East Belfast Alliance MP Naomi Long has welcomed the offer by the UK government of a direct loan to the Irish government saying that many jobs and much investment in Northern Ireland is dependent on the stability of the Irish economy and their banks. She asked a question in Westminster on this exact issue last […]
Alliance Party Finance Spokesperson, Stephen Farry MLA, has called upon the Executive to redirect some resources from current expenditure to capital expenditure within the draft Budget for 2011/12-2014/15 which is currently under negotiation. Given that the capital budget allocation in the Block Grant was cut deeper than expected while the current budget allocation suffered slightly […]
Local Alliance MLA David Ford and local Alliance Councillor Neil Kelly have expressed shock at news of a shooting incident in Antrim town last night. Shots were fired though the kitchen window of a house in Portlee Walk, and a man in his 40s and a couple in their 20s were in the house at […]
Alliance Sustainability Spokesperson Cllr Alan Lawther has hit out at Revenue and Customs for spending £170.000 on bottled water, and said this practice is inexcusable given the tough financial times we are in. The figures which outline all spending over £25,000 in every government department since the formation of the new Westminster government were published […]
Anna Lo has been selected by the Alliance Party to stand in the next Assembly election in the South Belfast constituency. She also said that South Belfast needs MLAs who are focused on the Assembly and not juggling their time between Westminster and Stormont. Anna Lo said: “I am extremely pleased to have been chosen […]
Following calls by some Belfast councillors to close Connswater Community Centre, the Alliance Party has said the centre should be given a chance to prove its worth and fulfil its potential for the community. Cllr Laura McNamee is planning to arrange meetings with the East Belfast Mission and with Belfast City Council to discuss the […]
Alliance Party Finance Spokesperson, Stephen Farry MLA, has pointed to the publication of a draft budget by the Scottish Executive as an indication on how far Northern Ireland has fallen behind and has again highlighted the dangers from budget brinkmanship. Dr Stephen Farry MLA stated: “The announcement by the Scottish Executive by a draft Budget […]
East Belfast Alliance MP Naomi Long has today asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mark Hoban MP, to give consideration to Northern Ireland businesses and jobs that could be placed in jeopardy if the problems in the Irish economy and banking sector are not resolved. Naomi Long MP said: “So many people, businesses and […]
On the day that monthly figures were released showing an increase by 400 in the number of people claiming unemployment benefit here, Alliance Employment Spokesperson Chris Lyttle says this is extremely worrying given that Northern Ireland had the highest monthly rise out of all the regions of the UK. He said these figures demonstrated the […]
On the day that the Stormont Education Committee is discussing Early Years, Alliance Education Spokesperson Trevor Lunn MLA has said it’s essential government listens to stakeholders and gets the strategy right. Lagan Valley MLA Trevor Lunn said: “Early Years is one of the key areas which, with adequate investment, could help save us a lot […]