People should not have to prove they only have a number of months to live before being able to claim certain benefits, Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has said, ahead of an Assembly motion calling for an end to what she called a “cruel” rule. The Alliance Communities spokesperson was speaking ahead of her party bringing […]
A consequence of rising coronavirus cases will be further delays to waiting lists for other procedures, Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has said. The South Belfast MLA was speaking after a further 934 cases of COVID-19 were announced by the Department of Health, over twice the previous daily high, with one further death. “The […]
Legal action from the EU against the UK is the inevitable consequence of the UK Government’s refusal to remove its “outrageous and extraordinary” threat to breach international law, Alliance MP Stephen Farry has said. The North Down MP was speaking after the letter of formal notice was sent from the EU, after its deadline for […]
Alliance Councillor Sian Mulholland will highlight the plight of the creative industries across Belfast at a Council meeting tonight, as the pandemic, lockdown and subsequent restrictions have left the sector in crisis. Speaking as the delay in rolling out an allocated £29 million in funding continues, Sian added the potential loss of knowledge, skills and […]
The entirety of Ballymena is devastated following the death of a 12-year-old girl in a house fire, Alliance Councillor Patricia O’Lynn has said. She was speaking after the child died at the property in Staffa Drive in the Ballykeel area following the fire at 5:50pm yesterday (Wednesday). A man who was in the house at […]
East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson has condemned all those behind a suspected petrol bomb attack in the Carrickfergus area. Police are investigating motives for the attack on a home in Schomberg Court, where a woman and boy escaped injury. The Alliance representative said: “This attack on a woman and a boy is completely unacceptable and […]
A review into planning legislation should be started without delay, Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has said. The North Down MLA was speaking after the Assembly’s Infrastructure Committee discussed the terms of the review, which was scheduled to start in 2018 and is expected to conclude by March 2021. Mr Muir said he hoped […]
Alliance MP Stephen Farry has expressed deep concern after the House of Commons passed the Third Stage of the UK Internal Market Bill, with clauses breaching international law. Earlier, MPs had voted 354-256 against a proposed amendment from Dr Farry, which tried to leave out the controversial Clause 45, which the North Down MP said […]
Urgent and decisive action is needed to stop the education system failing children with special educational needs (SEN), Chris Lyttle MLA has said, after the Auditor General reiterated the Alliance Education spokesperson’s call for an urgent review of SEN. A report by the Audit Office into progress made by the Department of Education and Education […]
It is important the Education Authority and Public Health Agency provide more clarity on the reasoning behind a two-week closure of a school in Bangor, Alliance representatives have said. Andrew Muir MLA and Councillor Connie Egan were speaking after St Comgall’s Primary School closed for two weeks after several cases of coronavirus were identified. The […]