Alliance Chief Whip and Carrickfergus Councillor, Sean Neeson, has called on Health Minister Tony Worthington to restore “essential” funding to Northern Ireland’s Library Services.

Alderman Neeson, who is a member of the Stormont Talks team and Northern Ireland Forum, urged Mr. Worthington to clarify his position in relation to the future of library funding.

The Carrickfergus Councillor, who raised a series of questions at a recent meeting of the Northrn Ireland Forum, also said that the issue of finance was of major importance to the people of Northern Ireland.

Alderman Neeson said: “As a former teacher, I recognise the crucial role of the library service. It provides a service to the pupils directly, but the development of a library in a school itself is equally important.

“However, I am concerned about any proposal to reduce the library service, which has faced very severe cut backs in recent times. Very often it is regarded as the Cinderella part of the system. This is wrong because it plays such an important role.

“I wonder if Mr. Worthington’s words, in which he said that libraries are one of the linchpins of cultural life, represent the true belief of the Minister or, more importantly, his Department.

“The Department of Education has proposed that education and library boards should reduce their expenditure on libraries in the coming year by an amount equivalent to 50 per cent of the budget available for the purchase of books.

“The library is the most used public service – it is used by more than half the population – and many of those who use it cannot afford to go anywhere else. And libraries provide resources for visually impaired people which they cannot get elsewhere. That is a desperately important aspect.

“And now the people of Northern Ireland must ask Mr. Worthington if the Government is serious when they publicly proclaim the benefits and advantages of the library system in Northern Ireland. The responsibility rests quite clearly with Tony Worthington.”

Alliance Leader Lord Alderdice, speaking at todays meeting of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in Dublin Castle has issued challenges to participants to face the realities of the Talks Process.

Lord Alderdice said:

“I welcome the increasing network of contacts which is part of the process of inclusivity necessary to build the peace which delegates here have been seeking since the Forums original inception. I therefore hope that not only will Unionists find their way to a future meeting of this Forum but also that Sinn Fein and the SDLP will join the Forum in Belfast so that all strands of opinion in Northern Ireland will have a meeting place.

“I share the hope and optimism which has been expressed by delegates this morning but there is also a need for realism. There will have to be changes to the Irish Constitution to remove the claim of jurisdiction over Northern Ireland. It is in any case a political rather than a legal claim. After all, the Irish Government has never tried to prosecute it through the International Court of Justice, for it has no proper legal basis in International Law. In return there will need to be North – South arrangements for both practical and political reasons. But let us be realistic. They will not have Executive powers. They may have Executive functions, but there will not be an incipient All Ireland Governmental arrangement. What is possible is an Inter Governmental Conference like the European Council of Ministers or the Anglo-Irish Inter Governmental Conference, but this is an expression of democratically accountable Executive functions, not simple Executive power.”

Lord Alderdice also challenged Sinn Fein to assist the International Body on Decommissioning by undertaking to put them in touch with those in the Republican Movement who have access to the weapons stocks.

He went on to suggest to the Irish Government that there was now a prospect of the creation of an island wide framework for Human Rights, by following the British Incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights. “The Republic will soon be the only signatory in Western Europe not to have incorporated the convention”, he said.

Concluding his remarks John Alderdice said “The aim of the Talks and of all of us is to try to build a community were everyone can feel at home in their own place, and I am increasingly optimistic that we can succeed”.

North Belfast Alliance Councillor Tom Campbell has called on the people of Whitewell to “remain calm” after last night’s early morning petrol bomb attack in the Van Dyke Road area of the City.

The Belfast City Councillor launched a scathing attack against those responsible for the attack and said:

“I utterly condemn this type of violence and I hope that anyone with information in relation to this terrible crime should contact the police before it’s too late. The people of the area have suffered for long enough.

“Those who are responsible for this attack don’t care who they harm and are only interested in stirring up sectarian hatred and tension in the area. But nothing can ever justify this type of behaviour.

“Alliance condemns the individuals who orchestrated and took part in this crime and I would again urge the residents from the area to step back from this hatred by living together in a peaceful atmosphere.”

The Alliance Leader Lord Alderdice has welcomed today’s meeting between the speaker of the House of Commons and Gerry Adams and Martin McGuiness.

John Alderdice said:

“We are living through a period of significant and hopefully positive change in the politics of these islands and it may be that both Sinn Fein and Parliament are finding it difficult to know how to deal with these changes.

“On one hand Provisional Sinn Fein, which have had so much given to it in recent times, is finding it hard to understand that they must conform to democracy as well as making demands of it. They have two representatives in a Parliament of almost two thousand and yet are demanding special privileges for themselves. The incessant demands for special attention for Sinn Fein are also evident in other areas.

“At the same time Parliament is not finding it easy to deal with Sinn Fein representatives who instead of boycotting, want to participate, and the speaker is placed in a very awkward position by the speed of these changes. I trust that more progress and more positive developments on all sides will lead to a resolution of this problem and a deepening and strengthening of democracy and the involvement of all sections of the community.”

South Antrim Alliance Councillor Brian McConnell has urged the Department of the Environment and the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company to declare their position in relation to Antrim’s Ulster Bar site.

Councillor McConnell, who tabled a series of questions to Environment Minister Lord Dubs at a special Council meeting last Wednesday, said it was necessary for the “relevant parties” to outline their plans for the area.

Mr. McConnell added that the DoE should re-consider the proposed construction of a modern bus station by initiating a development to meet the “commercial and retail” needs of the people of Antrim.

Councillor McConnell said: “We had a good and constructive meeting with Lord Dubs but I want to know where the DoE stands in relation to the development of the old Ulster Bar site.

“It must be developed in such a way as to facilitate the demands of the people of Antrim. And I think the minister should sit down with the DoE and look at the original concept once again.

“Many people may think that the construction of a modern bus station is a good idea. However, equally important is the need for the DoE and Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company to explore other avenues of thought.

“The site is an eye-sore and it’s essential for the development to proceed without any hindrance. We can’t allow this site to fester any longer. The public must be made aware about the current state of play of this site.

Delivery vehicles who visit Antrim’s commercial heartland should be restricted to different times of the day, South Antrim Alliance Councillor Brian McConnell has claimed.

Councillor McConnell, who was speaking at an Antrim Borough Council meeting with Environment Minister Lord Dubs last Wednesday, proposed a 10.30am delivery time on all goods vehicles visiting the town centre.

Mr. McConnell welcomed the Environment’s Minister’s views on public transport in Antrim, but said that shoppers were becoming increasingly concerned with the influx of heavy goods vehicles.

Councillor McConnell said: “I think the Minister should use his influence and persuade the Department of the Environment to look closely at the issue of public transport – particularly in relation to Antrim Town centre.

“We have a huge lorries in the town centre every day and more and more motorists are finding it increasingly difficult to gain access to the town – especially the town’s disabled drivers.

“I think the town needs support on this issue from the Minister and I don’t think it’s unrealistic for the DoE to allocate certain time limits for the delivery of retail and commercial goods.

“Overall, I believe this step would be a major boost to Antrim’s town centre and public transport system.”

Commenting upon the report that the attempt by Lord Cranborn to bring about cross-party Unionist agreement has failed, Alliance Spokesman Dr Philip McGarry has said that the last thing that Northern Ireland needs is either pan-unionism or pan-nationalism.

Dr McGarry said:

“The only way we shall achieve a real and lasting peace is to bring about an agreement that heels the bitter divide in our society. For this to come about moderate Unionists have a duty to come to an accommodation with moderate Nationalists and vice-versa. However, if instead nationalists continue to line up together and Unionists seek further Unionist Unity then all that will be achieved will be a deepening of division.”

Councillor David Ford, Alliance General Secretary, has described the procedures for the privatisation of Belfast International Airport as ‘disgraceful’.

David Ford, who is Councillor for the Aldergrove area, said: “It is clear that the sell-off was carried out in the interests of Conservative dogma, not in the interests of local people. The procedures which cost the public purse £50 million were disgraceful.

“I am also worried about the attitude of the present Government I don’t want to hear Lord Dubs blame the Treasury, rather than the DoE. I want to hear him say that Labour will stop all such sales.

“Lord Dubs is responsible for a huge range of public services including water. Will he give a commitment to stop the policy of selling of such assets?”

Alliance leader, Lord Alderdice, has paid tribute to Dick Spring, who has just announced his resignation as leader of the Irish Labour Party.

Lord Alderdice said, “I have worked with Dick Spring on and off for about ten years now, and find him a man of great ability and energy. I very much enjoyed his wry sense of humour and inevitably found meetings with him interesting, enjoyable and worthwhile. I have the greatest of respect for him and his ability and his loss as Labour leader will undoubtedly be the gain of wherever he chooses to take his future career. I believe that history will judge him not only one of the most influential but also one of the more positive influences in Irish politics in his generation.”