Investing in peatland restoration is critical if we are serious about a green recovery, Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair has said. Chancellor Rishi Sunak last year announced a fund of £640 million to plant more than 40 million trees and restore 35,000 hectares of peatland in England, with the Scottish and Welsh Governments also […]
It is time for cool heads and calm consideration, Alliance Policing Board representative John Blair MLA has said, following the incident at the anniversary of the Sean Graham’s bookies’ killings. During a matter of the day at the Assembly today (Monday), Mr Blair said accountable and representative policing was vital, adding it was time to […]
Alliance MLA John Blair has asked the new DAERA Minister, Gordon Lyons MLA, to make a commitment that any threats of violence will not be used to influence government policy. Mr Blair was speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday afternoon as the fallout from changes to staffing at Larne Port continued to play out. He […]
Alliance MLA John Blair has expressed serious concerns after the UK government again delayed the long-awaited Environment Bill – legislation needed to redraw vital regulations following the UK’s departure from the EU. Claiming the move amounts to nothing more than “dithering”, John said the delay will prevent crucial action to protect the environment, restore nature […]
Alliance representatives have condemned those who appear to have broken COVID guidelines at a republican funeral in Derry-Londonderry. John Blair MLA and Councillor Rachael Ferguson were speaking after the funeral of Eamon McCourt on Monday (January 25). Under current guidelines, only 25 people are allowed at funerals here. However, pictures from social media appear to […]
Alliance MLA John Blair has questioned the Communities Minister over plans for new homes, urging a commitment that these would be on top of the current target for new builds. The MLA for South Antrim was speaking after the Minister for Finance yesterday revealed his department had allocated £70 million for housing as part of […]
A ban on hunting wild mammals with dogs in Northern Ireland is long overdue, Alliance MLA John Blair has said, as he announced his plans to bring a Private Members’ Bill to outlaw the practice. Northern Ireland is currently the only part of the UK without such a ban, with widespread public support to ban […]
Alliance MLA John Blair has said Covid-19 cannot be the reason the Racial Equality Strategy gets even further behind. Questioning the Junior Minister Gordon Lyons in the Assembly this week, Mr Blair said the initiative was already running too far behind before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. He added: “Covid-19 has engulfed every aspect of our […]
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA has said it is disappointing a consultation into an Executive Climate Change Bill aims to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 instead of 2030 but added the Bill as a whole is a vital move. Environment Minister Edwin Poots has launched the consultation, which will see the […]
There is now an opportunity to improve the outcome for victims of hate crime here, Alliance MLA John Blair has said, after a review into legislation made a series of recommendations. The review, carried out by Judge Desmond Marrinan, made 34 recommendations, including the definition of a hate crime being expanded to include gender and […]