Armstrong asks Minister how many staff operating traffic control cameras during gridlock

Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has asked the Minister to reveal how many staff were manning cameras controlling the traffic flow through Belfast as the city saw gridlock yesterday (Tuesday). The city saw several bottlenecks after a lorry shed its load on the Westlink. It was compounded by a Northern Ireland game taking place […]

Time to prepare for winter – Armstrong

Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong has urged householders to start preparing for winter. Kellie Armstrong said: “With the dark nights in and temperatures falling it is time to start making preparations for the winter months. It’s important that all householders, but particularly those who are older or vulnerable make appropriate plans to be comfortable in […]

Givan abandons key aspect of paramilitary strategy, says Farry

Alliance Policing spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has criticised the Communities Minister for abandoning a key aspect of the Executive’s anti-paramilitarism strategy, relating to segregation in housing. North Down MLA Dr Farry was speaking after Paul Givan failed to mention the commitments given by the DUP and Sinn Fein in relation to the Panel Report on […]

Urgent clarity needed on funding to tackle paramilitarism – Ford

Alliance MLA David Ford has called on the Executive to clear up confusion around the status of its multi-million-pound plan to tackle paramilitarism. The South Antrim MLA made the request after Justice Minister Claire Sugden publicly disagreed with Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir that the Treasury had withheld its half of a £10 million package […]

Minister’s lack of commitment to LGBT community is worrying – Long

Alliance Leader Naomi Long has said she is extremely worried about the lack of commitment to the LGBT community from Minister for Communities Paul Givan. Mrs Long was speaking after Assembly Question Time, where she asked Minister Givan “..to outline the action his Department is taking to improve good relations with regard to sexual orientation.” […]

York Street Interchange needs to be made a priority

The Infrastructure Minister needs to make the York Street Interchange a priority, Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said. The Strangford MLA was speaking as Chris Hazzard confirmed he would accept the outcomes of the public inquiry around the multi-million-pound project, meaning it would get the go ahead for preparatory work, despite question marks […]

Castlewellan man Andy McMurray is newest Alliance Councillor

The Alliance Party has selected Castlewellan man Andy McMurray as its newest councillor for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to represent the Slieve Croob area. Mr McMurray, who is married with 2 children, is an outdoor instructor and youth worker at the Ardnabannon Outdoor Education Centre. Speaking at the special meeting to confirm his […]

Farry says Executive needs to spend Apprentice Levy proceeds on skills boost

Alliance Economy spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has said the Executive needs to spend the proceeds of the Apprenticeship Levy on providing extra skills for businesses here. The Apprenticeship Levy is a tax on any employer with a payroll in excess of £3 million, which is set to be collected across the UK from April 2017 […]

Bradshaw says mental health needs reform and resourcing

Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has warned we need reform and resourcing of mental health services, after it emerged no local Trust here meets its waiting time targets for people with anxiety and depression. The South Belfast MLA said the “unacceptable failing” in the system was causing a human cost to people across Northern […]

Lunn congratulates police on drugs seizure

Alliance Justice spokesperson Trevor Lunn MLA has congratulated the PSNI on the seizure of a large amount of drugs in mid-Ulster. Trevor Lunn said: “Illegal drugs bring nothing but misery and even death to our community. I congratulate the police on this operation in the mid-Ulster area, which led to the seizure of substantial quantities […]