ALLIANCE Party Deputy Leader Eileen Bell MLA has responded to the DUP’s proposals for devolution. Mrs Bell stated: “Alliance is prepared to engage with the DUP over their proposals. We are willing to listen and respond to any constructive ideas from whatever quarter. “Alliance welcomes what seems to be some positive movement towards weighted majority […]
ALLIANCE is showing its support for local railways tomorrow by hiring a carriage to transport members by train to the party’s Annual General Meeting in Derry. The party is campaigning for the under-threat rail lines north of Ballymena (to Coleraine and Londonderry) and north of Whitehead (to Larne) – the so-called ‘non-core network’ – to […]
ALLIANCE Party Councillor Geraldine Rice has said she hopes that life can return to normal for members of ethnic minorities in South Belfast, following the news that a UVF leader had been stood down following recent racist attacks. Cllr Rice said: “If this move ends the recent disgusting series of racist attacks, then that is […]
Alliance Party Assembly member for East Belfast Naomi Long has condemned the armed robbery at the Oval after Wednesday night’s Co Antrim Shield semi final. Councillor Long stated: “After Glentoran losing in the semi-final, this was a real kick in the teeth for local football. This game against Linfield would have brought in one of […]
Opening statement by Alliance Leader David Ford MLA at the first meeting of the Review of the Agreement. *** Alliance welcomes the commencement of this Review. Alliance is a strong supporter of the Agreement. The Agreement had and continues to have many strengths. In particular, it has established a set of political institutions with cross-community […]
ALLIANCE Assembly member Sean Neeson has said the Treasury must take seriously the threat to small businesses in Northern Ireland from crippling insurance costs. Mr Neeson, the former Deputy Chair of the Assembly’s Enterprise, Trade and Industry committee, said: “The cost of public liability insurance in Northern Ireland is sending small businesses to the wall, […]
ALLIANCE Assembly member Seamus Close has said that a new report commissioned by the Policing Board backs his view that rioters are being treated far too leniently by courts in Northern Ireland. The research by Dr Neil Jarman into public disorder was published in the NIO’s latest report on the replacement of plastic bullets. Mr […]
AN Alliance councillor has said that the decision to close Minnowburn House Elderly Persons’ Home will have a disastrous effect on the lives of elderly people in Castlereagh. Yesterday’s decision by the South and East Belfast Trust means that residents will be moved to Willowfield in East Belfast. Councillor Sara Duncan said: “This unsettling move […]
THE International Monitoring Commission has been urged to look into loyalist involvement in racist attacks. Alliance Leader David Ford said the attacks on ethnic minorities should be included in the International Monitoring Commission’s first report. The Commission was set up to report on the state of paramilitary ceasefires and whether the governments and parties live […]
A Return to the Centre by Stephen Farry The outcome of the Northern Ireland Assembly Election does not provide much hope for the speedy restoration of the political institutions. The scale of the swing to the two extremes may have come as a surprise to some, but was in fact quite predictable. The principle cause […]