THE Lord Mayor of Belfast has said Queen’s University is in danger of losing its good reputation if it does not take proper responsibility for its students living in the ‘Holy Land’ area of South Belfast. Cllr Ekin was speaking after a BBC programme highlighting ongoing tensions between long-term residents and students living in the […]
ALLIANCE Assembly Spokesperson on Culture, Arts and Leisure, Kieran McCarthy MLA (Strangford), has supported calls for the Northern Ireland Events Company to be properly funded. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has proposed that funding for the NIEC be cut from the current £2.4 million in 2003/04 to £1.8m, with further decreases to £600,000 […]
ALLIANCE Deputy Leader Eileen Bell MLA has welcomed the publication of the fuel poverty strategy today, with some reservation. Mrs Bell said: “This is the first fuel poverty strategy, and that is to be welcomed. However, concerns remain that it does not deal adequately in terms of beefing up legislation or providing appropriate resources to […]
FORMER Vice Chairman of the Assembly Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee Sean Neeson MLA has welcomed proposals for a new cross-border electricity interconnector. Speaking today, Mr Neeson stated: “This is very welcome news for electricity consumers. Developing the market for electricity on an island wide basis makes good economic sense and will ease the burden […]
While investment in water and sewerage services is absolutely crucial, the whole issue of water reform as handled by the Government has been a tissue of lies followed by a consultative farce with a pre-determined outcome. Alliance has already urged the Government to come clean and stop presenting the illusion that we currently receive our […]
ALLIANCE Spokesperson on Victims, Eileen Bell MLA, has called on Sinn Féin and the IRA to clarify their position on exiling, after Sinn Féin’s Fermanagh & South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew told a major debate at University College, Dublin that Sinn Féin supported the right of asylum seekers to seek sanctuary in Ireland. During the […]
ALLIANCE Sports Spokesperson, Councillor Michael Long, has said that the disgraceful scenes of Spanish supporters engaging in racist chanting during the recent football match against England should be a wake up call to those opposed to introducing the Football Offences Act to Northern Ireland. Cllr Long said: “While the IFA has made huge strides forward […]
FOLLOWING an hour long meeting with the Secretary of State and senior officials this afternoon to discuss proposals to reinstate Northern Ireland’s devolved institutions, Alliance Leader David Ford MLA said: “The Alliance delegation is satisfied that the current proposals from the two Governments are consistent with the principles of the Agreement and in line with […]
CASH-STRAPPED education boards should not be cutting transport assistance to pupils and compromising their safety on the roads, East Belfast MLA Naomi Long and Alliance Party Education Spokesperson has said. Councillor Long said that pupils of Lagan College were being placed in real danger because of the removal of transport assistance – a move based […]
The South Belfast Association of the Alliance Party has chosen its candidates for the next Westminster and Local Government elections. Geraldine Rice was selected as the Alliance Party candidate for Westminster, to represent South Belfast. Geraldine Rice is a training consultant by profession. She has been a councillor at Castlereagh Borough Council since 1989. Mrs […]