North Down Alliance Councillor, Stephen Farry, has urged people not to rush to judgment regarding the overnight closure of the inquiries desk in Holywood police station. Councillor Farry, who is also Alliance’s Justice Spokesman, said: “Some politicians seem intent on whipping up fears about this operational decision by the police. I urge people to judge […]
Alliance Party Justice and Human Rights Spokesperson, Stephen Farry, has responded to the attacks on the Human Rights Commission by New York State officials, William Thompson and Alan Hevesi, and called upon the British and Irish Governments to ignore their complaints. Stephen Farry stated: “With the latest misinformed attacks on the Human Rights Commission by […]
Alliance Leader David Ford has welcomed the Government’s acceptance of his party’s proposals to appoint a ceasefire monitor, with an announcement on who will hold the position expected from the Secretary of State shortly. Mr Ford said: “This is an important step towards introducing greater honesty and integrity back into the peace process, and I […]
Alliance Councillor Michael Long has accused Castlereagh Council of dragging its heels on redeveloping the Robinson Centre, which was saved from premature closure by the unionist-controlled council in February after pressure from Alliance. Councillor Long said he was concerned that a sub-committee – which Alliance was excluded from – to oversee the consultant procurement process […]
An Alliance Party delegation has met with the Maghaberry Review Team. Speaking after the meeting, Alliance Deputy Leader Eileen Bell expressed Alliance’s support for the Review Team in “their very difficult job”. Mrs Bell stated: “There is no desire within the wider community for a return to a situation where segregated prisoners claiming political status […]
ALLIANCE Councillor Stewart Dickson (Carrickfergus) has said that Sinn Fein proposals to erase the criminal records of convicted IRA is an attempt to rewrite history. Councillor Dickson said: “Any proposals to wipe the IRA’s terrorist slate clean are an affront to their victims and justice. Such attempts at rewriting history are no better than the […]
Alliance Party South Belfast Councillor Tom Ekin has accused the SDLP Lord Mayor of Belfast of operating double standards. Councillor Martin Morgan said he would not invite Minister John Spellar to events organised by himself, and would leave any Council event at which he was present. Cllr Ekin said: “The decision by the Army to […]
Alliance Party Justice and Human Rights Spokesperson, Stephen Farry, has welcomed the Human Right’s Commission publication today of a summary of submissions as another landmark on the path to a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. Dr Farry stated: “This new document is yet another positive step on the path to creating a Bill of […]
ALLIANCE councillor John Mathews has called for all flags in the Larne area to be removed at the end of the marching season. Cllr Mathews said: “Since I was elected, no other single issue has compared to the number of complaints I have received about flags and graffiti and murals. “Paramilitary flags should never be […]
EAST Belfast Alliance Councillor and Alliance Education Spokesperson Naomi Long is writing to the Government, calling on it to pro-actively tackle the personnel crisis for school crossing patrols in Northern Ireland. Alliance is calling for a new task force involving Government departments and Education Boards that could look into how the level of vacancies for […]