ALLIANCE Assembly member Seamus Close has said the Irish and British premiers have a chance this week to put right some of the mistakes they made when dealing with Sinn Fein in the past. “Sinn Fein are like a parasitic ivy sucking the life out of the democratic tree it attaches itself to. When Tony […]
Councillor Sara Duncan has welcomed Roads Service’s prompt response to her complaints about motorists on the Saintfield Road driving through red lights at the pelican crossing at Beechill/Lenaghan. Roads Service has erected a new sign warning motorists that they are approaching the crossing, which is beyond a bend in the road going away from town. […]
AN Alliance delegation, David Ford MLA and Newtownabbey Councillor Lynn Frazer, has met Minister of Education Barry Gardiner to discuss the future of secondary schools in Antrim. Mr Ford has welcomed the promise by the Minister to examine any development proposals in the light of the overall pattern of post-primary schools in the area. The […]
Alliance Party Justice Spokesperson, Stephen Farry, has welcomed the commitment by the Secretary of State, in an answer to Liberal Democrat Northern Ireland Spokesperson Lembit Opik, to the publication of a Shared Future framework document within the next few weeks, and the first triennial action plan this autumn. Stephen Farry stated: “Tackling the deep divisions […]
THE Prime Minister and Taoiseach have the opportunity this week to prove that crime doesn’t pay in a democracy, Alliance Deputy Leader Eileen Bell MLA has said. Speaking ahead of Sinn Fein meetings with the British and Irish premiers and expected future meetings between the UPRG and the Downing Street Chief of Staff, Mrs Bell […]
ALLIANCE Assembly member for Lagan Valley and Finance Spokesperson Seamus Close has reacted with dismay to news that the UDA is seeking £70 million from the Government to train its members in skills which equip them for a new life. Mr Close stated: “Surely this cannot be serious? Ordinary people must be wondering if honesty […]
Although the SDLP Leader appears to have determined that there will be an all-inclusive Executive or nothing (and nothing seems favourite at present), there are clear signs that the merits of a voluntary coalition have attractions for some leading members of that party, as well as Alliance and many unionists. The creation of a voluntary […]
Commitment to democracy needed to move forward By David Ford MLA The two Governments billed the talks in Hillsborough last month as focused around one key issue – the verification of decommissioning. While this may have been the issue over which the Governments’ package ran into the sand, there were major weaknesses and shortcomings in […]
THE NIO has announced that it is intending to move the date of Local Government Elections in Northern Ireland from the third Wednesday in May to the first Thursday on a permanent basis. In practice, this means that the date of this year’s local elections will coincide with an expected General Election. Alliance Party Leader, […]
Alliance Assembly Member and Employment and Learning spokesperson, Cllr. Naomi Long, was part of a delegation which today met with the Permanent Secretary and senior officials from the Department of Employment and Learning to discuss their concerns at the loss of the WorkTrack programme. The delegation included representatives of the main political parties and WorkTrack […]