In early March, Party Leader, David Ford, Deputy Leader, Eileen Bell, and General Secretary, Stephen Farry spent a week in Washington DC to attend a number of meetings and receptions, to renew contacts old and new, and to build up the profile of Alliance in the United States. Here Stephen Farry gives his diary of […]
Alliance South Antrim MLA David Ford has condemned the murder of a pensioner near Antrim on Friday. Joshua McClenaghan, 65, died after being beaten about the head at a house on Kilgavanagh Road. Mr Ford said: “This was a brutal and nasty murder of a defenceless old man, and I unreservedly condemn those behind it. […]
South Antrim Assembly member David Ford has said there must be more effective funding for facilities for young people with learning disabilities. The Alliance Party leader was speaking after he visited Riverside School last Friday, where he viewed a new bus provided for the school by BBC Children in Need. Mr Ford, who met staff […]
Two things seem clear with the Government’s commitment from Weston Park package to provide an amnesty for the so-called ‘On the Runs’. First, the Governments are committed to doing something on this issue – a promise was made to Sinn Fein. Second, the Government made this concession to Sinn Fein in haste, and are busily […]
9.45 – 10.10 Conference Opens/Party President’s Address 10.15 – 11.00 Motions 1-3: Health: Conference expresses its alarm at the deterioration of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland, noting with concern that waiting lists are the longest of any region in the United Kingdom and that there are restrictions on many domiciliary services. Conference calls […]
Alliance Councillor Michael Long has expressed his anger following reports that Police Federation chairman Jimmy Spratt has signed a petition calling for the removal of Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan at Castlereagh Council. Cllr Long said that placing such a petition would likely be in breach of Equality legislation. Cllr Long stated: “Alliance opposed the introduction […]
Despite all the progress on implementing the Good Friday Agreement, it is clear that we have not yet established a society that is based upon the rule of law. Democracy and human rights go hand-in-hand with and are dependent upon the rule of law. However, the events of the past few months, in particular, have […]
Currently, the Stormont Talks are at a crossroads. Parties have set out their initial positions, but unfortunately, so far there has been absence of common ground on the big issues. To put it simply, Nationalists will not consider any new devolved arrangements for Northern Ireland without guarantees of North-South arrangements with meaningful powers. On the […]
Mr Ford is visiting Washington DC for a series of meetings with government agencies and think tanks in the run up to St Patrick’s day. He said: “Saturday’s comments by the UUP leader were received with incredulity in Washington.” “Those who follow Irish affairs cannot understand why he made the speech. Whatever allowance is made […]
An Alliance delegation today met the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Dr John Reid in Washington DC. The proposed amnesty for ‘On the Runs’ and David Trimble’s suggestion for a border poll were among the items discussed. Speaking after the meeting, David Ford stated: “A border poll is the most polarising, divisive and destabilising […]