Martin welcomes Sainsbury’s jobs announcement

Alliance Lisburn Councillor Stephen Martin has welcomed the announcement by Sainsbury’s that they will be expanding their Sprucefield operation to the tune of fifty jobs. Councillor Stephen Martin said: “The news of Sainsbury’s multi-million pound investment at its Sprucefield store is a welcome boost to the Lisburn economy. I would also welcome the decision to […]

Dickson: more scrutiny needed for Larne gas storage project

Alliance East Antrim MLA, Stewart Dickson, has said that more scrutiny is needed of the environmental impact of the work that will be carried out to create a gas storage facility under Larne Lough. Stewart was speaking after BP announced that they were pulling out of the project. The project will still go ahead, but […]

McCarthy pays tribute to staff in A and E departments

Alliance Health spokesperson, Kieran McCarthy MLA, has highlighted the recent concerns over the pressures being faced by staff in Accident and Emergency departments. He was speaking during an Assembly motion on the recent incidents in Craigavon Area Hospital and Royal Victoria Hospital. Motion: Crisis Conditions at Accident and Emergency Departments That this Assembly notes with […]

Long gives support to Syrian Refugee Programme

Alliance East Belfast MP Naomi Long has declared her support for the British Government’s participation in the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ Syrian Refugee Programme and has signed an Opposition Motion to be debated in Parliament tomorrow (Wednesday). The scheme seeks to encourage states to provide resettlement by the end of 2014 for some of […]

McCarthy welcomes growth in rail travel

Alliance Regional Development spokesperson, Kieran McCarthy MLA, has welcomed the growth in rail passenger numbers but has said more must be done to encourage more people to use public transport. There was 12.9million rail journeys in 2013, a rise of 1.6million on the previous year. Ulsterbus use was down 200,000 to 40.6million but Metro use […]

Alliance saddened by Mivan announcement

Alliance South Antrim representatives David Ford MLA, Councillor Neil Kelly and Councillor Alan Lawther have expressed their sadness following the announcement that building firm Mivan has ceased trading. A further 144 employees have been made redundant, after 98 employees were let go last week. On Friday David Ford MLA led an Alliance delegation to meet […]

Alliance says DUP’s attempts at censorship through the back door will fail

The Alliance Party’s Newtownabbey Council Group has said the decision to reinstate a previously cancelled play was the right one, adding any attempt by the DUP to alter future decisions was censorship by the back door. Councillor John Blair said: “I am disgusted at how this issue descended into a complete farce, but at least […]

Long: support for rule of law essential to resolving parades

Speaking ahead of the Leaders’ Meeting which is to review the Haass proposals on parades, Alliance Deputy Leader, Naomi Long MP, has said that it is essential that all parties support the rule of law and that a binding code of conduct should apply to all parades and protests. Naomi Long MP said: “If work […]

Lyttle calls for a specific ovarian cancer awareness campaign

Alliance East Belfast MLA, Chris Lyttle, has called on the Health Minister to launch a specific ovarian cancer awareness campaign to coincide with ovarian cancer month in March. Chris was speaking after he asked an oral question in the Assembly. The Minister stated that ovarian cancer would only form part of an overall cancer awareness […]