Speaking after the Alliance delegation’s meeting with US envoy Richard Haass today, Party Leader David Ford MLA said: “We impressed upon Mr Haass the importance of acts of completion from republicans, who have much ground to make up to restore the confidence that is lacking in the political process. “Mr Haass is also aware of […]
Responding to reports today that Sinn Fein has proposed changes to the voting rules in the Assembly, Alliance Leader David Ford MLA said: “It is obvious that the current system for electing a First and Deputy First Minister is totally unworkable. While Alliance may have been prepared to temporarily redesignate in the past, we have […]
Alliance Assembly member Kieran McCarthy has appealed to people in Ballyhalbert to watch out for suspicious activity after an elderly woman was tricked into allowing a couple into her home. The 91-year-old later discovered that money was missing from her purse. Mr McCarthy said: “What these people have done to this elderly woman is repugnant. […]
The comments by Belfast DUP councillor Robin Newton completely misrepresent Alliance’s position over the motion to censure Lord Mayor Alex Maskey for appearing in a republican calendar. Last month Alliance voted to condemn the association of the office of Lord Mayor with the calendar. That remains our position. Monday night’s motion was to censure him […]
ALLIANCE Finance Spokesman Seamus Close has said that a major opportunity for Northern Ireland will be squandered if the Strategic Investment and Regeneration of Sites Order is passed. Speaking after it was being debated in the Northern Ireland Grand Committee yesterday, Mr Close also accused former First Minister David Trimble of misrepresenting Alliance in Westminster […]
Alliance South Antrim Assembly member David Ford has condemned the murder of John Gregg in Belfast at the weekend. Mr Ford said: “Murder is murder, and must be condemned no matter what the circumstances. While tensions within loyalism are now obviously very high, nothing will be resolved through further killing, and I would call on […]
Alliance South Antrim Assembly member David Ford has described the SDLP’s policy on policing as ‘confused and contradictory’. Mr Ford was speaking after the SDLP’s Tommy Burns refused to back his party spokesman’s demand to close Templepatrick PSNI station. SDLP Policing Board spokesman Alex Attwood also stated that he was unconcerned that the 50-50 rule […]
Commenting on today’s Human Rights Consortium seminar at Stormont, Alliance Deputy Leader, Eileen Bell, said that the exercise was very worthwhile and very necessary. ” Over 100 different organisations were represented here today, all seeking to improve our human rights situation and to achieve the introduction of a Human Rights Bill for Northern Ireland.The shortcomings […]
AS we look forward to 2003, one of the depressingly predictable trends that seems set to continue is the steady rise in regular crime, paramilitarism, and organised crime. Some like to trace these increases to the Agreement. Instead, it is important to stress that the Agreement provides the means to assert the primacy of democracy, […]
David Ford MLA, Alliance Leader, has welcomed the announcement of meetings with the British and Irish prime ministers on February 12. But he added: “If these meetings are going to be any value, we simply have to get away from hidden side deals being made with individual parties.” “For that reason, I would call for […]