Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong, Deputy Chair of the Communities Committee has welcomed plans to give the charity sector a financial boost as the coronavirus pandemic continues to bring financial pressures across all aspects of life in Northern Ireland. The Alliance Party’s Communities spokesperson, Kellie was speaking after the latest Ministerial update in the Assembly – […]
Alliance MLA and Finance Spokesperson Andrew Muir has welcomed the decision to extend rates relief for all businesses until the end of July, and the full financial year for key sectors hardest hit by the pandemic, but also called for much more assistance beyond rates relief to help both people and businesses get through the […]
lliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has welcomed the publication of the Mental Health Action Plan by the Department of Health. The plan contains 38 actions, including a commitment to produce a mental health strategy and actions for dealing with the response to the COVID-19 crisis. “Never has such an action plan, setting out commitments […]
Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle has welcomed today’s announcement that £12 million has now been set aside for substitute teachers pay. Mr Lyttle – Chair of the Education Committee said the move would be a welcome boost of morale for the education sector, that up until now had witnessed a key part of Northern Ireland’s […]
Alliance Chief Whip Kellie Armstrong MLA has called for the Assembly to continue to meet over July and August, and not go into recess at a crucial time. Strangford MLA Ms Armstrong has made the formal request with Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey and will bring the issue to the Assembly’s Business Committee to seek agreement […]
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw has warned that the Health Minister must put a precise timeline on testing plans in care homes. The South Belfast MLA stated: “No one is suggesting the Minister has an easy job at present, but he needs to recognise that serious mistakes have been made with regard to care homes, […]
Alliance Finance spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has said action must be taken to assist many businesses still left without any Grant Assistance following launch of limited Hardship Fund by Department of the Economy late on Friday night. He said: “Details of the Hardship Fund are welcome but extremely overdue, many weeks after fund was announced. […]
Hope is fading for many businesses promised financial assistance by the Economy Minister, Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has said. On April 10, Economy Minster Diane Dodds announced a scheme designed to ‘support businesses not currently able to access existing regional or national grant schemes’. However, details of the scheme have yet to be released, with […]
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has said local firms should explore the option of producing clear face masks to help those who lip read communicate with others. Strangford MLA Ms Armstrong, who is partially deaf, said the recent example of an American company producing such masks should serve as an inspiration for a local business to […]
Alliance Party Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has welcome steps announced by the Health Minister to support care homes, but cautioned testing is still required regardless of symptoms. Robin Swann has outlined several measures to try and protect residents during the pandemic, including expansion of testing, strengthening support for care homes and investment in and […]