Alliance Councillors on Causeway Coast and Glens Council have called for an investigation into Council finances following confirmation of a shortfall in budgets. Causeway Councillor Chris McCaw said: “Councillors were shocked, when late last year we were told by Council officers that we faced a budgetary crisis. This followed three years of zero increases […]
MLA pay is set by an independent body to ensure MLAs don’t control their and their staff pay and conditions. The proposed rise is a result of the Independent Financial Review Panel determination and not a decision for MLAs. We are not happy with the timing or content of this increase and are working with […]
Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong has expressed her sympathies after a man died in a single vehicle crash in Ballywalter. The man, who was in his 70s, died after the crash at Roddens Road around 7.45am. It follows the death of a 46-year-old woman who crashed on the Portaferry Road on the shores of Strangford […]
Alliance Economy spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has welcomed a move by the Department for the Economy to introduce Early Conciliation in employment disputes here from the end of this month. Conciliation is a voluntary process designed to find a mutually agreeable solution to workplace disputes where someone has or could make a claim to an […]
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw has praised police after they broke up a major international money laundering operation handling £215 million worth of criminal assets. Officers arrested seven people and carried out searches at 15 properties in Belfast, Banbridge, Ballymena, Newry and Omagh. It is believed to be the second largest money laundering operation uncovered in […]
Northern Ireland needs to be protected against Brexit, Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has said. Strangford MLA Ms Armstrong was speaking during an Assembly debate on the UK Government’s Withdrawal Bill, in which the Assembly rejecting giving consent to the plan to leave the EU at the end of the month. “Alliance is a pro-European party […]
Alliance Leader Naomi Long has announced the party’s spokespersons for the new Assembly mandate, saying the party’s representatives will continue working to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland. Chris Lyttle will continue as Alliance Education spokesperson, chairing the Assembly’s Education Committee, while Paula Bradshaw will remain as Health spokesperson and also take up […]
Alliance Strangford MLA, Kellie Armstrong, has said that children’s mental health issues need to be recognised and at the centre of the school day. Ms Armstrong was speaking at the launch of a report on a conference held in October 2019 to discuss mental health issues affecting children who attend integrated schools. The report was […]
Alliance Councillor on Mid and East Antrim Council, Patricia O’Lynn has said that limiting the number of motions that can be brought before Council to 2 per meeting stifles democracy. Councillor O’Lynn said: “I stood for election on the basis that I would fully represent every resident in the area. On a regular basis residents […]
Alliance Councillor for North Belfast, Nuala McAllister, has welcomed the news that Cliftonville Integrated Primary School will get a share of the £45 million School Enhancement Programme announced by the Education Minister, Peter Weir MLA. Councillor McAllister said: “Cliftonville Integrated Primary School is one of the fastest growing schools, seeing rapid growth in the past […]