At a special meeting of its Party Council tonight, the Alliance Party took the decision to endorse and campaign for John Gilliland in the forthcoming European Elections rather than fielding its own candidate. Speaking after the meeting, Alliance Leader David Ford said: “Europe is not a place for petty party politics. The last thing we […]
Alliance Party Justice and Human Rights Spokesperson, Stephen Farry, has welcomed the Government’s move to appoint new human rights commissioners, and stated that this will allow the Commission to further its work on the Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland Dr Farry said: “This announcement from John Spellar is a vote of confidence in the […]
Alliance Party Leader, David Ford, has criticised suggestions that the number of Councils in Northern Ireland should be cut by two-thirds. Mr Ford stated: “The Review of Public Administration should be about simplifying bureaucracy, and improving democratic accountability. “There is some sense in what the Minister is saying. There are clearly far too many structures […]
ALLIANCE Assembly member and Health Spokesperson Kieran McCarthy has lent his support to the Asthma UK Northern Ireland’s campaign to raise awareness about asthma. At an event to launch the Asthma Attack information card at the Stormont Hotel today, Mr McCarthy said: “For people with asthma to be able to control their condition, they need […]
Statement by Yvonne Boyle, Alliance Arts & Cultural Spokesperson: The resignation of Lord Laird as Chairperson of the Ulster-Scots Agency is disappointing, but the public, which funds the agency, also needs to know the wider picture. Lord Laird’s comments about stalling in Government are not without merit. However, the agency itself has had a consistent […]
Neeson welcomes new nations into European family ALLIANCE Spokesman on Europe, Sean Neeson MLA, has welcomed the expansion of the European Union from midnight tonight. Mr Neeson, a member of the Congress of Regional Authorities in Europe, said: “May Day marks one of the biggest days in Europe’s history, and as we welcome ten new […]
THE Alliance Assembly member for Strangford, Alderman Kieran McCarthy, has condemned the shooting of a man in Ballybeen. Mr McCarthy said: “Yet again, it appears that paramilitaries have acted as though they are a law unto themselves. No-one has the right to shoot someone in such a callous and disgusting manner. “I would call on […]
Responding to the publication of ‘Report on Seanad Reform – Seanad Eireann Committee on Procedure and Privileges’, Alliance Leader David Ford MLA stated: “It is highly regrettable that the Reform Committee’s report advocates entrenching a sectarian view of Northern Ireland in the Seanad. “Instead of getting a range of views from Northern Ireland, the Committee […]
THE Alliance Party has called on public figures to stop blaming the victims in a block of Belfast apartments for the campaign of hatred against Catholics designed to drive them out of Sandy Row’s Whitehall Square. Alliance’s South Belfast representative, Councillor Geraldine Rice said: “What we need from parties and churches are words and actions […]
Alliance Leader David Ford has written to the Prime Minister to call for the introduction of Proportional Representation for the election of Northern Ireland’s Westminster MPs. David Ford said: “Even before the official release of the new boundary proposals, we are witnessing Unionist and Nationalist dogfights over the possible changes. “Party officials are adding up […]