Alliance MLA Kieran McCarthy has criticised the Health Department’s ‘long-term mis-management of funds’, after it was revealed the department’s former Minister incurred nearly £40,000 in legal costs trying to stop gay men from donating blood. The ban was lifting in England, Scotland and Wales in November 2011, but Edwin Poots continually fought attempts to legalise […]
Alliance Strangford MLA, Kieran McCarthy, has said that Sinn Fein Ministers should be doing more to protect key frontline services within their Departments. He was speaking during a debate brought by Sinn Fein to the Assembly, which called on the Executive to protect core public services. Kieran McCarthy MLA said: “I share the sentiments of […]
Alliance Chief Whip, Stewart Dickson MLA, has lodged a complaint in the Assembly over an online comment made by the DUP’s Sammy Wilson after he was questioned by the Assembly for referring to Jim Allister as a ‘thug’ during a meeting of the Social Development Committee. Sammy Wilson was criticised for writing this post on […]
Alliance North Belfast representative Councillor John Blair has condemned attacks on two homes on the Crumlin Road on Friday night that Police are treating as sectarian hate crimes. A brick was thrown through the window of a house before paint was thrown at another property. Racist graffiti was also daubed over a house in the […]
Following today’s meeting of the Northern Ireland Executive, at which Alliance Ministers voted against the final 2015/16 budget, Alliance Leader David Ford has said that this budget will continue the long-term mismanagement of public finances by the DUP and Sinn Fein. David Ford MLA said: “Put simply, the budget agreed between the DUP and Sinn […]
Alliance Social Development spokesperson, Stewart Dickson MLA, has expressed his disappointment at the answers provided by the Social Development Minister’s Special Adviser, Stephen Brimstone, at the inquiry into the Spotlight allegations. DUP members again attempted to disrupt the proceedings. Stewart Dickson MLA said: “After his non-appearance at the Social Development Committee last week, I was […]
Alliance Health spokesperson, Kieran McCarthy MLA, has said that the Health Minister should have spoken out about the recent A and E crisis and that his silence showed a lack of leadership. Jim Wells spoke on Wednesday night to say that he wanted to let hospital staff get on with their work and that a […]
Alliance Leader and South Antrim MLA, David Ford, has welcomed the announcement by Randox that they will be creating 540 jobs in one of the company’s largest expansions. They will be redeveloping the former Massereene army base in Antrim, into a manufacturing and research facility in an investment totalling £161million. David Ford MLA said: “This […]
Alliance Justice spokesperson, Stewart Dickson MLA, has praised the work by the Justice Minister to support victims of crime. David Ford launched the Victims Charter at Stormont on Wednesday morning. The Victim Charter advises victims of crime about their entitlements and the standards of service that they can expect to receive when they come in […]
Alliance South Belfast MLA, Anna Lo, has condemned those behind three hate crimes that have taken place in South Belfast in recent days. On Tuesday, a petrol bomb was thrown at a house on Ebor Street, it did not ignite but did break the outer window pane. A mother and her baby were in the […]