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, […]
We may see increased exploitation of employees and a decrease in the health and well-being of workers if the Economy Minister does not implement a remote working strategy, Alliance Economy spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has said. Mr Dickson said such a development would ensure the benefits of remote working are maximised and current employment rights […]
Alliance East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson has said he is frustrated after the Economy Minister showed “disinterest” in the continuation of the Erasmus programme for students in Northern Ireland. Mr Dickson wrote to Diane Dodds to enquire about the continuation of the Erasmus programme in Northern Ireland. The EU initiative provides opportunities for students to […]
Questions remain on how two schemes designed to stimulate the economy will work, Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has said. The party’s Economy spokesperson was speaking after asking Economy Minister Diane Dodds for an update on the High Street Voucher Scheme and Holiday at Home Scheme. The former will see members of the public receive a […]