Alliance Assembly Enterprise Spokesperson Sean Neeson has said that the Irish Government’s agreement with Alliance that talks on the economy are urgently required lays down the gauntlet for the other parties. The East Antrim MLA stated: “The Alliance Party proposed all-party talks on the economy directly to the Secretary of State and the Irish Foreign […]
The Alliance Party has said that while it supports Community Restorative Justice (CRJ) schemes in principle, the Government’s current proposals amount a system lacking significant public confidence. This view appears in the Party’s submission to the Northern Ireland Office’s draft guidelines on CRJ. Commenting on the submission, Alliance Party Justice Spokesperson, Stephen Farry stated: “Alliance […]
Alliance Party Leader David Ford has called for a commitment from the Secretary of State to appoint the Policing Board with a majority of elected representatives, as required under Patten. His call comes after the resignation of Paul Berry from the DUP changed the mathematics of the appointments. David Ford stated: “The resignation of Paul […]
Castlereagh Alliance Councillor Judith Cochrane has said the £100 million package for the Ulster Hospital is welcome, but said staff must not be forgotten as part of the investment. Mrs Cochrane, who picked up a seat for Alliance in May, stated: “Clearly this investment package for the hospital is welcome, although not before time. The […]
Former Belfast Lord Mayor Tom Ekin has said the people of Northern Ireland must abandon the sectarian political system, or face another two generations without real political leadership. The Alliance Councillor stated: “This week has yet again been depressing yet unsurprising. Political leaders across the board have merely continued their wreckless ‘blame games’ while the […]
Alliance Health Spokesperson Kieran McCarthy has said that Government investment in services at the Ulster Hospital is welcome, but only puts right what has been wrong for a generation. He added that the investment must be seen as only the start of a series of improvements. Alderman McCarthy, who is the MLA for the area, […]
Alliance Party Leader, David Ford, has responded to the Secretary of State’s announcement that there is an opportunity to make some changes to the institutions of the Agreement over the next three months by stressing that there are no quick fixes. David Ford said: “There are no quick fixes to get the institutions established under […]
Former Belfast Lord Mayor Tom Ekin has called for action to put an end to the vast quantities of chewing gum and cigarette stubs littering our streets. The Alliance Councillor stated: “Recent reports show that chewing gum sales exceed £300 million in UK each year, and have grown by 28% in four years. This is […]
Antrim Alliance Councillor Alan Lawther has welcomed proposals from the London-based think tank ‘Green Alliance’ to introduce a plastic bag tax and other energy-saving devices. Cllr Lawther, a long-standing campaigner on the issue, stated: “Soon after election I called for a small plastic bag tax to be introduced, a motion subsequently passed by other Councils. […]
Alliance Enterprise Spokesperson David Alderdice has said the Alliance Party has put forward an all-party economic forum as an essential part of the political process. The North Down Councillor and former Belfast Lord Mayor stated: “We proposed an all-party economic roundtable to the Secretary of State directly on Monday. We did so not as some […]