Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has welcomed a new report from NICCY into Special Education Needs (SEN) provision in schools. Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle said: “I thank the Children’s Commissioner and team for the extensive work undertaken on this comprehensive investigation of Special Educational Needs provision, which further establishes that the rights of children […]
Alliance Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA today introduced the Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill 2020 to the Assembly. The Bill will create a new domestic abuse offence for Northern Ireland which will capture patterns of controlling and coercive behaviour, as well as physical abuse, against a partner, former partner or family member. The legislation […]
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has welcomed the opening of the Historical Institutional Abuse Redress Board, five months after the legislation requiring one was passed. Anyone who resided in an institution or home between 1922 and 1995, and suffered or witnessed abuse is eligible to apply, with advice being they should contact a solicitor […]
It is still important to set a Budget despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has said. North Down MLA Mr Muir was speaking after Finance Minister Conor Murphy delivered the 2020/21 Budget to the Assembly. Ministers will now allocate their money to their respective Departments. “Our first priority must of course be […]
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has welcomed the availability of an anti-viral drug for the treatment of COVID-19. The Remdesivir drug, currently undergoing clinical trials around the world, has been shown to potentially shorten recovery time from COVID-19 by about four days. It will be made available to patients who meet certain clinical criteria […]
Alliance MLA John Blair has called for a special helpline to be established for people to report concerns over lack of social distancing in the workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Blair said he and Alliance colleagues had been inundated with contact from constituents worried several companies are still operating without proper social distancing guidelines […]
Alliance South Belfast MLA Paula Bradshaw has described a robbery on the Lisburn Road this morning as “reckless and crazy”. Ms Bradshaw said: “At a time of the biggest health crisis we have faced for over a century, for anyone to rob one of the few stores remaining open and providing essential services is reckless […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has called on the Communities Minister to give assurances her Department can cope with the surge in benefit claims in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The Strangford MLA said many workers made unemployed due to the COVID-19 outbreak were forced to move to benefits, however, concerns remained over […]
These are extraordinary times requiring extraordinary action, Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw has said, after her party supported passage of legislation around emergency powers relating to the coronavirus. A legislative consent motion on the Bill was passed by the Assembly today (Tuesday). “Alliance supported this Bill but with some reticence. Indeed, we have significant concerns about […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said she has received assurances from the Department welfare mitigations will continue to be paid into April. The Strangford MLA was speaking after questioning Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey regarding the mitigations, which are due to run out at the end of this month. That is despite the legislation […]