Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said the independent advice sector needs financial support to secure its survival. The Strangford MLA was speaking after the draft Budget from the Department for Communities was shown to MLAs, proposing a £1.5 million reduction in funding for the independent advice sector, with organisation Advice NI saying it […]
Alliance MP Stephen Farry has said the EU’s decision to use Article 16 in a bid to control vaccine distribution is not justified or warranted. He added: “We are in the middle of a global pandemic, there are no sides in the fight against Covid. Yet this completely unjustified and unwarranted move will only serve […]
East Antrim Alliance MLA, Stewart Dickson, has called on the Economy Minister to take urgent action to ensure that all those previously excluded from Covid-19 grant schemes are provided with support before the end of the financial year. Mr Dickson said: “This has been an extremely challenging year for businesses across Northern Ireland as a […]
More must be done to support teachers, parents and pupils in remote learning, Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has said, after it was announced most pupils would not return to schools until March 8 at the earliest. First Minister Arlene Foster made the announcement after a recommendation from Education Minister Peter Weir. Special schools […]
Unless more money is found for the Department for Communities’ Budget, people in Northern Ireland will be further disadvantaged, Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said. Ms Armstrong was speaking after the Budget papers were presented to MLAs at the Assembly’s Communities Committee meeting. She said the Communities Minister and Finance Minister needed to […]
Alliance representatives have welcomed the go-ahead for phase two of the A1 dual carriageway improvement scheme. The project will address safety issues at junctions along an over 15-mile stretch of the road between Hillsborough and Loughbrickland. The route, one of the busiest in Northern Ireland, has seen a number of fatal accidents over the past […]
Alliance MLA John Blair has expressed serious concerns after the UK government again delayed the long-awaited Environment Bill – legislation needed to redraw vital regulations following the UK’s departure from the EU. Claiming the move amounts to nothing more than “dithering”, John said the delay will prevent crucial action to protect the environment, restore nature […]
Alliance Party Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw has welcomed the Health Department’s announcement that a programme of weekly testing for pupils and staff in special educational needs schools is set to be carried out in Northern Ireland. Testing is due to begin at the start of February, subject to business case approval. Paula said: “I welcome […]
Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has declared his support for Holocaust Memorial Day, saying it is a fundamental way to combat hatred in the modern world. Today marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which is the site of the largest mass murder in history. “Holocaust Memorial Day is […]
Alliance Councillor Julian McGrath has said more must be done to ensure those convicted of animal cruelty can never own pets again. Securing cross-party support from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Councillors to press Stormont for further clarity on the issue, Julian said urgent action was needed to plug the current gaps in Northern Ireland’s animal […]