McConnell welcomes Ulster Bar announcement

By
23 December 1997
Press

South Antrim Alliance Councillor Brian McConnell has welcomed the Northern Ireland Trading Company’s decision to look at alternative sites in relation to the development of a bus terminal, library and commercial facilities in Antrim.

Councillor McConnell praised the decision – which appeared as a public notice advertisement this week – and said that people should be encouraged by the company’s decision to investigate “all avenues” of development.

The Antrim Councillor said: “The question of an alternative site – other than the Ulster Bar site – has to be encouraged. It seems to me that the tone of the advertisement recognises the need to investigate another possible site.

“I am encouraged by the public notice because it doesn’t just concentrate on one area for possible development. It’s also encouraging that the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company is not fixed on just one idea.

“However, I think that the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company will have to discuss the issue with Antrim Borough Council. And I also welcome the announcement of a project briefing session which has been announced for January 6.”

Alliance condemns Whitehill shooting

By
22 December 1997
Press

North Down Alliance Councillor, Stephen Farry has condemned the so-called ‘punishment’ attack in the Whitehill Estate on Saturday and described it as a profoundly worrying development.

Stephen Farry said:

“This shooting in Whitehill is a profoundly worrying development. It is notable that it occurred near to the location where various paramilitary groups pasted threatening notices back in September.

“There seems to have been an increase in the number of so-called punishment beatings and shootings in the North Down area during 1997.

“They should be described as ‘so-called’ because the thugs that are responsible for these incidents have no legitimacy nor authority to carry out anything no matter what their victim is alleged to have done.

“There is never any justice involved. The ‘accused’ is entitled to no defence. Thugs act as judge, jury and executioneer. The ‘punishment’ dished out constitutes torture, and would be judged as a breach of human rights in most societies.

“There are clearly many social problems to be tackled in North Down and frustrations are building up. However, the only authorities that can provide solutions are the police, housing executive and social services.”

McGarry seeks paramilitaries' position on Mitchell Principles

By
22 December 1997
Press

Commenting upon the six shootings which have taken place over the last two weeks. Alliance Spokesman Dr Philip McGarry has called upon Sinn Fein, the PUP and UDP to clarify their position with regard to the Mitchell Principles.

Dr McGarry said:

“The Mitchell principles state clearly that participants at the Talks must be committed exclusively to democratic means. The reality however is that there has been a recent upsurge in shootings by paramilitary groups as well as a number of serious beatings.

“If these shootings or serious assaults had been carried out by the Army or the RUC their would be vociferous complaints from Sinn Fein, the PUP and the UDP. I call upon these three parties to clarify whether or not they are totally committed to the Mitchell Principles.”

Farm payments too little, too late: Alliance

By
22 December 1997
Press

Commenting on todays statement by the Minister of Agriculture , Councillor David Ford, Alliance Spokesperson on Agriculture, said:

“Dr Cunningham’s Christmas present to farmers is nothing but a sick joke – tokenism of the worst sort. It is far too little and far too late to address the problems of farmers in every section of agriculture across the UK.

“Northern Ireland alone needed £12 million on HLCAs. Suckler cow and ewe premiums needed to be significantly increased. Something needed to be done for other farmers – dairy, arable and pig producers – to offset the effects of the green pound.

“It is clear that this Government has no concern whatever for such a vital sector of the economy. Little wonder that the Secretary of State and Lord Dubs were not prepared to meet farmers last Friday at Stormont.”

Maximise railway benefits: Ford

By
19 December 1997
Press

South Antrim Alliance Councillor David Ford has welcomed a Sustainable New Housing Group claim which refers to the development of land – alongside the ‘Bleach Green Line’ – by Northern Ireland Railways.

Councillor Ford, who is the Alliance Party spokesman on rural development, said the proposal should be welcomed as part of the ‘Bleach Green Line’ planning and development strategy.

Councillor Ford said: “Antrim continues to be designated as a major growth area – especially in relation to the ‘Bleach Green Line’. Any potential development would be of immense importance to the people of Antrim.

“I understand that by purchasing the land, NIR could then sell off the land to developers and allocate the profit to the development of the railway scheme. This could overcome some of the current funding difficulties.

“Although NIR may not wish to act as a land developer, it is important that any future development in the South Antrim area – including Antrim, Crumlin, Templepatrick, Ballyclare and Glengormley – make maximum use of public transport.

“There is a major traffic and commuter problem between our area and Belfast which cannot be solved by roads improvements alone. It is also essential that all types of development are thoroughly investigated.”

£2 million Harryville policing cost "totally unacceptable": McGarry

By
17 December 1997
Press

Alliance Spokesman Dr Philip McGarry has said that the £2 million cost of Policing at the Harryville Protest is “totally unacceptable”.

“The RUC have made it clear that this massive amount of money means that resources are not available for other policing activities such as the prevention and detection of crime and the drugs problem which is very severe in the Ballymena area.

“This protest is not a legitimate or a reasonable demonstration. It is in fact a crude form of bullying and intimidation and is trying to prevent people from attending their weekly church service.

“The major responsibility rests with senior Unionist Politicians, especially those in the Orange Order, to say and do much more in order to bring an end to this totally unacceptable and anti democratic activity.”

Alliance Belfast City Council motion on cultural diversity

By
15 December 1997
Press

The Alliance Group on Belfast City Council have submitted the following motion for discussion at this weeks Policy and Resources Committee meeting to be held this Friday 19 December.

The motion reads:

Belfast City Council notes the rich diversity of Cultural traditions present in the city, notes in particular the value attached to the Irish language by many citizens, and recognises the need for the council to deal with issues of cultural diversity in a positive and inclusive manner.

Policy and Resources accordingly agrees to establish a sub committee, initially for a period to conclude at the AGM in 1999, to consider and make recommendations on the councils approach to the Irish language and issues of cultural diversity.

Commenting on the initiative, Councillor Mervyn Jones, Leader of the Alliance Group said:

“For to long the Irish Language and Cultural Traditions have been used as political weapons , served on groups on either side as ammunition for use against the other. Alliance is now in a unique position in Belfast City Council to enunciate this proposal , and to ensure that these issues are dealt with positively in the future. The initiative is further proof of Alliance’s determination to make genuine and steady progress in improving the way Belfast City Council represents and serves its constituents.”

Alliance response to Brian Feeney

By
15 December 1997
Press

EDITORIAL

The Editor
Irish News
113 Donegal Street
Belfast
BT1 2GE

Dear Sir

I am writing in response to Brian Feeney’s article on 10th December in which he launched an offensive and bitter attack on the Alliance Party. The few factual matters that he tried to include amongst the infantile jibes have been well refuted by my colleague Philip McGarry in his response to the article.

I would however, wish to point out to Irish news readers the fact that, from my position as having had the dubious honour of sitting beside Brian Feeney for 8 years on Belfast City Council, Brian Feeney has always had a hatred of the Alliance Party and indeed of anything that did not fit into his pure green sectarianism.

Brian Feeney used to lecture, in his pompous and self righteous fashion, to his fellow Councillors as to what they were doing wrong, threatening them as if they were his students.

It is not just a coincidence that 1993 was a turning point for Belfast City Council, that relations within the Council have improved considerably and that Belfast Council is now carrying out its function in a much better and constructive way. The fact that Brian Feeney and some of the worst Unionist backwoods men left the Council at the same time was a major factor in improving the atmosphere within the Council.

Brian Feeney was always slightly constrained within Belfast City Council by the fact that he was not popular with many of his colleagues within the SDLP, especially those who wished to be constructive. He is obviously happier now as a part time article writer answerable to absolutely no-one but free to make ludicrous and unsubstantiated attacks on whoever he wishes.

Yours sincerely
Mervyn Jones
Group Leader, Belfast City Council

The disabled "must not be made scapegoats": McCarthy

By
15 December 1997
Press

Alliance Party Spokesman on Disability Issues, Alderman Kieran McCarthy, has re stated his criticism of the Labour Governments intention to reduce benefits payable to disabled people.

Alderman McCarthy said:

“This weekend we have had further conformation that the new Government are to examine and if necessary reduce the financial allowances paid to people with disabilities. It is very easy for Tony Blair to claim that he wants disabled people in work. The reality however, is that work is often unavailable or inappropriate for many disabled people.

“The disabled must not be made scapegoats in the same way as lone parents have been in order to insure that this new Government meet the right wing commitments of the conservative government of which they were so critical when in opposition.”

Alliance respond to Harbour Commission crisis

By
12 December 1997
Press

Belfast Alliance Councillor Tom Campbell has urged Environment Minister Lord Dubs to resolve the very unsatisfactory situation regarding the appointment of Belfast City Councils nominee to the Harbour Commission.

Mr Campbell said:

“I was advised some days ago on good authority that the Minister had taken the decision not to approve my nomination to the Harbour Commission. I have been telephoned by journalists about this and have yet to receive any formal written communication regarding it. I did receive a telephone call yesterday afternoon from the Ministers Private Office to advise that, contrary to earlier suggestions, the Minister has not yet made his decision. I believe this is a very unsatisfactory situation that Government Policy should apparently be driven by the rumour mill. I would remind the Minister that the Council’s nominee was elected by twenty five votes to eighteen. It may be that Sinn Fein have made representations, but this is a party unused to democracy and to accepting decisions arrived at on a democratic basis.”