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Author Archives: Alliance Party News

Alliance backs Lords reform

By
15 October 1998
Alliance Youth, Press

Alliance Youth Affairs Spokesperson, Michael Long, has indicated his support for the debate on reforming the House of Lords during which the Governmemt has decided to abolish hereditary peerages.

Mr Long welcomed this decision saying:

“It is high time that this institution was overhauled so that the second chamber at Westminister is more representative of the general public. This decision to abolish hereditary peerages is a step in the right direction as this group is totally unrepresentative of the public at large. Apparently 45% of them were educated at Eton whilst both women and young people are hugely under represented.

“The Alliance Party believe that abolition of hereditary peerages should be followed to further reform so that the second chamber is more inclusive, so better fulfilling its function as a check on the government.

“It is time that those from all social classes and both genders were represented more fully, and as youth affairs spokesperson I feel that it is vital that all age groups are more equally represented through the appointment of more younger members. This will mean that the views of young people can be better heard and so more effectively represented.”

Alliance welcomes salt reduction

By
15 October 1998
Press

The Consumer Affairs Spokesperson for the Alliance Party Jan Campbell, has welcomed the recent announcement from the supermarket chain ASDA that their suppliers of own branded goods have been asked to reduce the salt levels in certain foods.

Jan Campbell said:

“This is great news for the consumer as 80% of our salt intake is already in the food we eat, especially in processed foods. This makes it difficult to reduce what can be a potentially lethal substance for those with blood pressure and heart condition.

“The lower salt products will be a healthier alternative offering the choice for the consumer to add salt if required as previously the salt was being added by the manufacturer. Hopefully the supermarket chains in Northern Ireland will follow suit and people in Northern Ireland will be offered a similar choice.”

Constable O'Reilly "a victom of naked sectarianism": Neeson

By
6 October 1998
Press

Alliance Party Leader, Sean Neeson has expressed his deep sorrow at the death of Constable O’Reilly, and has extended his sympathy to the family.

Mr Nesson said:

“Constable O’Reilly is a victim of the poison of naked sectarianism which flaunts itself daily on the streets of Portadown.

“I plead to all those involved in the conflict there to get round the table and to sort out their difficulties.

“Otherwise I fear that further sorrow will be inflicted on other innocent families.”

Neeson hits out at vandals

By
29 September 1998
Press

ALLIANCE Party Leader Sean Neeson has slammed whoever was responsible for last weekend’s attack at St. Comgall’s Intermediate School in Larne.

And Mr. Neeson – who is an assembly member for East Antrim – has called on the North Easter and Education and Library Board to provide security cameras at the school.

The Alliance Party Leader, a former teacher of history at the school, believes that the installation of cameras might prevent vandals from targeting the school in the future.

Mr. Neeson, who visited the ransacked school yesterday afternoon, also urged vandals to think about the “terrible consequences” of their actions.

“I would like to condemn this wanton destruction and ask these people to think about the devastating effect their actions are having on the local community,” said Mr. Neeson.

“We must not tolerate this type of behaviour and I would urge the NEELB to seriously consider the possibility of using cameras at the schools.

“I think this action is necessary because the school, which is situated in an isolated area, has been attacked on numerous occasions.

“Extensive damage has been caused at the school and as a former teacher, it breaks my heart to hear about these type of attacks.

“I hope the police are successful in apprehending the culprits and I hope we have seen the last of such attacks.

“However I will still be calling on the education board to install the cameras – sooner rather than later,” added the assemblyman.

McCarthy calls for establishment of civic forum

By
29 September 1998
Press

STRANGFORD Assemblyman Kieran McCarthy has urged Northern Ireland’s new government to speed up the process of establishing a civic forum.

The Alliance Party representative said that such a body would help boost the peace process and make the assembly more “accountable”.

He said that, with community, business and voluntary representatives on board, the people of Northern Ireland would help create a “much better” future.

And Mr. McCarthy further claimed that – when the new structure is finally up an running – the people of County Down will also have an important role to play in its implementation.

“Assembly members may have the duty of governing Northern Ireland – but the people will also have an important role to play,” explained the Assemblyman.

“I firmly believe that a civic forum, where members of the assembly and the population work together, would be of vital importance to the people of Northern Ireland.

“We know that the civic forum is high on the agenda of the assembly members – but it’s essential that the tempo of this process is increased.

“We have seen how successful the partnerships involving the business, community, voluntary and political sector has been in recent years – and this must continue.

“I think that the people of Northern Ireland and the people of Co. Down will all contribute positively to the civic forum.

“For it is clear that all of our assembly members should make moves to establish this body where everyone can have their say on how we are governed.”

Alliance hits out at Cairnshill house build decision

By
9 September 1998
Press

A FORMER Castlereagh councillor has expressed outrage at the Environment Minister’s decision to allow 550 homes to be built in Cairnshill.

And Mrs. Margaret Marshall, who is the chairperson of the Alliance Party’s Castlereagh South Association, has called on the Department of the Environment to build a suitable play area in the borough.

Speaking after the announcement from Lord Dubs, the Alliance spokeswoman said:

“I absolutely deplore the DoE’s decision to build 550 new homes in the Cairnshill area of Castlereagh – it is an absolute disgrace.

“I attended the public inquiry in 1997 as an objector to the building of more homes and I emphasised the need for a children’s play area. And even though I attended the public inquiry, I have to hear of the minister’s decision from the media.

“1,500 new homes have already been built in this area and there is not one single play area for the children. However, I also think a public park should be built in the Cairnshill area – not more private dwellings.

“The DoE have always given planning permission without any requirements for open space, cycle tracks and play areas – so why can’t they do it in the Cairnshill area.”

Meanwhile the former councillor has called on Lord Dubs to build a “much needed” community centre in Cairnshill and urged DoE chiefs to allocate land for the centre “immediately”.

Bell urges Assembly Members to "work tirelessly" for North Down

By
9 September 1998
Press

NORTH Down shadow assembly members will have to work “tirelessly” for the benefit of the constituency, a leading member of the Alliance Party said today.

Mrs. Eileen Bell said it was essential for the borough’s Alliance, Ulster Unionist, Women’s Coalition and United Kingdom Unionist assembly members to work together for everyone in the area.

But the Alliance Party Chairperson also pointed out that the North Down assembly members must work harder to remove what, she says is, the “gold coast” image of the borough.

Mrs. Bell insists that if the borough’s assembly members strive to improve the image of the borough – then the possibility of more economic investment will be greatly enhanced.

Speaking after attending yesterday’s meeting of assembly members at Stormont, Mrs. Bell said that “only time will tell” if her fellow politicians are prepared to work together.

“Whilst recognising that it is our duty to take an interest in the wider problems facing Northern Ireland – we still have an obligation to protect the interests of our constituencies,” she said.

“And as an assembly member for North Down, I will be doing my best to improving the image of the borough and I will be listening to what people have to say.

“Many people throughout Northern Ireland often refer to this constituency as the ‘gold coast’ but this is totally wrong and totally inaccurate.

“It might be a more prosperous area compared to other parts of Northern Ireland but it still needs more investment.

“I raised this matter with delegates from the US Presidential team when they visited Northern Ireland last week. However, I will be still pressing from more economic investment when the assembly reconvenes on Monday,” added Mrs. Bell.

Scots Guard releases are "insensitive": Alliance

By
2 September 1998
Press

Gerry Lynch, Chairperson of North Belfast Alliance, has branded the
Secretary of State’s Handling of the release of Guardsmen Fisher and Wright
as ‘grossly insensitive’.

Gerry said:

“The early release of prisoners is never easy, but to release these men so
close to the anniversary of Mr McBride’s death is grossly insensitive. The
insufficient notice given to the McBride family about the releases raises
very serious questions about both the NIO and the Secretary of State’s
handling of this case.

“71% of people in Northern Ireland backed the Good Friday Agreement, which
included prisoner releases. In that context the release of Messrs Wright
and Fisher was essential. However, their convictions remain, and it would
be deeply worrying if people convicted of murder were allowed to remain
serving with the armed forces.”

Dickson heralds American visit as "great success"

By
11 August 1998
Press

ALDERMAN Stewart Dickson has described his recent visit to the American states of Florida and New Hampshire as a “great success”.

The Alliance Party delegate, accompanied by Councillor David Hillditch and Alderman Jim Brown, jetted off to America on July 24th to attend the prestigious ‘Sister Cities Convention’.

The convention, held in Florida and organised to highlight the positive aspects of towns and cities from around the world, featured workshops and lectures on a wide range of issues.

Tourism, economics, education, politics, cross-party relations and the environment were just some of the issues discussed at the convention.

Although the convention was “extremely important” to the Carrickfergus team, Mr. Dickson also described his meeting with representatives in the New Hampshire state of Portsmouth as “equally important”.

The Carrickfergus councillors spent the first week in Florida before embarking on their trip to Portsmouth where they discussed plans to organise transatlantic educational visits and websites.

Councillor Dickson, who returned from the visit last weekend, is now hoping to continue with the contact they established in Portsmouth.

“After the recent spate of trouble in the town, it was good to see something positive happening for Carrickfergus,” said the Alliance man.

“The convention enabled us to develop links with other cities and many of the delegates were impressed with what Carrickfergus had to offer.

“We were intending – despite the recent negative images of Carrickfergus – to set the record straight and inform the Americans of the positive aspects of our town.

“The convention was a great way of understanding other towns, cities and countries and I hope we can put our experience to good use,” added Alderman Dickson.

But Alderman Dickson, who narrowly missed out on a seat on the Northern Ireland shadow assembly, said the visit to Portsmouth would also stand as one of the “highlights” of the visit.

He said: “The convention we attended was a memorable experience – but so too was our visit to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

“Portsmouth is the sister city of Carrickfergus and many of the delegates we met were determined to launch various projects between the two towns.

“An educational visit has been planned for next year but delegates from Portsmouth are also keen to establish a web-site between the two towns.

“Our visit to Portsmouth made front page news and we were also on television. Overall, the visit was a tremendous success and I hope that Carrickfergus is now seen in a better light.”

Alliance praises conservation volunteers

By
11 August 1998
Press

MEMBERS of the Conservation Volunteers should be commended by Carrickfergus Borough Council for their refurbishment work along the Blackhead Path, according to a local councillor.

The Alliance Party’s Robin Cavan, who is a councillor for the Kilroot area of the borough, made the claim after visiting the historic path last weekend.

He described the work by the volunteers as “tremendous” and said the council should take “immediate steps” to honour the group’s efforts.

Assisted by a £5,000 grant from Carrickfergus Borough Council, the conservationists have worked on the path’s ‘golden stairs’ and have constructed a drainage channel to cope with outbreaks of heavy rain.

Councillor Cavan, who is a constant visitor to the path, also said the work carried out by the volunteers will be a “major boost” to walkers and ramblers in across East Antrim.

“After visiting the path last weekend, and viewing the work that was carried out by the conservation volunteers, I think it is only proper that the local council should commend the group,” said Mr. Cavan.

“The money they received from the council has been put to good use and they have worked tirelessly to refurbish the path.

“Their work means that all types of people will be able to enjoy the path and I hope that people do use it because it has a lot to offer.

“It is a vital part of the borough’s tourist industry and the walk along the path is both pleasurable and enjoyable for people of all ages,” he added.