It is another concerning day after Bank of Ireland announced it was to close 15 branches in Northern Ireland, Alliance Finance spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has said. Mr Muir has requested meetings with the Financial Services Union and Bank of Ireland following the decision, which follows in the wake of Ulster Bank announcing it was […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has called on the Finance Minister to consider allocating money to reform the controversial ‘six-month’ rule for terminally ill people. As part of a cross-party letter, MLAs wrote to Conor Murphy to urge him to give the Department for Communities (DFC) £2 million to progress reform of the Special […]
Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has called for the Economy Minister to widen the Large Tourism and Hospitality Business Support Scheme, to include leisure and entertainment businesses over £51,001 NAV. The Alliance Economy spokesperson said: “For almost a year now, leisure and tourism businesses have been unable to trade normally, or even been required to close […]
Alliance Finance spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has expressed concern following an announcement from Ulster Bank it is to close its operations in the Republic of Ireland. Ulster Bank’s business in Northern Ireland will continue to trade but jobs may be at risk. Mr Muir said it was a real blow. “The decision to withdraw from […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has supported a call to improve the level of support for people who have to self-isolate as a result of COVID-19. The Independent Scientific Advisory Group (ISAG), alongside trade unions and organisations in the community sector, have written to Ministers to seek support to encourage people contacted by track […]
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has welcomed a roll back in the law that will see entertainers and musicians qualify for the Coronavirus Business Support Scheme. The move came after a legal challenge as taken against a blanket ban on live music in Northern Ireland, leaving all those involved in the industry financially at a loss. […]
Alliance Finance Spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has raised concerns after the Finance Minister announced the Executive has less than two months remaining to allocate £250m of COVID-19 funding. In a statement to the Assembly, the Finance Minister confirmed that he had not been granted additional flexibility by the Treasury to carry forward COVID-19 funding received […]
Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has said the findings of a new report into how new digital contracts have been handled by the Assembly is “extremely disappointing”. Mr Muir was speaking after the Northern Ireland Assembly Public Accounts Committee revealed contract extensions cost taxpayers more than £120 million. He added: “This is just another example of […]
Alliance Finance and Infrastructure spokesperson, Andrew Muir MLA, has raised concerns regarding the draft budget for Northern Ireland presented today in the Assembly. The 2021/22 budget announcement was expected weeks ago, but was only agreed by the Executive Committee this morning. The draft budget proposes flat allocations for the Northern Ireland departments for the forthcoming […]
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has criticised the Department for Infrastructure (DFI) for handing back £1 million it has been unable to spend on road resurfacing projects. At this week’s Infrastructure Committee meeting, officials from DFI told MLAs £1 million of capital money was being returned by the Department due to reduced capacity to […]