Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA has welcomed the launch of a public consultation on the draft Northern Ireland Peatland Strategy 2021-2040. Peatlands are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth, yet our peatlands remain under threat. Locally, they face pressures such as overgrazing, drainage and burning, causing damage to 86 per cent of them. […]
Alliance Policing Board member John Blair MLA has said his thoughts remain with people unable to properly mourn the death of loved ones during the pandemic, after the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) upheld its decision not to prosecute anyone in relation to the Bobby Storey funeral. The PPS originally made the decision to not prosecute […]
Alliance MLA John Blair has said interventions should be carried out to tackle ‘rape myths’ throughout the justice system, including in policing. The Policing Board member said incorrect beliefs about sexual crime impact upon policing, adding the police response to sexual assault reports and incidents should be regularly reviewed and assessed as a result. Mr […]
Urgent action is required to prevent further repeats of fish kills after a reported incident at Three Mile Water, Alliance South Antrim MLA John Blair has said. The Environment spokesperson was speaking after requesting agreement from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to investigate the incident, which took in his South Antrim […]
The creation of a Green New Deal covering areas such as the environment, economy and infrastructure is vital if Northern Ireland is to recover from the pandemic, Alliance MLA John Blair has said. Mr Blair was speaking ahead of an Assembly debate tomorrow (Monday) calling for the introduction of a Green New Deal by the […]
Alliance Policing Board member John Blair has condemned an incident in Londonderry which saw masked men fire shots into the air. Speaking about the “disgraceful” incident, the South Antrim MLA added: “What we witnessed on Friday night is not something that should form any part of our society in 2021. “These reckless scenes harking back […]
An independent report into the PSNI’s handling of the Bobby Storey funeral which found there was no bias in its actions shows the need for elected representatives to follow due process, Alliance Policing Board member John Blair MLA has said. Mr Blair was speaking following the publication of the report by the Her Majesty’s Inspectorate […]
We cannot repeat mistakes seen throughout the pandemic when it comes to tackling the climate emergency, Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA has said. Mr Blair was speaking after the latest stage of the Climate Change Bill in the Assembly, which has been co-sponsored by Alliance alongside the other main parties except the DUP. He […]
Alliance Policing Board representative John Blair MLA has condemned those who planted a viable device at the home of a police officer near Dungiven. The device was discovered on Monday (April 19), with the Ballyquin Road remaining closed as police examine the scene. “My thoughts are with the officer, her colleagues and her loved ones. […]
Alliance MLA John Blair has said the violence of this week has achieved nothing except spreading fear and destruction in communities. Petrol bombs were thrown at police and vehicles hijacked and set alight during rioting in Newtownabbey last night (Saturday), which followed previous nights of violence in South Belfast and Derry-Londonderry. Police have said last […]