Fitzpatrick welcomes positive news about the Open coming to Portrush

Alliance Coleraine Councillor Barney Fitzpatrick has welcomed the positive news that the Open golf tournament will be coming to Portrush. Official confirmation is expected next week, but it is believed that Royal Portrush will host the tournament in 2019. Cllr Barney Fitzpatrick said: “This is great news that one of the world’s most prestigious sporting […]

Lunn concerned by report on school absenteeism rate

Alliance Education spokesperson, Trevor Lunn MLA, has expressed his concern at the rate of absenteeism among school pupils. The Public Accounts Committee report found that 20,000 pupils were absent for six weeks or more. Trevor Lunn MLA said: “I am very concerned that so many children are missing such a large number of school days. […]

Long asks for Government’s plans for dealing with the past

East Belfast MP Naomi Long has pushed the Secretary of State to lay out the Government’s plans for advancing a mechanism for dealing with Northern Ireland’s past and its legacy. Speaking during Northern Ireland Questions in the House of Commons today (Wednesday), the Alliance MP called on Theresa Villiers to state what the Government was […]

Lo: Increase in greenhouse gas emissions shows need for NI Climate Change Bill

Alliance Environment spokesperson, Anna Lo MLA, has said the increase in greenhouse gas emissions in Northern Ireland shows the need for the Assembly to pass our own climate change legislation. In 2012, there were about 21 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in Northern Ireland, a 2% increase on the previous year. Emissions have reduced […]

Lyttle: Community Relations Week highlights the need to deliver a shared future

Alliance East Belfast MLA, Chris Lyttle, has welcomed the launch of the Community Relations Week which will take place from 16th – 22nd June. Chris is pictured at the launch with Alliance Councillor Nuala McAllister, and Peter Osborne and Jacqueline Irwin of the Community Relations Council. Chris Lyttle MLA said: “Community Relations Week is an […]

Dickson warns of looming crisis due to welfare reform delay

Alliance Social Development spokesperson, Stewart Dickson MLA, has said the figures outlined in the Supply Resolution Main Estimates may have to be readjusted due to the looming financial crisis that our public services face as a result of the failure to implement welfare reform. Stewart was speaking during a debate in the Assembly. Stewart Dickson […]

Lyttle calls for adequate funding for Racial Equality Strategy

Alliance OFMDFM spokesperson, Chris Lyttle MLA, has said that the First and deputy First Ministers must provide adequate funding for the Racial Equality Strategy. Chris was speaking during the Supply Resolution debate in the Assembly on Monday. Chris Lyttle MLA said: “We have now had two major rallies in Belfast in the past 10 days […]

Bradshaw: Effective police work led to cannabis find

Alliance Councillor Paula Bradshaw has praised the effective police work which led to the discovery of a large cannabis factory in South Belfast. The local Councillor was speaking after 400 plants were seized from a property in the Broadway area. Councillor Paula Bradshaw said: “The swift removal of these plants is the result of effective […]