Alliance Party Leader, David Ford, has expressed his disappointment that the Assembly Elections have once again been postponed, and stated that Republicans must take primary responsibility for not clearly making the choice between democracy and violence. David Ford said: “The fundamental issue at stake here is whether it is the IRA or democrats who determine […]
David Ford, Leader of Alliance, has launched his party’s election campaign today at the Lagan Lookout on Donegal Quay, Belfast. Mr Ford introduced the 21 Alliance candidates who will stand on 29 May. The party is contesting all 18 constituencies, with all its outgoing Assembly group standing again. Eight of the candidates – 40% – […]
ALLIANCE Finance Spokeperson Seamus Close has said the Government is drowning in a whirlpool of spin over water charges for Northern Ireland. Mr Close was speaking after a letter he received from the Regional Development Minister directly contradicted information provided in a public information leaflet on water reform. Mr Close said that in the leaflet […]
ALLIANCE Assembly candidate Neil Powell has said that community relations will be at the centre of the party’s election manifesto. Mr Powell said: “The healing of our communal divisions must be the greatest priority for our political institutions. “Sectarianism and segregation remain major scars on Northern Ireland, and have even intensified in recent years. They […]
Responding to Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams statement that the IRA are prepared to carry out a third act of decommissioning, Alliance Party Leader, David Ford, has stated that what is required is broader acts of completion. David Ford stated: “The preparedness of the IRA to conduct a third act of decommissioning is a small […]
ALLIANCE MLA Kieran McCarthy has welcomed the announcement by the Government that Northern Ireland’s film industry is to receive extra £12m funding over the next three years. Mr McCarthy, a member of the Assembly’s Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee, said: ” This extra funding is necessary to encourage local talent to stay in Northern Ireland, […]
Eileen Bell, Alliance Deputy Leader, has welcomed the announcement by Jane Kennedy, Minister of Education, that a working party is being set up to consider the future position of Post-Primary Education. Mrs Bell, who is Assembly Education Spokesperson, said: “I must express concern, however, that the composition of the working group must not be allowed […]
ALLIANCE Leader David Ford has said that the IRA are the ‘weakest link’ in this key period of political talks. Mr Ford said: “There are now just hours for Sinn Fein to decide if their actions are going to be driven by the slowest elements in the IRA or whether they are going to live […]
Alliance Party General Secretary, Stephen Farry, has claimed that Iraqi representatives have learnt a very important lesson from the Northern Ireland process in their attempts to agree a form of government for their country — but one that was not anticipated by Bush and Blair. At a US-brokered meeting in Nasiriya, they issued a joint […]
Alliance South Antrim Assembly member David Ford has said that those who daubed paramilitary slogans onto a Glengormley church are destined to failure if their aim is to destroy community relations. Condemning the incident, during which UYM (Ulster Young Militants) was painted on St Mary’s on the Hill, Mr Ford said: “Attacks on churches are […]