Alliance announces temporary changes to Assembly working to enable full focus on tackling crisis

The Alliance Assembly Group has announced temporary changes to its procedures and practices to enable Ministers, officials and staff to devote full resources to the COVID-19 crisis, while enabling full ongoing scrutiny of Departmental work on behalf of constituents. Alliance Party MLAs will: Make strictly limited use of Assembly Written Questions; Use Assembly Committees as […]

Good governance and accountability vital in the public sector – Armstrong

Alliance Communities spokesperson, Kellie Armstrong MLA, has said that good governance and accountability are vital when dealing with public funding. The Strangford MLA was speaking after publication of a report from the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) into Sport NI, which is sponsored by the Department for Communities. The purpose of Sport NI is to […]

Armstrong says Petition of Concern reform would allow for return of Assembly after election

Reform of the Petition of Concern (POC) would allow for the return of the Assembly after the General Election, Alliance Strangford candidate Kellie Armstrong has said. Ms Armstrong said Alliance MPs in the new Westminster mandate would push for such reforms of the POC, which while designed to protect minority rights, has often been used […]

Ambulance shortage further evidence of DUP/SF neglect

Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw has warned that the shortage of ambulance staff resulting in longer response times is another example of the DUP’s and Sinn Féin’s neglect of their responsibilities. The South Belfast MLA said: “I commend the Ambulance Service for putting in place back-up measures in extraordinarily difficult circumstances which will ensure the […]