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Close slams Paisley's bluster

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29 September 1997
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Seamus Close, deputy leader of the Alliance Party has slammed Ian Paisley for his comments that he would bring down the talks process.

“Dr Paisley should get real and stop his bluster. Years ago this gentleman told us all he would smash Sinn Fein, destroy the Anglo-Irish agreement etc. Now he claims he is going to destroy the present talks process. I have no doubt that he’ll be as successful with the latter as he was with the former.

“Does Dr Paisley not have one constructive thought in his head? Is it all destructive and negative?”

Close welcomes Unionist move

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17 September 1997
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Seamus Close, Deputy Leader of the Alliance Party has welcomed the Unionist decision to re-enter Castle Buildings.

“The arrival of the Ulster Unionist Party at Castle Buildings is an encouraging step which demonstrates progress. This opens the real possibility of us all getting down to substantive talks which is the desire of the vast majority of the people of Northern Ireland.”

Markethill bomb condemned

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16 September 1997
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Alliance Party Chief Whip, Alderman Sean Neeson, has condemned today’s bomb attack at Markethill as a blatant attempt by terrorists to destroy the talks on Northern Ireland’s future at Castle Buildings.

Ald Neeson says, “This outrageous attack should strengthen the resolve of Talks participants to move the process forward, and in particular I would urge the Ulster Unionist Party to stop the play acting and participate seriously in the talks at Castle Buildings.”

Close refutes Mowlam's comments

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16 September 1997
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Seamus Close, deputy leader of the Alliance Party has refuted the Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam’s comments that all parties were largely satisfied with responses to questions put to Sinn Fein last night.

“While the Secretary of State, and the Irish Foreign Minister, Mr Ray Burke may claim to be satisfied with Sinn Fein’s responses to questions posed at the plenary session of talks last night, I as Deputy Leader of the Alliance Party would like to make it clear beyond any doubt that neither I nor my party are satisfied with Sinn Fein’s replies on the issue.

“Gerry Adams studiously avoided answering any questions which we repeatedly posed and dodged and weaved like an accomplished ballerina

“For the Secretary of State to allege that his responses were ‘full and comprehensive’ displays a flawed understanding of the meaning of those words and an interpretation with which I would not agree.”

DOE cuts slammed

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3 March 1997
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The Alliance Party in North Belfast has hit out at what it has claimed as cut backs in the Department of the Environment Budget for North Belfast.

Tom Campbell, who is the Party’s Chairman in the area and a former Councillor, said:?? “I have raised a number of issues with he Road Service and I believe that the response reflects cut backs in spending in this area. For example I have raised the issue of resurfacing in Hopefield Avenue and I have also sought new street lighting in the Upper Cavehill area. In both cases the Department has indicated that it is not prepared to spend the money required to give these areas a satisfactory service. For example, in the Upper Cavehill area the street lighting is poor and this represents danger to pedestrians at night.”

Mr Campbell concluded:?? “I note that Cecil Walker has remerged form hiding to issue a statement condemning education cuts part of the problem with expenditure from the public purse is that the Government have made it clear that the £80 million damage to the economy as a result of the Drumcree stand off will have to come out of existing budgets. It is of some significance that the Unionist Leader David Trimble is planning further activity at Drumcree this summer, the consequences of which could result in further damage to the economy, to community relations and to the services we expect from government.”

Alliance calls for open space

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3 March 1997
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Commenting on the DUP and Ulster Unionist decision to cut Castlereagh’s rates by 2.67p or %, Alliance Party Councillor Margaret Marshall stated that the people of Castlereagh South needed play areas and parkland.

Councillor Marshall said: “Our area has been over developed and the Council should be providing amenities for the residents, both new and old.

“The sports Council recommends 2.4 hectares of land for recreation for every 1000 people. Over 1500 new house have been built here recently with no green areas left.

“The Castlereagh Economic Development Partnership is working hard to create employment in Castlereagh. It is ironic that at the same time the Council will be cutting employees working hours and putting jobs at risk.”

Summer scheme withdrawal causes concern

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3 March 1997
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Peninsula Councillor, Kieran McCarthy has criticised the decision of the SEELB to do away with summer facilities for children with learning difficulties.

Cllr McCarthy who is the Alliance Party Spokesman on Disability and the parent of a disabled daughter said:

“The withdrawal of this scheme will be a severe blow to both the parents and the child. It is important that the continuous physical and educational needs of the child is kept going during the long summer school holidays and of course it is also important that parents and carers of these youngsters get sufficient help and respite opportunities.

“I realise the problems faced by the Education Board and indeed pay tribute to them for the work and effort which they have put into Summer Schemes over the past number of years, but by withdrawing the schemes they would leave a vacuum for all concerned and I suggest that perhaps the local Health Trusts might consult with the Education Boards and hopefully come up with something that would satisfy the needs for summer activity for youngsters with a learning difficulty and their parents.”

NI MEPs worse attendance records: Neeson

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3 February 1997
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Alliance Party Spokesman on European Affairs, Alderman Sean Neeson, claims that Northern Irelands MEP’s should not also be Westminster MP’s in view of the fact that they have the worst attendance records of any other country in the European Parliament.

Mr Neeson said:

“The European Union is having a much greater influence on our everyday life and it is vital that Northern Ireland has representatives who are totally dedicated to putting forward our case on a daily basis whether in the Parliament or its corridors. This ambivalent attitude to the Parliament is not in the best interests of Northern Ireland or the United Kingdom as a whole.”

Survival of the fittest

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3 February 1997
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Alliance Education Spokesman, Cllr Eileen Bell, speaking at last Friday’s Debate at the Forum on the government’s decision to scrap the ACE Schemes said:

“Over the last number of months, this Forum has debated and discussed its concerns over various government proposals on Health, Education, Social and Economic issues and the Elderly. This latest initiative to abolish the ACE Schemes is another example of the government’s basic intention to undermine those who are most disadvantaged in our society and confirms the impression that their overall policy seems to be the “survival of the fittest”.

“The ACE Schemes were designed specifically for the long term unemployed, a section of our people that have been called “the forgotten”. While it is accepted that the Schemes were not perfect they did obviously bring a feeling of self worth and esteem to those people who through not fault of their own were not able to get full-time or even permanent employment.

“Society in general also benefits from ACE workers and in my own area of North Down I do know that there are a large number of small but significant schemes in communities like Kilcooley, Holywood etc. that will have to go to the wall if these Schemes are cut back. This will have reprecussions with old peoples’ lunch clubs, visiting the elderly and mothers and toddlers groups to name but a few.

“I do urge the Training & Employment Agency to acceed to the request from the Northern Ireland Federation of ACE Schemes to release the document which outlines the review of the system and should have been issued some time ago. I also urge Baroness Denton to have a serious re-think about this proposal and realise that it is not just the ACE workers that will suffer but whole communities.”

Peninsula councillor makes appeal to Northern Ireland Forum

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11 November 1996
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Alliance Councillor, Kieran McCarthy, made an impassioned plea to the members of the Forum at its weekly sitting on Friday, namely the shame of the so called savings on service and safety.

Cllr McCarthy said:

“So called savings or more accurately described as savage but backs by government on our health service has completely annihilated the NHS and we have for all to see a two tier health service to the eternal shamed this Tory Government. The latest effect is now being felt on patients of non fund holding GP’s who cannot have their surgery but are placed on a long long waiting list to suffer unnecessary pain and discomfort. This is a shame on Malcolm Moss and his government and call for the restoration of total equality to all members of our society. Mr Moss told us there is no crisis in the Health Service. Let him ask those who suffer. Another concern of Councillor McCarthy is the question of safety as it relates to public transport.

“Every year at the start of the new school term we experience a real problem of overcrowding on school buses giving rise to possible dangers to all passengers and on a grossly overcrowded bus all safety regulations are tossed overboard and undue responsibility placed on the skills of the driver. Certainly pupils from the Ards Peninsula and indeed many other parts are crammed on to a 53 seater bus which at times can well exceed the acceptable limit. One terrible example of overcrowding was related to where a 53 seater bus was so full a young pupil had to stand on the step just inside the closed door of that bus. I say, and I’m sure every member of the Forum would agree that this is totally unacceptable. Why should our young people be exposed to such dangers. Again a case putting so called savings before safety.

“Finally safety on another mode of transport. Namely the Portaferry/Strangford Ferry Service. Again, probably because of cut back in resources, passengers have expressed deep concern about their safety while using this service. Users which include many school children of this essential service on a twice daily basis do feel that safety standards on this short sea crossing, has deteriorated in recent times, and by brining these concerns to this Forum it is hoped and indeed we appeal to the Department of the Environment to ensure that every safety precaution s taken and to update their maintenance programme on a more regular basis.

“All three aspects of service and safety for our community has been put in jeopardy and we call on the relevant authorities to instigate immediate remedies namely sufficient funding to be released to avoid disaster. We call on Mr Moss to save our services.”