Long welcomes excellent news on Air Passenger Duty

East Belfast Alliance MP Naomi Long has hailed Chancellor George Osborne’s announcement that Air Passenger Duty will be cut for direct long-haul routes from Northern Ireland airports. The move helps safeguard the future of the Continental Airlines route between Belfast and New York. Naomi Long MP said: “This is a very positive day for business […]

Lyttle concerns over Social Investment Fund launch

Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle, also Deputy Chair of the OFMdFM Committee, has welcomed the consultation on the Social Investment Fund, but expressed his concern for the manner in which the initiative was launched. Alliance MLA, Chris Lyttle said: “I welcome additional resources that will help tackle unemployment, deprivation, and dereliction, as these are urgent issues […]

Dickson says NI Water must answer questions on profit

Alliance Regional Development Spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has said the public will want assurances that NI Water infrastructure has been improved enough to withstand freezing conditions after news of an increase in their profit. In 2010 their profit was £57m and it has increased to £80m. Stewart Dickson MLA said: “People will want answers as […]

Lunn says education revolution needed to focus on integration and sharing

Alliance Education Spokesperson Trevor Lunn MLA has said that a revolution in the education system is needed to deliver more shared and integrated education. His comments come following Education Minister John O’Dowd’s speech to the Assembly on the Next Steps for Education. Trevor Lunn MLA said: “John O’Dowd seems to be missing the biggest opportunity […]

Clarke concerned at delay in Maghera Flooding Incident Report’

Newcastle Alliance Councillor Patrick Clarke has voiced his concern at the ongoing delay in the completion of flood incident report for Maghera village DARD Rivers Agency is still in the process of completing investigations into flooding which occurred in Maghera back in 2008. However to date investigations into Maghera have not yet been fully completed. […]

Muir calls for action to tackle abandoned advertising lorries

North Down Alliance Councillor Andrew Muir has called for a coordinated government response to tackle problem concerning advertising lorries abandoned on bridges across main roads across Northern Ireland. The Alliance representative has raised the issue as a result of on-going problem with many lorries abandoned on the Holywood Exchange Flyover on the A2 Bangor to […]

Dickson says it’s crucial that New York flight is maintained

Alliance Regional Development Spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA says it’s vital that strong action is taken by the Treasury on Air Passenger Duty to ensure that the Belfast-New York flight can be retained. Stewart Dickson MLA said: “Maintaining this air route is crucial to our economy and Alliance MP Naomi Long has been working very hard […]

Lyttle supports Childminder of the Year Award

Alliance East Belfast MLA Chris Lyttle has encouraged parents to nominate their childminders for the childminder of the year award sponsored by Cow and Gate and supported by the Northern Ireland Childminding Association. East Belfast MLA Chris Lyttle said: “Childminders play a vital role in our society, without whom, many parents would not be able […]

Long calls for Secretary of State to urgently arrange talks on dealing with the past

Alliance Deputy Leader Naomi Long MP has today called for the Secretary of State Owen Paterson to arrange talks between the political parties here urgently to broker agreement on how to deal with the legacy of the past. She said consensus on the issue must be found as soon as possible so that the needs […]