East Belfast MP Naomi Long has asked the Foreign Secretary to challenge the Pakistani Government to appeal the recent ruling of a court there to make blasphemy a capital offence. Mrs Long, who has been a long-time advocate of global religious freedom, told William Hague during Foreign Office questions in the House of Commons today […]
North Down Councillor Andrew Muir has led the way in tackling the on-going dog fouling problem in the Holywood area, securing an additional member of Council staff to focus directly on the issue. After months of campaigning Councillor Muir welcomed the local authority’s decision to employ a part-time member of staff. Councillor Muir worked directly […]
Alliance Social Development spokesperson, Stewart Dickson MLA, has said that we must reach agreement on the welfare reform bill, after the Finance Minister stated he was setting aside £15million to cover the cost of financial penalties for the failure to implement the legislation. This will cover the financial penalties for the remaining three months of […]
Alliance Environment spokesperson, Anna Lo MLA, has voiced her opposition to an Assembly motion from Sinn Fein which said that PPS21, the rural planning policy for sustainable development in the countryside, should be revised to allow for greater development. Motion: Non-farming Rural Dwellers That this Assembly calls on the Minister of the Environment to bring […]
Alliance Environment spokesperson, Anna Lo MLA, has said that the row between the Agriculture and Finance Ministers over Common Agricultural Policy funding, has shown a complete lack of joined-up government. The Finance Minister took the Agriculture Minister to court when she attempted to transfer 7% of CAP money to fund the rural development programme. Anna […]
Alliance MP Naomi Long has called for tougher regulation of payday loans companies after revealing she had recently been solicited by one such organisation alluding to a previous credit application she made with them, an allegation that was false. East Belfast MP Mrs Long, speaking during a House of Commons debate on payday loan companies […]
Alliance Justice Spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has said the Smithwick Report has again highlighted the clear need to deal with the past. Mr Dickson was speaking ahead of an Assembly Debate on Monday dealing with the fallout from the Smithwick Report – including the reported collusion between as yet unidentified members of the Gardai and […]
Alliance East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson has condemned those behind a suspicious object discovered in Carrickfergus. Residents have had to leave their homes and a number of controlled explosions have been carried out on the object in the Broadlands Garden area. Stewart Dickson MLA said: “I must condemn those behind this alert, who have succeeded […]
East Belfast MP Naomi Long has launched a new Polish service in her constituency, giving people the same access to advice and assistance as other constituents, but in their native language. The move will include a native Polish speaker working in Mrs Long’s constituency office at 56 Upper Newtownards Road, who will be the first […]
Alliance Coleraine Councillor Yvonne Boyle has condemned an attempted murder attack on a 74-year-old man in Ballycastle. The man was working in a shed in the Islandboy Road area when he was shot by a masked man. Councillor Yvonne Boyle said: “I wholeheartedly condemn this attack which has left the whole community in shock. “It […]