Alliance Councillor Michael Long has expressed his anger after learning that it was necessary for the Housing Executive to spend £2.2 million in the last financial year in Castlereagh to acquire properties under the Special Purchase of Evacuated Dwellings (SPED) scheme. The scheme allows for the purchase of an Owner/Occupied property where that owner has […]
Castlereagh Alliance Councillor Geraldine Rice has condemned a pipe bomb attack on a house in Carryduff. Cllr Rice stated: “I totally condemn any attack on any family, especially if there are young children in the area. No-one deserves attacks of this nature to happen to them or their home, no matter who they are. “I […]
Commenting on the report from the Comptroller and Auditor General, ‘Civil Service Human Resource Management System: Cancellation of the payroll project’, Councillor Seamus Close MLA, former Assembly Public Accounts Committee member, said: “This is another Laurel and Hardy fiasco where public money was wasted due to poor management and indecision. Whilst weaknesses were identified early […]
ALLIANCE representative for Craigavon, Alan Castle, has condemned an attack on three Latvians in Lurgan Park last night. Mr Castle said: “This was the second potentially life-threatening attack in the Craigavon area this week. It seems as though there are few places left where people from minority communities can feel really safe, and I condemn […]
ALLIANCE Spokesperson on Regional Development, Councillor Naomi Long MLA, has urged the Government to carefully consider alternative proposals to water reform from the General Consumer Council, published today. Cllr Long said: “While investment in water and sewarage services is absolutely crucial, the whole issue of water reform as handled by the Government has been a […]
Alliance Party Assembly member Naomi Long (East Belfast) has questioned the SDLP’s consistency in advocating a fallback Plan ‘B’ for the Agreement after frustrating efforts to deliver Plan ‘A’ – a reformed and improved Agreement. Naomi Long stated: “Over the past few months, the SDLP has climbed onto its high horse to defend every detail […]
BELFAST Lord Mayor, Councillor Tom Ekin, has condemned an attack on the Filipino community in Skegoneill, North Belfast. Councillor Ekin said: “This was another in a long line of attacks on the Filipino community, who have made an invaluable contribution to our society. It is shameful that hospital workers, who are so badly needed here, […]
ALLIANCE Assembly member for South Antrim, David Ford, has accused the Education Minister of having a limited and short term view on the future of education in Antrim. Mr Ford said that a decision not to fund a community audit on post-primary schools in Antrim meant the Minister lacked a strategic approach that could end […]
FOLLOWING last week’s meeting with Environment Minister Angela Smith to discuss as asbestos transfer station at Crumlin , South Antrim MLA David Ford stated: “I remain extremely concerned at the way the Department of the Environment is dealing with the application for an asbestos transfer station at Crosshill. “The delegation which I led to meet […]
ALLIANCE Councillor Susan O’Brien (Holywood) has condemned an attack on a man in Holywood, who was found close to the railway station this morning. Cllr O’Brien stated: “This was a brutal attack that has shocked the whole community. It would appear that the victim was subject to a horrific assault, and I would appeal for […]