Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has expressed scepticism following the announcement of an official feasibility study for a bridge linking Northern Ireland and Scotland, saying it is more about politics than reality. The potential project will now be assessed by engineering experts, looking at the feasibility, costs, work needed and timescale. “Everyone reading this […]
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has welcomed the Infrastructure Minister’s decision to extend the consultation deadline for the review of the planning system. The Department for Infrastructure is required by law to hold a review of the 2011 Planning Act, which saw major reform of the planning system. A Call for Evidence was opened last […]
Executive Departments need to ensure planned spending is carried out so no money is handed back to Westminster, Alliance Finance spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has said. Mr Muir was speaking during an Assembly debate relating to a motion on the supply of cash and use of resources by Departments in the current financial year, and […]
It is another concerning day after Bank of Ireland announced it was to close 15 branches in Northern Ireland, Alliance Finance spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has said. Mr Muir has requested meetings with the Financial Services Union and Bank of Ireland following the decision, which follows in the wake of Ulster Bank announcing it was […]
It is essential the Executive has a comprehensive plan to tackle the issues relating to the pandemic, Brexit and other issues over the next year, Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has said. Mr Muir was speaking after an Assembly debate on the need for a recovery and investment strategy, post-COVID-19. He said there was a unique […]
Alliance Finance spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has expressed concern following an announcement from Ulster Bank it is to close its operations in the Republic of Ireland. Ulster Bank’s business in Northern Ireland will continue to trade but jobs may be at risk. Mr Muir said it was a real blow. “The decision to withdraw from […]
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has urged the Infrastructure Minister to get a move on, after it emerged she has still not received and reviewed a report already compiled by her officials on the benefits of residents’ parking schemes. In April 2018, the Department for Infrastructure ran a trial residents’ parking scheme in South […]
Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has called on the Economy Minister to “check her attitude” when it comes to helping local businesses navigate issues currently being caused by Brexit. Speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday, Mr Muir said the Minister’s current attitude did little to help all those workers and businesses struggling with the current situation. […]
Alliance Infrastructure Spokesperson, Andrew Muir MLA, has called for the Department for Infrastructure to formally scrap plans for building Smart motorways in Northern Ireland. In an “all-lane smart motorway”, the hard shoulder is converted into a live-lane and replaced by refuge points or laybys spaced out alongside the motorway. Smart motorways already exist in England, […]
Alliance Finance Spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has raised concerns after the Finance Minister announced the Executive has less than two months remaining to allocate £250m of COVID-19 funding. In a statement to the Assembly, the Finance Minister confirmed that he had not been granted additional flexibility by the Treasury to carry forward COVID-19 funding received […]