Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has said we are “now in project reality” as the outworkings of Brexit make themselves clear to those who supported it. Speaking during an Assembly debate on the current disruption to products caused by Brexit, East Antrim MLA Mr Dickson said £50 an hour fines for truckers waiting to clear customs […]
Alliance Lurgan Councillor Peter Lavery has condemned those who left live ammunition near a children’s playground in the town. PSNI officers made the discovery in the Kilwilkie area yesterday (Sunday). A further search today (Monday) found nothing else. The package has been taken for further forensic analysis. “This was a troubling discovery, especially so close […]
Alliance Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA has introduced legislative proposals for a stand-alone Protection from Stalking Bill to the Assembly. The 20-clause Bill will create a specific offence of stalking and include provision for the introduction of Stalking Protection Orders to Northern Ireland. Naomi Long said: “Today’s introduction of the Protection from Stalking Bill is a […]
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has called for urgent support for district nursing, after Assembly questions revealed 117 vacancies across all Trusts amid vastly increasing casework. The South Belfast MLA stated: “District nursing is often in fact the frontline of the health service, providing what is in effect an extension of primary care in […]
A virtual Citizens’ Assembly should be convened to help meet commitments made in the New Decade, New Approach agreement, Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has said. The North Down MLA was speaking after asking the First Minister and Deputy First Minister for an update on the Citizens’ Assembly and Compact Civic Advisory Panel, which were commitments […]
Alliance Finance and Infrastructure spokesperson, Andrew Muir MLA, has raised concerns regarding the draft budget for Northern Ireland presented today in the Assembly. The 2021/22 budget announcement was expected weeks ago, but was only agreed by the Executive Committee this morning. The draft budget proposes flat allocations for the Northern Ireland departments for the forthcoming […]
Alliance Economy Spokesperson, Stewart Dickson MLA, has welcomed a Supreme Court decision in favour of small firms receiving pay-outs from insurance policies, as a result of disruption from the Covid-19 Pandemic. A test case was brought to the Supreme Court by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), after many insurers refused to pay to cover Covid-19 […]
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has criticised the Department for Infrastructure (DFI) for handing back £1 million it has been unable to spend on road resurfacing projects. At this week’s Infrastructure Committee meeting, officials from DFI told MLAs £1 million of capital money was being returned by the Department due to reduced capacity to […]
South Belfast Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw has expressed her sadness after a blaze at the Belfast Multi-Cultural Association left the building badly damaged. More than 50 firefighters were needed to bring the fire at the Donegall Pass community organisation under control. Investigations are ongoing to establish whether the blaze was deliberate. “My thoughts are with […]
Alliance MLAs Stewart Dickson and Andrew Muir have raised concerns over the increasing risk the Executive may have to hand back part of the COVID-19 support funding it has received from Westminster. Since the start of March, the Executive has received approximately £3 billion in funding to support individuals and organisations through the pandemic. However, […]