Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA has given a cautious welcome to the announcement of new talks but reiterated they need to be all-party with an independent mediator if they are to have any possibility of success. Mrs Long was speaking after Secretary of State Karen Bradley said a new “short and intense” phase of talks […]
Alliance Brexit spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has said there needs to be a more comprehensive approach to European funding after Brexit, after it was indicated it would remain for cross-border schemes. Dr Farry was speaking after European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he could see “no more important use” of the European budget than maintaining […]
Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong has called for clarity after the construction firm Carillion announced it was going to be liquidated. The company, which employs up to 300 people in Northern Ireland, has three major contracts with the Housing Executive for home maintenance and gas installation in North Down, Strangford, and South and East Belfast. […]
While the reallocation of money across Executive Departments is welcome, it is “minor housekeeping” at the end of a difficult financial year, Alliance Finance spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has said. Dr Farry was speaking after it was announced the Department of Education and Department for Infrastructure would receive additional funds, as well as the Department […]
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has said the planned recruitment of 600 Filipino nurses demonstrates the need for proper workforce planning in the health and social care service. The South Belfast MLA was speaking after it was revealed the nurses would be recruited due to the shortage of nurses, which is currently estimated to […]
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has welcomed a review of the personal independence payment (PIP) process. PIP was introduced in Northern Ireland in June 2016, initially replacing disability living allowance (DLA) for new claims and a limited number of DLA recipients. In December 2016, the Department for Communities began reassessing all remaining DLA recipients for PIP. […]
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MLA has said the entire Barry McElduff episode should serve to show the requirement to prioritise the needs of victims here. Dr Farry was speaking after Mr McElduff resigned as West Tyrone MP, following a social media video of him posing with a Kingsmill loaf on his head on the […]
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw has welcomed news research is to be carried out into the operation of former mother and baby homes and Magdalene laundries in Northern Ireland. The research will be carried out by Queen’s and Ulster universities, and is expected to take a year. It will cover the period 1922 to 1999. “This […]
Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA has askd for a drawing using imagery of the Kingsmill massacre to be taken down by several politicians who posted it on social media. Mrs Long said while the image was clearly making a political point, senior political representatives posting it were using it to score political points. “Given the […]
Alliance Economy spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has called on the UK Government to “keep fighting” after it admitted it expected Bombardier to lose its trade dispute with Boeing. Richard Harrington, a Minister at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, made the admission at a Westminster committee. Bombardier was hit with an interim import […]