Conference. Like me, most elected representatives are inundated by complaints from residents, in particular the elderly and other vulnerable groups, about persistent anti-social behaviour. Problems can include: Youths hanging around causing a nuisance Persistent vandalism or criminal damage Drunken behaviour or underage drinking Noise nuisance, foul and abuse language, littering Persistent petty crime, such as […]
Ladies and Gentleman, Can I bid you a very warm welcome to the Dunadry Hotel for the 34th Annual Alliance Conference. We are meeting at a seminal moment in the politics of Northern Ireland. There is a real sense of the passing of the old guard — and uncertainty over what will be new. Ian […]
Since the Good Friday Agreement, our society has tried in many ways, and on many levels, to redress the many wrongs that have been done over the years of conflict. There have been valiant attempts at ground level to address the problems of sectarianism, and to encourage projects which would promote good relations. There is, […]
Delegates, you may think that there are more pressing issues that could be debated today rather than that of hunting. However, I contend that this is an issue which deserves to be treated with the same gravity as misuse of drugs or violent crime. The hunting of animals with dogs is a cruel attack on […]
Thank you for the warmth of your introduction Mr President. In return, can I welcome you all to Dunadry, near the geographical heart of my constituency of South Antrim. Still my constituency, after the November election. ‘Former hunger striker hails historic breakthrough’ says the paper and the mugshot of me is captioned ‘David Ford: expected […]
Fellow delegates, I have pleasure in supporting this motion particularly the part which calls for the railway system to be secured and expanded. In the light of the horrendous terrorist slaughter of innocent rail travellers in Madrid on Thursday, it is ironic that our ‘non-core’ railway lines may now face closure at the hands of […]
The title ‘Public Transport’ will conjure up all sorts of different images in our minds. Happy childhood excursions to visit distant resorts or relations, to disorderly, unpleasant behaviour of drunken louts. In many cases, it was inconvenience and unpleasantness, which led people to aspire to car ownership from the 1950s and ’60s. I remember my […]
Alliance has long recognised the crucial role which integrated schools play in educating our young people about tolerance and respect for diversity. Whilst many schools outside the integrated sector teach those principles, integrated schools have the huge advantage of having a diverse pupil and staff body so that those principles can actually be put into […]
ALLIANCE Assembly member Seamus Close has described today’s massacre in Madrid as “an act of pure, unadulterated evil”. Mr Close said: “Condemnation is not enough given the scale of the carnage. Nothing can justify such devastation and loss of life. My sympathy goes out to the victims’ and their families. “Those who give political cover […]
ARDS Borough Council has unanimously passed a motion proposed by Alliance Alderman Kieran McCarthy MLA calling on the Government to establish a Charities Commission in Northern Ireland, with similar powers to the commission in England. Alderman McCarthy proposed the motion after an investigative television programme disclosed that the overwhelming bulk of funds raised by a […]