Alliance Leader David Ford has paid tribute to Sue McAllister, who has announcement she is to step down as the Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service. Mr Ford, who appointed Ms McAllister to the role when Justice Minister, said she had delivered a successful reform programme to the Prison Service, the benefits of […]
Alliance East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson has said lessons must be learnt after a nursing home in his constituency was fined following a data breach. An unencrypted laptop containing sensitive personal details about patients and staff was stolen in a burglary after being taken home by a member of staff at Whitehead Nursing Home. The […]
Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has congratulated students celebrating their GCSE results and encouraged them to take in a range of options before deciding their next move. Pupils in Northern Ireland outperformed those in the rest of the UK in terms of A* – C grades, with the number achieving them increasing by 0.4 […]
Alliance Councillor David Armitage has challenged the Infrastructure Minister to present any evidence of complaints against Councils regarding new planning rules. East Belfast Councillor Mr Armitage was speaking after Minister Chris Hazzard said a number of Councils had fallen foul of their own rules, which were introduced in the past financial year following the Review […]
Alliance Finance spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has said today’s meeting of the Finance Committee has reinforced the need for an independent inquiry into the ‘coaching’ of a witness into its investigation of Nama. Dr Farry was speaking after the Committee echoed Alliance calls for Finance Minister Mairtin O Muilleoir to step aside while such an […]
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has called for the Minister to introduce positive measures to redress the gender imbalance in ambulance service staff. The South Belfast MLA was speaking after new figures in the Health and Social Care Workforce Census for the period ending March 31, 2016 revealed a stark difference between the total […]
Alliance South Antrim MLA David Ford has said there is a need for a better deterrent against those who carry out fish kills. The Alliance Leader was speaking as he received confirmation from Environment Minister Michelle McIlveen that prosecutions are being pursued against those behind recent kills in the Glenavy and Six Mile Water rivers. […]
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has said it is vital abortion services at restored as soon as possible after Marie Stopes confirmed it had suspended abortions at its Belfast clinic for those under 18 and ‘vulnerable’ women. The South Belfast MLA was speaking after the organisation confirmed restrictions imposed by the Care Quality Commission […]
Alliance Deputy Leader Naomi Long has said only an independent investigation into today’s revelations surrounding the Stormont Finance Committee’s investigation into Nama will restore public confidence. East Belfast MLA Mrs Long was speaking following the resignation of Sinn Fein’s Daithi McKay after it was claimed Sinn Fein members ‘coached’ loyalist Jamie Bryson via social media […]
Alliance Economy spokesperson Stephen Farry has congratulated students on A-Level results and emphasised the importance of seeking professional careers advice around their options, including apprenticeships. Dr Farry said every qualification was an achievement in itself. “Many students will have achieved what they need for their already chosen next step, but for others there may be […]