Long says football offences laws needed after Cliftonville official is hit

Alliance Sports Spokesperson Cllr Michael Long has said that last night’s events at the Linfield – Cliftonville match, where an official was hit by a bottle underlines the need for football offences type legislation in Northern Ireland so that thugs can be punished. Cliftonville Director of Team Affairs Gerard Lawlor was hit as he walked […]

School closures pose challenge for Northern Ireland

Alliance Education Spokesperson Trevor Lunn MLA will say in an Assembly debate today that obviously no-one not wants to close any local schools, but a realistic approach must be taken given the current economic climate and pressure on the public purse. He said that creating more integrated schools and ending division in education would be […]

Alliance Calls for Transitional Relief for Council Rates

The Alliance Party has tabled an amendment to the debate in the Assembly on the Penny Product figures for District Councils which calls for transitional relief to be considered urgently for District Councils. This measure would address the expected major hikes in the level of local rates to take into account the fact that the […]

Provide for motorhomes and boost the tourism industry

Chair East Londonderry Alliance Paddy McGowan has expressed concern at the lack of understanding and knee-jerk reactions on the issue of motorhomes parking in local towns and beauty spots. He hit out at Coleraine Councillors from other parties who do not recognise the economic potential of attracting motorhome tourists to the North Coast. Paddy McGowan […]

Lunn attacks Executive over ‘lack of ambition’

Lagan Valley Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn has launched a scathing attack on the Stormont Executive over its lack of ambition for Northern Ireland and he referred to the ongoing delays regarding a decision on the Maze stadium project. Trevor Lunn MLA stated: “It appears that the Stormont Executive lacks ambition for Northern Ireland. The Maze […]

Prison Service needs to change says Alliance

Alliance Party Justice Spokesperson, Stephen Farry MLA, has responded to the report of the Prison Ombudsman into the death in custody of Colin Bell by stressing the need for wider institutional and cultural changes within the Northern Ireland Prison Service. Stephen Farry MLA said: “This is a very disturbing report, with far-reaching implications. It is […]

Neeson blasts East Antrim homes closure plan

East Antrim Alliance MLA Séan Neeson has expressed anger at the closure of residential care homes in the Northern Health Trust area. Mr Neeson demanded to know what arrangements will be made for the older people whose homes are closing. Homes are set to close in Larne, Greenisland, Newtownabbey, Antrim and Ballycastle. Séan Neeson MLA […]

Ford says Executive has broken promise to meet weekly

Alliance Leader David Ford has hit out at the Stormont Executive for failing to continue to meet weekly, after they promised to do so to address the backlog of issues they did not deal with during the stalemate. He said the Executive have been disingenuous and have shown their total lack of ambition for Northern […]