Bradshaw welcomes clarity on booster vaccine roll-out

Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has said the Health Minister’s clarity on who will be offered booster vaccinations is welcome. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has advised booster vaccines should be offered to those more at risk from serious disease, and who were vaccinated during phase one of the vaccine programme. The […]

New legislation will protect the most vulnerable, says Long

Up-skirting, down-blousing and adults masquerading as children online are among the new offences that are one step closer to becoming law, following the introduction of the second stage of legislation by Alliance Justice Minister, Naomi Long. Provisions within the Bill include the exclusion of the public from all serious sexual offence hearings and the introduction […]

Minister needs to explicitly state when High Street voucher will launch, says Dickson

The Economy Minister needs to explicitly state when the High Street voucher scheme will launch, Alliance Economy spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has said. The Department for Economy announced the scheme would begin on a date after September 12, however as of Monday there was no definite date as to the launch. “Our high streets have […]

Bradshaw calls for swift offer of vaccine to those aged 12+ in Northern Ireland

Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has called for swift arrangements to be made to offer one dose of the Covid vaccine to school pupils aged 12 and over. The South Belfast MLA was speaking after news the UK chief medical officers approved offering one dose of the vaccine to everyone in the 12-15 age […]

Eastwood calls for Council health working group meeting to discuss growing crisis

Alliance Councillor Sorcha Eastwood has called for a meeting of the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council health working group to discuss the growing crisis in the health service in the area. Speculation has mounted Lagan Valley Hospital would be introducing a ‘phone first’ service, meaning anyone wishing to attend its emergency department would be encouraged […]

Cynical party posturing failing our people, says Long

Cynical party political posturing is failing our people, Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA has said, saying the emphasis must be on pragmatic solutions to concerns of the Protocol, rather than escalating political instability. Mrs Long was speaking following DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson indicating his party could quit the Assembly if its demands over the […]

Women may be put at further financial risk after removal of triple lock on pensions, says Armstrong

Women may be put at further financial risk by the removal of the triple lock on pensions by the UK Government, Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said. The Government announced the triple lock would be suspended for a year from April due to the pandemic. The triple lock promise in the Conservative manifesto […]

Chief Medical Officer and Public Health Agency called before Education Committee over pupil testing and self-isolation

Alliance’s Education and Health spokespeople have asked for clarity from the Public Health Agency (PHA) on pupil testing and self-isolation, after significant difficulties across schools at the start of term. The party’s Education spokesperson, Chris Lyttle MLA, has written to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and PHA to attend tomorrow’s session of the Assembly’s Education […]