Lyttle deeply disappointed by Bombardier job losses

Alliance East Belfast MLA Chris Lyttle has said it is deeply disappointing Bombardier has announced 95 redundancies among support staff at its local operations. Mr Lyttle was speaking after the aerospace company announced the redundancies, which are not related to the current ongoing dispute with Boeing but rather “cost-cutting”. “This news is extremely disappointing and […]

Lunn says more needs to be done to support LGBT pupils

Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn has said more needs to be done to support LGBT pupils, after it was revealed two-thirds here do not feel welcomed or valued in their post-primary schools. The research by the Department of Education looked at issues facing LGBT pupils in schools. It also showed almost half had experienced bullying as […]

Northern Ireland must not be left behind on drugs and treatments, says Bradshaw

Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA will lead a party delegation to meet Health Department Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly tomorrow (Friday) to seek assurances action will be taken so local people are not left behind on drugs and treatments. The South Belfast MLA said the latest reduction in the health budget was extremely concerning, as […]

Doherty left disgusted by church attack

Alliance Foyle representative John Doherty has said he is disgusted by vandals who defecated and urinated in a local church. The break-in at Christ Church on Infirmary Road in Derry-Londonderry also saw extensive damage caused to the church’s organ, a decanter stolen and windows smashed. The incident happened sometime between Sunday afternoon and Tuesday at […]

Alliance condemns incinerator decision

Alliance MLA David Ford has described the Department for Infrastructure’s decision to go ahead with plans for an Arc 21 Waste Incinerator at Mallusk as ‘frustrating and disappointing’ for all who campaigned to stop it. The MLA for South Antrim was speaking after the controversial incinerator was given the go-ahead, despite at least 4,000 objections […]

NI missing chance to have its voice heard on Brexit, says Dickson

Northern Ireland is missing key opportunities to have its voice heard on Brexit, Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has said, after MPs backed the EU Withdrawal Bill on Monday night. “This process could see legislative consent motions passed in the devolved Scottish and Welsh Parliaments,” he said, adding: “We would be hopeful the Assembly would be […]

Alliance calls for paramilitary disbandment

Alliance MLA David Ford has said the Red Hand Commando’s move to be legalised instead of disbanded could have serious implications for ending the scourge of paramilitarism in Northern Ireland. The former Justice Minister said that while any move to end intimidation should not be snubbed, there was no evidence that this would actually happen […]

Lyttle says financial pressures in education reason for swift return of Executive

Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has said the news the education sector was facing ‘cost pressures’ of more than £100 million in the forthcoming year is reason alone for the return of a functioning Executive. Mr Lyttle was speaking after the warning came in a letter from a senior civil servant at the Department […]