ALLIANCE Assembly member Seamus Close has congratulated former Senator and peace process deal-maker George Mitchell on becoming Chairman of Disney. Mr Close stated: “I am pleased to learn that George Mitchell has been appointed Chair of Disney. I have no doubt that he will not be daunted by the task he faces – after all […]
Alliance Councillor Michael Long has accused Castlereagh Council of “tastelessly” watering down its own policy on purchasing Fair Trade coffee and tea. Following calls from Alliance, the Council adopted a Fair Trade policy in 2001. However, new figures show that less than half of beverages bought were Fair Trade. Speaking at the start of Fairtrade […]
ALLIANCE Victims Spokesperson Eileen Bell has said that the Chief Constable’s comments today about the level of UDA and IRA violence illustrates why the Government must take urgent action to address the problem. Mrs Bell stated: “Between them, the UDA and IRA have engaged in a level of community terrorism over the past year that […]
ALLIANCE Leader David Ford has said that the British and Irish Governments are “disengaged and detached” from the Review of the Agreement. Speaking after a meeting today with British and Irish Ministers, Mr Ford stated: “The two Governments have totally failed to treat the issue of paramilitary activity seriously, and it is now three weeks […]
ALLIANCE Leader David Ford is expected to tell the Government that if it is not prepared to state what sanctions it proposes to take against parties linked to groups involved in paramilitary activity, there is little point in having Review meetings focusing on paramilitarism. An Alliance delegation is due to meet representatives of the two […]
ALLIANCE Leader David Ford has criticised the Government’s decision not to grant permission for a new integrated primary school in Ballycastle. Mr Ford stated: “This decision to deny Ballycastle an integrated school directly contradicts the Government’s duties under the Agreement. It also calls into question its commitment to building a united community in Northern Ireland. […]
ALLIANCE Councillor Tom Ekin has criticised other parties in Belfast for not removing their election posters – three months after the public went to the polls. Cllr Ekin removed a number of posters himself from lampposts in South Belfast this week, saying it was a poor example for politicians to set while the City Council […]
Responding to news that four police vehicles were damaged and 10 officers injured following a road crash outside a Belfast primary school this morning, Assembly member for East Belfast Naomi Long stated: “Road conditions were treacherous this morning. The fact that the incident happened outside Knocknagoney primary school is obviously very concerning for parents in […]
THE Alliance Party is requesting to meet the Independent Monitoring Commission to ask it to produce a unilateral report into the alleged PIRA kidnapping of a ‘dissident republican’ at the weekend. The legislation establishing the Commission allows the British and Irish Governments to request reports from the Commission on an ad hoc basis. However, the […]
An Alliance Party Delegation today met with the Secretary of State and the Irish Foreign Minister to discuss the future direction of the peace process in the light of the attempted kidnapping blamed on PIRA last Friday evening. Speaking after the meeting, David Ford said: “Alliance has had a very difficult and unsatisfactory meeting with […]