Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has said an international report showing local 15-year-olds ranked average in a number of subjects was further evidence of the need for fundamental educational reform in Northern Ireland. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation’s (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) benchmarks pupils in 34 countries at age 15 for […]
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw has said the Executive must put in place the correct mechanisms to ensure historical child sex abuse claims can be reported, after the PSNI confirmed it was investigating allegations relating to local football clubs. The South Belfast MLA quizzed the Communities Minister in the Assembly chamber yesterday (Monday) about the arrangements […]
Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA and Trevor Lunn MLA have spoken in the Assembly to support a motion calling for the Executive to nominate a Northern Ireland representative to the UK wide Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group. Naomi Long said: “This motion does not seek to give advantage to members of the armed services. Rather […]
David Ford MLA has called on the Health Minister and Justice Minister to release the report of the working group on fatal foetal abnormality (FFA) after his private member’s bill on the matter began its passage in the Assembly. Mr Ford made his request in two letters, one to Health Minister Michelle O’Neill and one […]
The implementation and operation of the controversial Social Investment Fund (SIF) has been characterised by secrecy and cronyism, the Assembly has heard. The claim came as an Alliance motion calling for an independent review into the scheme was defeated in the Assembly chamber 53-38. Alliance Executive spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA said it was disappointing “but […]
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said that community transport schemes across Northern Ireland need security around funding so they can continue their vital services. Kellie Armstrong said: “Right across Northern Ireland there is a network of community transport schemes, mainly in rural areas, that provide an essential service for our community. Several hundred […]
East Belfast MLA Chris Lyttle has welcomed the formation of a community choir in his constituency, designed to help those affected by the Troubles. The East Belfast Victims and Survivors Christmas Choir will showcase the progress made over the past few months by the East Belfast Community Counselling Centre (EBCCC), which works with those throughout […]
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw has highlighted the importance of appropriate child protection arrangements in sporting clubs. Ms Bradshaw said: “In the Assembly I asked the Communities Minister Paul Givan about the arrangements in place to ensure investigation of historical sex abuse allegations in sports clubs can be thoroughly undertaken. I also asked the Minister if […]
David Ford MLA’s private member’s bill on abortion reform will be officially moved in the Assembly tomorrow (Tuesday), after it was accepted by Stormont’s Business Office. The proposed legislation seeks to reform the law around termination of pregnancy in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities (FFA). If passed, it would enable women carrying a foetus with […]
There should be an independent review of the Executive’s controversial Social Investment Fund (SIF), Alliance Leader Naomi Long has said. Mrs Long was speaking ahead of an Alliance motion in the Assembly tomorrow (Tuesday) calling for a spotlight to be shone on the SIF process, which has come under fire for its lack of transparency […]