Alliance Brexit Spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has welcomed the EU’s recognition of the need to identify ‘a unique solution’ for the border issue after any Brexit. Dr Farry said the EU’s negotiating papers, which say the UK should take responsibility for finding a resolution, was an acknowledgement of the special circumstances of Northern Ireland and […]
Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has questioned why it took two years to release a major report which finds academic selection favours children of parents who can pay for private tuition. The Investigating Links in Achievement and Deprivation (Iliad) report was commissioned by the then Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister […]
Alliance MLA David Ford has welcomed publication of reports looking into the administration of civil and family justice. The Lord Chief Justice (LCJ)’s Civil and Family Justice Review Group reports are designed to look at current procedures, with a view to improving access to justice, achieving better outcomes for court users and creating a more […]
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry has said a speech by Gerry Adams reinforcing Sinn Fein’s Irish Language Act redline for returning to the Executive did nothing to dispel “the perception Sinn Fein is pursuing a chaos strategy” Mr Adams repeated his party’s demand there can be no Assembly or Executive without a stand-alone Irish Language […]
Belfast City Council has backed an Alliance amendment to a motion condemning recent comments made by US President Donald Trump. The amendment, submitted by Councillor Michael Long, said President Trump’s comments following events in Charlottesville lacked clarity and failed to condemn the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazi gangs. “The President has a history of comments […]
Alliance Councillor Michael Long’s motion to allow for crucial decisions at Belfast City Hall to be made more transparent will be referred back to committee later this month. The motion from Councillor Long – Alliance’s Group leader on Belfast City Council – was referred back to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, after he brought […]
Alliance Councillor Sian O’Neill has called for a public inquiry into the plight of victims of mother and baby homes in Belfast. Councillor O’Neill was speaking during tonight’s Belfast City Council meeting, in which she backed Amnesty International’s call to set up a human rights-compliant public inquiry into allegations of forced labour and ill treatment. […]
Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA has extended her condolences to the family of Victor Gordon, the veteran reporter who has passed away. Mr Gordon, who worked for several newspapers, was most closely associated with the Portadown Times. He died on Sunday after a short illness. “Victor Gordon was true gentleman and a gifted journalist, with […]
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MLA has said an independent mediator would help give the talks process much-needed impetus. The call comes ahead of a party delegation meeting with Secretary of State James Brokenshire later this afternoon. Dr Farry said while an arbitrator may not have been appropriate before due to time constraints, that was […]
Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn has said attempted interference in private businesses decisions around Irish will not build confidence in the language. It comes after Sinn Fein held a protest outside Bank of Ireland HQ in Belfast following the decision of the bank to drop the Irish facility on their ATMs due to lack of demand. […]