The Alliance Party Assembly Group met this morning to discuss the state of the peace process. Speaking after the meeting, Party Leader David Ford stated: “As far as Alliance is concerned, the first and most fundamental issue to be resolved before our political process can be restored is that Republicans must indicate that there will […]
ALLIANCE Health Spokesperson Kieran McCarthy has said that restoration of the Assembly is the only realistic chance of achieving free personal care for the elderly while Labour remains in charge of the health service in Northern Ireland. Mr McCarthy was speaking after a report by the Royal Commission said that a lack of free personal […]
ALLIANCE Councillor Stewart Dickson has condemned the attack on a bus carrying pupils from the Girls’ Model School, in north Belfast. Councillor Dickson said: “This latest attack on school children illustrates a growing and very disturbing trend throughout Northern Ireland. It is completely unacceptable that children – no matter what type of school they attend […]
BUILDING A UNITED COMMUNITY Address by David Ford, Leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland to Liberal Democrat Federal Conference, 22 September 2003, Brighton Chair, and Conference, thank you for your welcome. It proves to me that there is only one major party in GB which gives genuine, whole hearted support to a ‘sister […]
Responding to the news that Economy Minister Ian Pearson is to reduce electricity costs for business, Alliance Finance Spokesperson Seamus Close stated: “The announcement by the Minister of a reduction in commercial electricity prices is a dolly mixture to sweeten the blow of the abolition of industrial de-rating, which I am sure the Minister will […]
ALLIANCE Regional Development Spokesperson Sean Neeson has said that tax-varying powers for a restored Assembly could help offset investment problems created by industrial de-rating. Since Direct Rule’s re-introduction, the Government took the decision to abolish industrial de-rating, which will have a detrimental effect on local manufacturing industries. The former East Antrim MLA said: “Estimates suggest […]
Chair, and Conference, thank you for your welcome. It proves to me that there is only one major party in GB which gives genuine, whole hearted support to a ‘sister party’ in Northern Ireland. And I thought that the only man from the province to get star billing this week would be Lord Hutton. Chair, […]
Alliance Human Rights Spokesperson Stephen Farry has responded to the attempts today of Sinn Fein spokesperson on Human Rights and Equality Barbara de Bruin to continue the undermining of the Human Rights Commission, by accusing Sinn Fein of trying to manufacture a crisis. Dr Farry said: “There is no crisis of confidence in the NIHRC […]
Speaking to the Liberal Democrat Conference in Brighton on Monday, Alliance Leader David Ford said: “Whatever the faults and stupidities of many Unionists, we are in a crisis because of the failure of Republicans to clearly demonstrate that they have given up violence and are fully committed to a totally peaceful and democratic society. “One […]
Alliance Leader David Ford will tell his party’s governing body today that he is hopeful about the prospects for the party if an Assembly election is held during the autumn. David Ford will say: “Despite the ongoing crisis – or perhaps because of it – I believe that Alliance will go into any autumn election […]