Alliance Councillor Neil Kelly has claimed Antrim ratepayers remain disadvantaged, as he again raised the issue of Sunday opening hours. With key service facilities – including the Antrim Forum and recycling centre – remaining closed during peak times, the local Councillor added residents were losing out compared to those living close to the Valley in […]
East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson has said he is disappointed by the loss of over 40 jobs from a Carrickfergus factory. Alliance MLA Mr Dickson was speaking following the announcement by Schrader Electronics it would release 42 temporary employees from its plant in the town before the end of the year. The company, which makes […]
Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle has said more support needs to be given to parents after a report showed the cost of childcare here continues to rise. East Belfast MLA Mr Lyttle was speaking after helping launch a new report by charity Employers for Childcare at Stormont, which showed a full-time place now costs £8,528 per […]
Alliance Councillor Andrew Muir has said Bangor’s roads are becoming more and more dangerous, after the DUP Minister for Regional Development has failed to replace a growing number of street lights. Councillor Andrew Muir said: “As street lights have gone out, the failure of the Department of Regional Development to replace them have left Bangor’s […]
Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle has welcomed news the Justice Minister is to increase statutory maximum penalties and fines for those convicted of animal cruelty offences. East Belfast MLA Mr Lyttle was speaking following questions to the Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle O’Neill in the Assembly, during which she confirmed she had been working with […]
Alliance East Belfast MLAs Judith Cochrane and Chris Lyttle have helped spread the word about pancreatic cancer at the start of the disease’s awareness month. The MLAs this week attended a reception at Stormont to help kick the month off, hearing first-hand about the need for people to be diagnosed earlier. Around 200 people in […]
Alliance Health spokesperson Kieran McCarthy has said while today’s announcement shaking up the health service is welcome, there must be a commitment from the Minister to wider and more radical reform. Speaking after Simon Hamilton’s statement today (Wednesday), Mr McCarthy said the streamlining of structures was important to help make the overall service more efficient, […]
Alliance Arts spokesperson Anna Lo has showed solidarity with arts groups by attending a protest about cuts to its budget. South Belfast MLA Ms Lo was one of several Alliance elected representatives who participated in the demonstration, outside Parliament Buildings today (Tuesday). They joined around 200 artists, musicians and others calling on Arts Minister Caral […]
Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has said the announced future closure of the Michelin tyre factory is a massive blow for the Northern Ireland economy. The factory, in Ballymena, will close in 2018 with the loss of 860 jobs. Michelin said the decision had been taken due to the significant downturn in demand for truck tyres. […]
Pope Francis will be invited to Belfast as part of his expected visit to Ireland in 2018, after Alliance Councillor Nuala McAllister successfully secured support for the move on Monday night. If accepted, the historic visit will signal the great progress made in Northern Ireland, following Pope John Paul II pleads for peace during a […]