Armstrong to chair Ards Hospital car parking forum

Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong is to chair a forum seeking to address sustainable access solutions for staff and patients, and car parking issues around the Ards Hospital site. Ms Armstrong was named as the Chair of the South-Eastern Health and Social Care Trust Multi-Agency Transport Forum following its first meeting last Friday (May 18). […]

Ford welcomes working group on opportunities for separated prisoners

Alliance MLA David Ford has welcomed the Department of Justice establishing a working group to examine the education and training opportunities for separated prisoners in Maghaberry Prison. Mr Ford was speaking after the DOJ announced the review, which will engage with stakeholders over the summer and report in the autumn. It is part of the […]

Attacks on ambulance staff cause widespread disgust, says Bradshaw

Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has said it is past time for action to tackle those who attack ambulance staff. The South Belfast MLA was speaking after it was revealed there have been 2,278 reported incidents of abuse on ambulance staff here since 2012/13, with 483 coming in the past year. “No public servant […]

Ford says values of Good Friday Agreement remain best way to move society forward

Alliance MLA David Ford has said the values of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) remain the best way to move Northern Ireland forward. Mr Ford was speaking on the 20th anniversary of the GFA referendum, which saw over 71 per cent of voters in Northern Ireland back the yes campaign. “There is no doubt our […]

Crisis in Bangor post-primary places needs urgent action

North Down Alliance MLA, Stephen Farry, has contacted the Department of Education and Education Authority to request urgent action to address the unprecedented crisis in the provision of post-primary school places in the Bangor area affecting over 40 families. He has been contacted by around 20 parents over the past weekend expressing their frustrations and […]

Survey shows cross-community approach to Brexit possible, says Farry

Alliance Brexit spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has said a new survey on local attitudes to Brexit shows the clear opportunity to create a cross-community consensus around a special deal based on continued membership of the Customs Union and Single Market. The survey from Queen’s University, entitled Northern Ireland and the UK’s Exit from the EU: […]

Nicholl: Not changing Sunday trading is missed opportunity

Alliance Councillor Kate Nicholl has said she is deeply disappointed the opportunity to see Belfast City centre adjust Sunday trading has been turned down for a final time. Speaking after the latest Strategic, Policy and Resource Committee meeting, Councillor Nicholl said she was ‘frustrated’ at the decision that had the potential to transform Belfast’s Sunday […]

Ford supports call to allow medicinal cannabis

As Charlotte and Billy Caldwell set off from Castlederg to Westminster, Alliance MLA David Ford has given his support for the “Billy’s Bud” campaign to allow the prescription of medicinal cannabis oil. David Ford said: “I have met Charlotte and discussed the benefits that Billy gained when he had cannabis oil prescribed in the USA […]

McDonough Brown: Alliance fought to retain CCTV for Holylands

Alliance Councillor Emmet McDonough Brown has said he’s disappointed at reports of overnight anti-social behaviour in College Park Avenue. Speaking after several residents reported their wing mirrors had been ripped off, the local Councillor said this type of action was exactly the reason why the Alliance Party had fought to retain CCTV in the area. […]