Alliance Vice Chair and Castlereagh Councillor, Michael Long, has condemned the decision of Education Minister, Maria Eagle, to replace Board members in the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB) with four Commissioners as an attack on democracy. He stated that Alliance would be asking for a meeting with the Chief Executive of the Board […]
Alliance Banbridge representative, David Griffin, has demanded that the government impose strict legislation to control the activities of restorative justice projects. Mr Griffin, who is Vice-chair of Banbridge District Policing Partnership stated: “The government must implement stringent legislation to control the activities of Northern Ireland’s restorative justice programmes. “I fear that the government is soft […]
Former Belfast Lord Mayor, Tom Ekin, has condemned those who disrespect the authority of the Police, following an incident in Dunmurry earlier this morning in which four officers were struck by a vehicle as they approached its driver. The Balmoral Alliance Councillor said: “Police were merely doing their job when this individual callously drove into […]
Newtownabbey Alliance Councillor, Tom Campbell, has expressed serious concern and dismay about the implications of comments against the legal profession contained in the NI Affairs Committee report into organised crime. Cllr Campbell stated that the advice from the Committee that professional bodies such as the Law Society must ‘satisfy themselves that their membership requirements are […]
Alliance Chief Whip, Kieran McCarthy, has questioned the usefulness of the motion proposed by the Secretary of State, Peter Hain, for debate in this Friday’s Assembly plenary session. The Strangford Assembly Member stated: “The motion put forward by Peter Hain involves spending reviews for 2004 and 2007. He also wishes us to discuss the implications […]
Former Belfast Lord Mayor, Cllr Tom Ekin, has hit out at the DUP and Sinn Fein, as he believes that they lack the courage to take difficult decisions on planning and rates. The Balmoral Alliance Councillor stated: “I am bombarded with constituents’ worries about the increasing number of apartment blocks with totally inadequate parking facilities. […]
Alliance Party Leader, David Ford, has demanded a permanent end to all paramilitary-related crime on the day that the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee released a report condemning continuing paramilitary organised crime. David Ford stated: “This report clearly adds to concerns that people have that the past has not fully been put behind […]
Newtownabbey Alliance Councillor, Tom Campbell has suggested that the admission in Court by two Liverpool UVF members should raise serious questions for the UUP’s continuing alliance with the UVF’s political wing. Cllr Tom Campbell stated: “These men have now pleaded guilty to charges of UVF membership. In Police raids last July explosives, a machine gun, […]
Larne Alliance Councillor, Geraldine Mulvenna, recently co-ordinated the visit of a group of high-profile young political leaders from the United States to Northern Ireland. During their visit, the group comprised of politicians from both the Republican and Democrat parties saw the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont and met with Alliance Party leader, David Ford, and […]
Alliance Party Chief Whip, Kieran McCarthy, has condemned the Secretary of State, Rt Hon. Peter Hain MP, because he believes that Mr Hain will not recognise the work of the Assembly Business Committee. The Strangford Assembly Member commented: “Within the Assembly Business Committee proposals for debates have been put forward, however Peter Hain has chosen, […]