Alliance Party Vice Chair and Sports Spokesperson Michael Long has blasted Direct Rule Ministers and the last devolved Minister for failing to act to stop racism and sectarianism at local football matches. He stated that Alliance has been campaigning for a number of years for the introduction of legislation similar to the Football Offences Act […]
Alliance Leader David Ford has gained assurances from the Department of Health that the Assembly will be able to opt-out of the flawed national health recruitment scheme for medical staff. At a meeting in the City Hospital last Thursday, the system (MTAS) was criticised by a number of doctors and described as a disaster for […]
Alliance East Londonderry Representative, Cllr Barney Fitzpatrick, has expressed concern that the establishment on 1st April 2007 of the government owned company – Northern Ireland Water Limited – is the first step towards privatisation of the provision of water and sewerage services. Councillor Fitzpatrick said: “Access to water is a basic right which the Government […]
Alliance Party Health Spokesperson Kieran McCarthy MLA has stated that decisions regarding the number of health departments locally should have been left to the Assembly. He stated that given the significance of the decision, it should have been made locally. The number of Health Trusts in Northern Ireland has today been reduced to 5 from […]
Alliance Party Assembly Health Spokesperson Kieran McCarthy has said the scale of the jobs losses in the health sector indicate the Government is more interested in cost-cutting than improving front-line services. The Strangford MLA stated: “At a human level, it is a total and utter disgrace that these jobs losses have been announced so late […]
Alliance Leader David Ford has expressed grave concerns that the new training scheme for junior doctors is damaging the career prospects of many of them and is dangerous for the future of patient care. David Ford said: “I attended last night’s meeting of junior doctors in the City Hospital, already aware of the difficulties that […]
Alliance Sustainability Spokesperson Alan Lawther has stated that the new Assembly has a golden opportunity to put Northern Ireland at the top of the environmental league table. He stated that with extra funding and new legislation we can lead the way in renewable energy systems. The Antrim Councillor said: “The new Assembly gives Northern Ireland […]
Alliance Leader David Ford has said that since Monday’s devolution deal, the DUP and Sinn Fein have talked of a shared future in government, but only Alliance has pledged and planned to do so. The only way to create a real shared future is to end segregation in Northern Ireland. David Ford said: “The DUP […]
Alliance East Londonderry Representative, Barney Fitzpatrick, has expressed concern about the high level of fatalities on our roads and has stated that the new Assembly must make tackling road deaths a key priority. Barney Fitzpatrick is a retired Senior Road Traffic Police Officer. Councillor Fitzpatrick said: “The new Assembly must treat the problem of death […]
Commenting on the UDA’s expulsion of two members today, Alliance Spokesperson Cllr Tom Campbell has stated that they must shut down now and said that hollow gestures like today’s mean very little. The UDA have expelled Gary Fisher and Tommy Kirkham, who last year demanded 8.5 million pounds of government funding for loyalist paramilitaries. Newtownabbey […]