Northern Ireland welcomes refugees – Dickson

Alliance’s East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson has said Northern Ireland is a welcoming place for refugees. Mr Dickson was speaking at a rally held at Parliament Buildings in support of refugees. The rally had been organised by Amnesty International to coincide with a major summit on the global refugee crisis to be held at the […]

Alliance submits questions regarding Press Secretary appointment process

Alliance MLAs have submitted a series of urgent questions probing the process used to appoint the Executive’s new Press Secretary. The move came after the First and deputy First Minster appointed former Nolan Show editor David Gordon last week to a new role, created by amending using a legal procedure known as a Royal Prerogative, […]

Northern Ireland will have a special status in Europe, either by design or default – Farry

Alliance MLA Stephen Farry has said that as the UK moves closer to exiting the European Union, Northern Ireland’s special circumstances within Europe will become more apparent, and this copperfastens the case for a managed negotiation that will reflect its particular circumstances. Mr Farry was speaking in the Assembly during a debate on the impacts […]

Bradshaw submits cancer drugs petition

Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw has submitted a major petition to the Assembly calling for better access to cancer drugs for people here. South Belfast MLA Ms Bradshaw, surrounded by a number of health campaigners, handed the petition in to the Assembly today (Tuesday). It has over 10,200 signatures, all saying those suffering cancer here should […]

Long says Executive use of prerogative powers raises significant questions for Speaker

Alliance Deputy Leader Naomi Long has said the use of prerogative powers by the Executive raises significant questions for the Assembly Speaker. It follows the East Belfast MLA’s statement to the Assembly today (Monday) on Matters of the Day, after which he refused to take any points of order from the floor. “On his appointment […]

Portavogie Pipe Band hits the right note again – Armstrong

Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong has congratulated Portavogie Pipe band on their promotion to a higher grade in the pipe band rankings. Kellie Armstrong said: “For the second year in a row, Portavogie Pipe Band has improved their ranking as assessed by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association. “This shows the quality of the musicians […]

No fresh start to Executive communications

Alliance MLA Naomi Long has said that the process used to appoint an Executive Press Secretary shows the fresh start does not apply to openness and transparency. Naomi Long said: “This latest revelation, reluctantly confirmed by The First and Deputy First Ministers, that they used prerogative powers to get the person they wanted for this […]

Long encourages participation in Community Relations and Cultural Awareness week

Alliance Communities spokesperson Naomi Long MLA has encouraged people right across Northern Ireland to participate in Community Relations and Cultural Awareness week. Naomi Long said: “Northern Ireland has made great advances in community relations in recent years. The original aim of community relations events was to break down barriers between the two main religious denominations, […]