildings in Belfast last night. He stated that these attacks will damage the local economy. The two buildings are located in Corporation Square adjacent to the Sealink terminals, and the incidents took place at around 7.30pm yesterday evening. […]
Castlereagh Alliance Councillor, Sara Duncan, has welcomed the reforms on dental care which will modernise services and ensure that everyone has access to a dentist. He comments comes following today’s announcement by Minister Paul Goggins which introduces a package of reform for primary dental care over the next ten years. Cllr Sara Duncan said: “I […]
Alliance Party Leader, David Ford, has criticised the new St Andrews legislation calling it a recipe for breakdowns in devolution. He also stated that the government are playing a dangerous game in holding elections before power sharing is secured. This legislation was unveiled today by the Northern Ireland Office. David Ford said: “Stopping the First […]
Alliance Party MLA Kieran McCarthy has slammed the decision of the Assembly Business Committee not to back his motion to place the election of a First and Deputy First Minister at the top of the agenda for the Assembly sitting on 24th November. He proposed the motion at the final meeting of the Hain Assembly […]