Alliance Party Council overwhelmingly backs leadership position over Justice Ministry

Alliance Party Council has overwhelmingly backed the party leadership’s view that the party is not in a position to nominate a Justice Minister. At a special meeting of the Party Council held in the Park Avenue Hotel tonight, over 120 Party Council delegates supported the party leadership’s position, which followed the DUP and Sinn Fein’s […]

Ford says he is not in position to recommend Alliance takes Justice Ministry

David Ford MLA has said he is not in a position to recommend to Alliance members his party take the Justice Ministry. Mr Ford said the negative DUP and Sinn Fein response to Alliance’s proposals left the party leadership with no choice but to not nominate a Minister. A number of propositions around Alliance’s ‘five […]

Lyttle: Deloitte announcement is major boost for Belfast

Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle has said news professional services firm Deloitte is to create more Belfast-based jobs than originally planned is ‘a great boost for the city’. The firm revealed on Thursday its expansion of its Belfast operation would create 300 more jobs than the 700 first projected to be in place by 2019. Chris […]

Ford says no presumptions should be made around Alliance participation in the Executive

Alliance Leader David Ford has said no presumptions should be made around whether his party will enter the Executive. It comes after Alliance held a meeting with the DUP and Sinn Fein over the Justice ministry in which Alliance representatives put forward a number of proposals. However, Mr Ford said at this stage no decision […]

Dickson says discovery of terrorist hide worrying development

The discovery of what is believed to be bomb-making components in woods near Larne is a worrying development, Alliance East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson has said. Mr Dickson was speaking following the find of a terrorist hide in Capanagh Forest. Police are currently working to see if a link exists between it and a similar […]

Dickson warns of disastrous consequences for environment if drilling started

Alliance East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson has said urgent clarification is needed after the company behind a controversial exploratory drill in his constituency claimed it had started drilling there. Infrastrata stated on its website that it has started operations today (Monday) at the site in Woodburn Forest outside Carrickfergus, however, those monitoring the site say […]

Lyttle backs compensation scheme for abuse survivors

Alliance East Belfast MLA Chris Lyttle has backed awarding compensation for victims and survivors of institutional child abuse, as a major report into such a scheme was launched. The report, entitled Compensation for Historic Abuses in Residential Institutions, will be unveiled today (Monday) at Parliament Buildings by victims and survivors of such homes. It sets […]

Bradshaw says proof will be in pudding over loyalist flag

Alliance South Belfast MLA Paula Bradshaw has said the “proof will be in the pudding” after the unveiling of a new flag to commemorate the Somme centenary by the Loyalist Community Council. The LCC claimed the flag was backed by loyalist paramilitary groups and said it hoped it would be flown instead of ones by […]

Ford says Nesbitt lasted two speeches, not two weeks, before grandstanding

Mike Nesbitt demanded two weeks for negotiations around forming a Government, yet lasted two speeches before grandstanding out of the Executive, Alliance Leader David Ford has said. Mr Ford said Ulster Unionist leader Mr Nesbitt had “knee-jerked” once again by announcing today his party would go into opposition. “During the election campaign, Mr Nesbitt regularly […]

Alliance members table private members’ Bills for consideration

Alliance MLAs have tabled a range of private members’ Bills for the new Assembly mandate, saying progress is needed in various areas to ensure our society doesn’t get left further behind. The Bills range across a number of issues, from looking for movement in areas such as integrated education, equal marriage, display of flags on […]