Alliance Leader David Ford has hit out at the Stormont Executive for their failure to meet since the 19 June. He said this meant that the country’s decision makers are effectively doing no work. David Ford said: “The Executive is in crisis. Why has it not met since the middle of June? There are many […]
Alliance Deputy Leader Naomi Long MLA has blasted Iris Robinson’s comments on gay people and said she should retract them immediately. Mrs Robinson made the comments at Westminster in a debate on the management of sex offenders. Naomi Long MLA said: “Iris Robinson’s comments show a complete lack of responsibility. Such remarks are both inflammatory […]
Alliance Health Spokesperson Kieran McCarthy MLA has re-iterated his call to the Health Minster to improve services for people with mental health needs and learning disabilities by speedily implementing the findings of the Bamford Review. Strangford MLA Kieran McCarthy said: “The Health Minister Michael McGimpsey must commit to a full timetable for progress in implementing […]
Alliance Health Spokesperson Kieran McCarthy MLA has welcomed news that the European Court of Justice has ruled that carers should have the same rights against employment discrimination as a person with a disability. The Court ruled that it is not only illegal to discriminate because of age or disability, but also to discriminate because of […]
North Down Alliance Party MLA, Stephen Farry, has spoken out against comments made by DUP MLA, Iris Robinson, on the Nolan Show today when she called for government to work on the basis of ‘God’s law’. Stephen Farry stated: “This is yet another embarrassing gaffe from Iris Robinson. At a time, when Northern Ireland is […]
Alliance Sustainability Spokesperson Alan Lawther has expressed anger that yet another fish kill has occurred – the second of the week. He said that incidents like these show why Northern Ireland needs a strong independent environmental protection agency. The latest fish kill took place in the River Blackwater in County Tyrone and another was reported […]
Alliance Youth Chair Stephen Martin today called for urgent action to combat the upward trend of first year students dropping out of university. The Lagan Valley representative was responding to Higher Education Statistics Agency figures, which showed that 15.2% of University of Ulster students and 7.5% of Queen’s students do not make it into their […]
Alliance Leader David Ford has appealed for a quiet Twelfth of July period and has praised efforts across Northern Ireland to ensure the period passes peacefully. David Ford said: “The parading season has so far been without serious incident. I hope that this calm can continue throughout the Twelfth of July period. “Representatives of the […]
Castlereagh Alliance Councillor Sara Duncan has welcomed efforts to ensure that older people who are eligible to gain rates relief do so. She did however say that the current rates system was unfair and stated that moves towards an income-based system would be much better. Her comments came after Finance Minister Nigel Dodds published plans […]
Local Alliance Representative Yvonne Boyle has condemned two attacks on two teenage girls in Coleraine which took place on Sunday. The incidents happened in the Crescent area of the town in the early hours of Sunday morning. Yvonne Boyle said: “These were two potentially horrific incidents that were only prevented by the vigilance of the […]