Alliance demands genuine power sharing as it submits its response to St Andrews Agreement

Alliance Leader David Ford has stated that the St Andrews Agreement is a quick fix and that Northern Ireland needs genuine and sustainable power-sharing. His comments come as Alliance today submits their response to the St Andrews Agreement to Peter Hain. David Ford stated: “The detail within the St Andrews Agreement is unclear and we […]

More must be done to protect local healthcare staff – Alliance

Alliance Party Health Spokesperson, Kieran McCarthy MLA, has demanded more protection for healthcare workers and the immediate introduction of stronger sentences for those that assault health professionals. His demands come as a survey was published indicating that two in five doctors in Northern Ireland have experienced violence or verbal abuse in the past year. The […]

Alliance demands greater enforcement of planning powers

Alliance South Belfast representative, Allan Leonard, had stated that he has no confidence that existing planning powers are being effectively enforced. He also said that if the Planning Service cannot convince the public that it is serious about enforcement, then more powers will have to be granted to an independent Ombudsman. After attending a meeting […]

Long hopes newspapers are successful in their legal bid to stop planning change

Alliance Party Deputy Leader, Naomi Long MLA, has stated she hopes the three big newspapers here are successful in their court case to overturn the government’s decision to stop publishing planning applications in them. Her comments come the day before the next High Court hearing is due to take place. She also praised the three […]

Alliance backs Fair Rates Campaign’s five point plan and demands local income tax

Alliance Party South Belfast Representative, Allan Leonard, has backed the Fair Rates Campaign’s five point plan and has demanded that a local income tax be introduced to get rid of disgraceful rates hikes. Allan Leonard also hit out at Conservative Peers for letting the people of Northern Ireland down in Tuesday’s House of Lords rates […]

BBC survey shows need for parties to work together to deliver genuine power-sharing

Alliance Leader David Ford has stated that the BBC survey on the St Andrews Agreement shows that people want power sharing but believe that deadlines will not be met because of the stance of the sectarian parties. This shows the need for parties to work together and to share power, not divide it. The poll […]

Alliance pleased to select Fitzpatrick as candidate for Coleraine by-election

Alliance Party Chair and Coleraine Representative, Yvonne Boyle, has announced that following last night’s selection meeting, Barney Fitzpartick has been selected as the Alliance Party candidate for the forthcoming council by-election in Skerries ward in Coleraine. The by-election follows the resignation of Dessie Stewart after the former DUP member was found guilty of electoral fraud. […]

Alliance backs launch of Fairtrade clothing

Alliance Vice Chair and Castlereagh Councillor Michael Long has welcomed Sainsbury’s launch of a fairtrade clothing range. The range will consist of 22 new styles for men women and children and will be made from Fairtrade certified cotton. He also stated that the Castlereagh Alliance team are trying to get Dundonald designated as a Fairtrade […]

Alliance says scrap the cap and scrap the rates

Former Belfast Lord Mayor and Alliance Economy Spokesperson, Tom Ekin, has hit out at the government announcement that a cap will be placed on rates if devolution is restored. Alliance wants more than that, they want to see rates and the ridiculous increases scraped altogether and replaced with a fair local income tax. Tom Ekin’s […]

Long demands meeting with Minister to get more help for children with sight loss

Alliance Party Deputy Leader, Naomi Long MLA, has demanded a meeting with the Education Minster in a bid to get government to provide more learning resources for school pupils with sight loss. Her demand comes after she spoke at the launch of the Royal National Institute for the Blind’s ‘Where’s my book’ campaign. The East […]