Alliance MLAs attend care homes rally at Stormont

Alliance Strangford MLA Kieran McCarthy and East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson have attended a rally at Stormont to save care homes from closure. Alliance Health spokesperson Kieran McCarthy MLA said: “The decision by three Health Trusts to close all their care homes was illogical and irrational. There are still questions to be asked of how […]

Lunn – We should never forget the sacrifice of those at the Somme

Alliance Lagan Valley MLA Trevor Lunn MLA has commented on the 97th anniversary of the beginning of the battle of the Somme. Trevor Lunn MLA said: “We should never forget the sacrifice of those who died at the Somme. We should be doing all that is possible to honour all those young men who lost […]

Lunn: DUP has done nothing to advance integrated education

Alliance Education Spokesperson Trevor Lunn MLA has said the DUP has continually failed to deliver on integrated education, despite the Party’s claims to the contrary. Mr Lunn was speaking after the Bishop of Down, Donal McKeown, accused the DUP of being “nakedly sectarian” on the issue of integrated education. Trevor Lunn MLA said: “I heard […]

Lyttle: Suspect pills must be taken off streets

Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle has appealed for anyone in possession of drugs in the form of green, white or red tablets to surrender them immediately. The pills are suspected to be the cause of a number of drug-related deaths across Northern Ireland, with the Chief Medical Examiner saying urgent further testing is needed on them. […]

Curran condemns attack on German business delegation

Alliance Councillor Catherine Curran has condemned an attack on a vehicle assigned to a German business delegation visiting Belfast. The car was found burned out in Apsley Street, off Ormeau Avenue, close to the delegations hotel. Councillor Catherine Curran said: “It is very disappointing to hear that foreign visitors to Belfast have been treated in […]

Long calls for air passenger duty reform

East Belfast MP Naomi Long has called on the Government to reform short-haul air passenger duty (APD) or else Northern Ireland’s economy will continue to be at a disadvantage. Mrs Long was the only Northern Ireland MP to attend the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee’s Air Transport Strategy debate in Westminster Hall today (Thursday), which […]

Following Spratt apology, Long calls for official recording of Castlereagh Council to deal with abusive language

Alliance Castlereagh Councillor Michael Long has renewed his party’s call for Council meetings of Castlereagh Council to be recorded to deal with abusive language. His comments come after the official record of an Assembly Committee proved the DUP’s Jimmy Spratt described those opposed to the Maze development as ‘nutters’. Jimmy Spratt has previously used language […]

Dickson says Minister is right to seek partnership arrangements to reform prisons

Alliance Justice spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has said the Justice Minister is right to use partnership arrangements to reform prisons. He was speaking as the Minister unveiled the ‘Working in Partnership to Reform Prisons’ document. Stewart Dickson MLA said: “Reforming our prisons and reducing re-offending will help to build a safer community for all of […]

Ford says Girvan’s comments on flag burning are unacceptable

Alliance Leader and South Antrim MLA David Ford has criticised DUP MLA Paul Girvan for saying he had no problem with the burning of tricolour flags on bonfires. David Ford MLA said “I’m dismayed at the comments Paul Girvan has made. It is unacceptable to burn any flag no matter what country it represents. “As […]

Long – Alleged ‘nutter’ insult is fairly tame by Castlereagh Council standards

Following the controversy at the OFMdFM Committee on Wednesday, when it was reported that the UUP Leader Mike Nesbitt alleged that the DUP’s Jimmy Spratt called those who object to the Maze peace building centre ‘nutters’, Alliance Castlereagh Councillor Michael Long stated that even if the allegations were true then the language used was fairly […]