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 […]
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 […]
Anyone waiting on a Coronavirus Business Support Grant must be able to easily access updates on their application, Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has said, as he called on the Economy Minister to urgently set up a central point of contact for all those anxiously waiting. The Party’s Finance spokesperson, Mr Muir said it was “unacceptable” […]
Alliance MP Stephen Farry has welcomed the extension of the UK Government’s furloughing scheme until October but cautioned further detail is needed on how it will operate from this summer. Dr Farry was speaking after Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the Job Retention Scheme, which pays 80 per cent of the wages of workers temporarily made […]
Delays in paying small businesses by the Department for the Economy could lead to some going out of business, Alliance Councillor Amanda Grehan has said. Lisburn South Councillor Ms Grehan said she had been contacted by a number of local businesses in her constituency and beyond who had applied for the Department’s £10,000 one-off grant, […]
Urgent support needs to be given to social enterprises in Northern Ireland to help them survive the coronavirus pandemic, Alliance Economy spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has said. Mr Dickson, Chair of the Assembly All-Party Group on Social Enterprise, has written to Economy Minister Diane Dodds outlining his concern regarding the current funding situation, saying unless […]
The Chancellor’s Budget is not grounded in reality and had little to address the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland, Alliance MP Stephen Farry has said. Dr Farry was speaking after Chancellor Rishi Sunak presented the Budget to the House of Commons. The North Down MP said it was lacking in a number of areas. “Overall […]
If we are serious about protecting public services, then the cost of division in our society needs to be dealt with, Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has said. The Alliance Finance spokesperson was speaking following an Assembly debate on the Budget. The North Down MLA said the duplication of services in our society was one of […]
Alliance Economy spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has welcomed a move by the Department for the Economy to introduce Early Conciliation in employment disputes here from the end of this month. Conciliation is a voluntary process designed to find a mutually agreeable solution to workplace disputes where someone has or could make a claim to an […]