Alliance Party Chief Whip, Stewart Dickson MLA, has said the fall in unemployment across Northern Ireland should be cautiously welcomed, adding more must be done to tackle the long-term issue. Mr Dickson was speaking after new figures revealed less people are now claiming unemployment benefits, with the claimant total now standing at 64,100. Mr Dickson […]
Alliance East Belfast MLA Judith Cochrane has launched a new Assembly Group on SMEs at Stormont today. Judith will chair the group and hopes that it will act as a useful conduit between politicians and local businesses. It will also explore how the Northern Ireland political environment can assist and encourage all types of SMEs […]
Alliance Party Chief Whip, Stewart Dickson MLA, has said that the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister has had its head in the sand over the resolution of how flags are respectfully flown. His comments follow a statement by the PSNI saying that they will not interfere in flags disputes unless lives […]
Alliance Councillor Billy Webb has condemned those behind a security alert in the Cloughfern area of Newtownabbey. Councillor Billy Webb said: “This security alert has caused massive upheaval and must be condemned. “A number of families faced the trauma of being evacuated from their homes in the early hours of this morning. Commuters have also […]
Alliance East Antrim MLA, Stewart Dickson, has inspected the Cushendall Fire Station and called for the facility to be replacement with a fit for purpose building to serve the needs of a wide rural area. Mr Dickson said: “Knowing the northern end of my Constituency as I do, one cannot but be struck about the […]
Alliance East Belfast MLA Judith Cochrane will launch the Assembly All Party Group on SMEs at Stormont tomorrow. Judith, who will chair the group, hopes that it will act as a useful conduit between politicians and local businesses. It will also explore how the Northern Ireland political environment can assist and encourage all types of […]
Alliance Environment spokesperson Anna Lo MLA has voiced her opposition to two clauses of the Planning Bill. Anna has stated her intention to vote against two clauses that were inserted into the bill without public consultation. The two clauses would give extra weight to economic development over environmental protection or social well-being in planning applications. […]
Alliance Regional Development spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has said that the DRD Minister must reassure the public following fires on two trains in less than 24 hours. Fires broke out last night on the cross border Enterprise train and the Portadown train this morning. Nobody was injured in either incident. Stewart Dickson MLA said: “The […]
Alliance Social Development spokesperson Judith Cochrane has expressed her disappointment that the Social Development Minister has not sought to improve the housing proposal at the Girdwood site in North Belfast. Her comments follow the ending of a legal challenge to the scheme which means it can now go ahead. Alliance have been critical of the […]
Alliance Employment and Learning spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has said that more flexible parental leave arrangements can benefit working families. His comments were made as the Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry launched a consultation on shared parental leave. In England, Scotland and Wales parents will be able to split 50 weeks of leave following […]