Too many people have fallen victim to government propaganda suggesting that a reduction in the umber of councils automatically means a reduction in bureaucracy and cost. Precisely the opposite is the case. Northern Ireland over-governed over-governed, but this has nothing to do with the number of councils. Seven is far fewer than areas of comparative […]
I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. As a volunteer in an advice agency, I would also like to wish you a debt-free New Year. Don’t let debt turkeys come home to roost! Every year, after everyone has recovered from Christmas, the credit card bills land on the […]
East Belfast Alliance MLA and Belfast DPP member Naomi Long has challenged Unionists to come clean on their stance on policing. Responding to the continued failure of Unionists to take up seats on the Belfast District Policing Partnership (DPP), Cllr Long stated: “It is a total hypocrisy for Unionists to stay off the DPP, effectively […]
Alliance Party Leader David Ford has slammed fisheries Minister Lord Rooker, after he attempted to blame local parties for his own failure to represent Northern Ireland at EU fishery talks. Mr Ford stated: “Northern Ireland has ended up with an appalling deal on fisheries because of the Minister’s failure even to be present at the […]
An Alliance Party delegation met last night [20th] with the Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister, David Hanson, to demand more sensible allocation of Government funding after the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB) put forward proposals to close many of Castlereagh’s libraries next year. The delegation was led by East Belfast MLA Cllr Naomi […]
Alliance Deputy Leader Eileen Bell MLA has labelled the politicization of the “on-the-runs” issue a disgrace, and said that victims, survivors and exiles were being treated abominably by all sides at the centre of the legislation. Mrs Bell, the party’s equality spokesperson, stated: “Victims, survivors and the families of innocent exiles are rightly extremely angry […]
Alliance Assemblyman Kieran McCarthy has given a guarded welcome to news of a tidal energy project to be based at Portaferry. The Ards Alderman stated: “Those who seek to protect the environment and move towards meeting out obligations under the Kyoto Protocol will be encouraged that the Environment Heritage Service has given the go-ahead to […]
Alliance Party Leader David Ford has said that confirmation that all Northern Ireland’s parties oppose legislation on “on-the-runs” must mean an end to the bill. He added that the lesson to be learned was that shabby side deals serve only to hinder the political process. Mr Ford stated: “Now that all political parties have come […]
Alliance Party leader on Belfast City Council, Naomi Long, has demanded to know why families driven out of their homes by flooding in the Sydenham area of Belfast are not receiving the same support as elsewhere. She is to hand a letter to Minister Shaun Woodward on the subject today. The East Belfast MLA stated: […]
Alliance Party Justice Spokesperson Stephen Farry has said that an inquiry into the “Stormontgate” affair must be judicial, not public. He added that such an inquiry should kick-start a public debate on issues of disclosure. Dr Farry stated: “The only way to reveal who is telling the truth about ‘Stormontgate’ is a full judicial inquiry. […]