Alliance Economy spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has said he is disappointed but not surprised after Ryanair announced it would be ceasing its operations at local airports by the end of October. The airline, which only recommenced flights at Belfast City Airport in May, currently flies to routes including Krakow and Milan from Belfast International Airport. […]
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has welcomed the Executive’s commitment to establishing an Infrastructure Commission in the COVID-19 Recovery Plan. Last year a Ministerial Advisory Panel established by Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon recommended the establishment of a commission, similar to a body which already exists in Scotland. It is designed to set a 30-year […]
Alliance Economy spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has welcomed an announcement the high street voucher scheme will finally open in September. Economy Minister Gordon Lyons made the announcement after revealing the contract had been awarded to Prepaid Financial Service. The £145 million scheme is expected to open to everyone aged 18 and over, who will be […]
Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has called on some Executive Departments to take urgent action to support local travel agents, who have been impacted severely by the pandemic and subsequent travel restrictions. East Antrim MLA Mr Dickson held a meeting with the Association of Northern Ireland Travel Agents today, alongside Alliance colleague John Blair MLA, to […]
Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has voiced his dismay at the Economy Minister’s inability to accept his share of responsibility for the consequences of Brexit on funding for community schemes. Mr Dickson was speaking after asking Gordon Lyons for his assessment of the recently launched UK Community Renewal Fund and to detail the Department’s engagement with […]
Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has backed plans at Stormont to support the taxi industry and encourage more drivers into the sector. The Party’s Infrastructure Spokesperson was speaking during a debate in the Assembly on Tuesday, aiming to halt the low numbers of taxi drivers currently operating across Northern Ireland. He said: “One of the few […]
Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has welcomed a major funding boost to support NI’s air connectivity across the UK. Mr Dickson was speaking after Economy Minister Paul Frew announced a £4.5 million initiative, adding this investment must produce real customer value. He said: “There is no doubt that air travel has suffered over the course of […]
Incoming Economy Minister Paul Frew needs to seek an urgent meeting with Belfast City Airport and Aer Lingus, after the airline announced it had stopped flights from the airport to several UK destinations. The news came after Stobart Air, which operates Aer Lingus’ regional services, moved into liquidation. Flights to a number of British cities […]
We have an opportunity to develop more local craft brewers, distiller, cideries and wineries into tourist attractions, Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said. Ms Armstrong was speaking ahead of the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill reaching its consideration stage in the Assembly. It is designed to extending opening hours for pubs […]
Alliance Economy spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has expressed his concern after Thompson Aero Seating announced plans for up to 180 redundancies across its sites. The engineering company will cut the jobs jobs at locations in Portadown and Banbridge. It marks the latest announcement of job losses by the company, which makes seats for commercial airlines, […]