The transfer test should be abolished instead of being turned into a single test, Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has said. Mr Lyttle was speaking after a confidential document was revealed which outlined plans for grammars here to run a single test with two papers from November 2023. BBC reports suggest the majority of […]
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw has said the Autism Bill has “positive potential”, allowing outdated labels to be stripped away and addressing failings in the system in their place. The Alliance Party’s Health Spokesperson was speaking after the bill progressed to the next stage, adding it was long past time the lack of support and lack […]
Alliance MLA John Blair has welcomed the creation of a new role by the Justice Minister to support victims of crime. The Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate will carry out a series of tasks, including reviewing the effectiveness of laws and practices around victims, and making recommendations to better improve services to the Department of […]
Alliance MLA Andrew Muir is to push the Education Minister to outline contingency plans for post-primary transfer tests, scheduled to take place before Christmas this year. Set to seek clarity at the Assembly today, Mr Muir said that despite calls from within the Minister’s own party for a final date for removal of all restrictions, […]
Northern Ireland is in urgent need of policies to restore our damaged ecosystems, Alliance Environmental spokesperson John Blair MLA has said. Mr Blair was speaking during an Assembly debate on the UK Government’s Environment Bill, which was designed to bring in legislation and provide environmental governance following changes after Brexit. “Our exit from the EU […]
Alliance Policing Board representative John Blair MLA has criticised the PSNI after it confirmed its officers were responsible for sharing leaflets which linked rape victims to drinking alcohol. Police said the leaflets, which were distributed to students at the Magee Campus of the Ulster University, follows a previous similar incident in Belfast last year. “This […]
No party should threaten to delay life-saving legislation by risking the future of the institutions, Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has said, as the Organ and Tissue Donation Bill passed its second stage in the Assembly. A majority of MLAs backed the latest stage of the legislation, which will see organ donation rules here […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said she is glad to see her party colleague Stephen Farry MP fight for the retention of the £20 per week COVID uplift to universal credit. Ms Armstrong was speaking after Westminster backed calls for the Government to scrap the plans, adding it would have a serious impact […]
The Health Minister must convene a summit with doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to ensure surgical services can operate throughout the winter, as an initial step to tackling growing waiting lists, Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has said. “Alliance has been concerned about the mixed communications around school and further education re-opening, and […]
The removal of the £20 uplift in universal credit by the UK Government would be callous and at odds with enabling everyone to realise their full potential in an inclusive society, Alliance MP Stephen Farry has said. The North Down MP was speaking after the House of Commons backed a non-binding Labour motion to cancel […]