Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MLA has said the Secretary of State must provide clear leadership on how to restore the devolved institutions, with the current process only “treading water”.Dr Farry was speaking after meeting with Karen Bradley at Stormont. He said merely “managing the situation” was not enough for the UK Government to continue […]
Alliance Brexit spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has said the proposed Brexit backstop is not a constitutional issue but rather a pragmatic and economic intervention to protect the people of Northern Ireland.Dr Farry was speaking after representing Alliance in cross-party meetings with EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier and the European Parliament’s Brexit Co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt. “Our […]
Alliance Brexit spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has said there is a need to “de-dramatise” talk over the Brexit backstop. Dr Farry was speaking ahead of meeting EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier at the European Commission HQ in Brussels. He said the meeting alongside three other local parties, which will be followed by a meeting with […]
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MLA has said the Stormont House Agreement (SHA) proposals are the best and last opportunity to deal with the legacy of the past.Dr Farry was speaking as Alliance finalised its response to the UK Government’s consultation on addressing the past. However, he indicated there still needed to be some changes […]
Alliance Brexit spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has said the DUP’s position dismissing limited checks down the Irish Sea and any difference in regulation to facilitate a Brexit backstop protecting Northern Ireland is “incoherent and dangerous”. “This position is contradictory and self-destructive – the need for a backstop only arises from UK Government and DUP support […]
Alliance Brexit spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has called for the rhetoric against the backstop to be de-escalated and the wider political and economic interests of Northern Ireland to be understood, compared to the distorted views of the DUP. “This is a time of huge political crisis for the UK and for Northern Ireland in particular. […]
Alliance Brexit spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has said the Prime Minister’s escalation of language around Brexit negotiations is a potentially “grave and historic mistake”. Dr Farry was speaking after Theresa May said talks had reached an impasse, with the rejection of her Chequers Plan by the EU as “not acceptable”. “The Prime Minister has placed […]
Alliance Brexit spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has said the only options to avoid a hard border in Ireland after Brexit are either the UK remaining in the EU’s economic mechanisms or special arrangements for Northern Ireland, after Donald Tusk effectively rejected elements of the UK Government’s Chequers Plan. “This Government is walking the UK closer […]
Alliance Party Deputy Leader and Brexit Spokesperson, Stephen Farry, has welcomed further efforts by the European Commission to de-dramatise the proposed backstop and called upon the UK Government to respond positively, as it is in UK’s interest to do in order to secure the Withdrawal Agreement. Speaking earlier today, Dr Farry further called for greater […]
Alliance Brexit spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has said Northern Ireland should be given additional powers over immigration, after a major report said EU workers coming to the UK should be given no preference for visas after Brexit. Dr Farry was speaking after a report by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). The former Employment and Learning […]