Alliance Party Justice Spokesperson, Stephen Farry, has applauded remarks made by NI Policing Board Vice-Chair Denis Bradley calling for a rapid end to 50:50 recruitment. Cllr Farry stated: “Denis Bradley is quite correct to say that 50:50 recruitment is completely incompatible with the highest standards of human rights legislation. It has done nothing to increase […]
Alliance East Antrim MLA Séan Neeson has said that specific clarification is needed from organizations hoping to benefit from legislation on ‘on-the-runs’ that exiles will be allowed to return home safely. Séan Neeson stated: “When it became apparent that the Government was doing a side deal with Sinn Féin on the issue of paramilitary fugitives […]
Alliance Party Leader David Ford MLA has expressed his anger at the Government’s apparent intentions to allow paramilitary fugitives home without addressing the concerns and needs of their victims. He was speaking as he led a party delegation to meet with Government ministers and officials to discuss the anticipated legislation on the issue, and he […]
Alliance Party leader David Ford has accused the Government of coming down against the rule of law in Northern Ireland, as it announced legislation to deal with paramilitary fugitives. After a briefing with the minister responsible, David Hanson, Mr Ford stated: “In drawing up this grotesque legislation, the Government has completely failed to listen to […]
Newtownabbey Deputy Mayor and Alliance Environment Spokesperson Lynn Frazer has welcomed the opening of Bryson House, a charity-run recycling company which has won a contract with 11 councils to process waste materials. Cllr Frazer said: “This is an extremely worthy initiative and I am delighted that this facility will be available to more than half […]
Alliance Enterprise Spokesperson Séan Neeson met Northern Ireland Office Minister Angela Smith today to say that the shambles of the Government’s Jobskills programme must not be used as an excuse for the Government to withdraw funding from perfectly good programmes. The East Antrim MLA stated: “I am meeting the Minister specifically to ensure funding is […]
Alliance Health spokesperson Kieran McCarthy has said that the threat of fuel poverty this winter is only the tip of the iceberg, and said that free personal care for the elderly remains a primary Alliance Party objective. The Strangford MLA stated: “We seem to be in for a particularly bitter winter and I am supporting […]
Alliance Party Justice Spokesperson, Stephen Farry, has condemned the Prime Minister for failing to understand the nature of criticisms being levelled against his Government’s scheme for dealing with paramilitary fugitives. Dr Farry stated: “It is clear that the Prime Minister does not appreciate the nature of the objections being voiced against the Government’s scheme for […]
Alliance MLAs, Councillors and Officers took their campaign to save £1 bn annually – the equivalent of the entire education budget – straight to the public today. Enterprise Spokesperson Séan Neeson, Chief Whip Kieran McCarthy and last year’s Belfast Lord Mayor Tom Ekin took to the streets of Belfast City Centre to promote the campaign. […]
Alliance Leader David Ford has described today’s meeting between Northern Ireland Office Minister Lord Rooker and MLAs as a window dressing exercise designed to avoid true consultation between Government and elected representatives. Speaking as his party campaigned for government savings by ending segregation and mainstreaming integrated public services, Mr Ford said: “Today’s meeting was an […]