Don't forget other integrated schools says Alliance

By
7 December 1998
Press

The Party Organiser of the Alliance Party, Stephen Farry, has welcomed the opening of an integrated school in Dungannon by the Secretary of State but has pointed out that there are three integrated schools that are still awaiting a Government decision to grant them public funding.

Stephen Farry stated:

“The Alliance Party welcomes the opening of an integrated school in Dungannon. Its opening by the Secretary of State is highly symbolic. Hopefully, it signifies a renewed commitment by the Government to integrated schooling.

“However, there are three integrated schools currently operating in Northern Ireland without public funds: Strangford, Ullidia, and Oakwood. These schools have met the criteria for funding laid down by the Government. Alliance looks forward to a positive decision from the Department of Education to fund these schools, in the very near future.

“Integrated education has the potential to further understanding across the community. Opinion polls show a very high demand among parents for access to this type of schooling, yet today only 3% of Northern Ireland school chlidren attend such schools. It is a major public policy deficiency when public funds are used to bolster segregated education but don’t address integrated needs.”

Sinn Fein must accept their responsibilities: McGarry

By
6 November 1998
Press

Alliance President, Dr Philip McGarry, has said that Sinn Fein needs to take its share of responsibility for moving the political process forward, rather than continuing to blame everybody else.

Dr McGarry said:

“This has been a very bad week for Sinn Fein. On Tuesday night in Brussels they caused great embarrassment to themselves by their insulting treatment of one of the European Union’s most senior officials.

“Their negative and churlish response to President McAlease’s indication that the Queen might soon visit Dublin was a mirror image of the surly response of the DUP to the visits to Northern Ireland by the President of the Republic.

“Figures released this week show that republicans are continuing to shot and beat people, despite the early release of large numbers of IRA prisoners. Meanwhile there is little evidence that Sinn Fein wants to make even a gesture on decommissioning.

“Everybody has a responsibility to play their part in creating a new and peaceful Northern Ireland. Sinn Fein by their actions over the last week, have shown every indication of blaming everybody else while making no real effort themselves.”

Trimble must not breach Agreement over decommissioning: Neeson

By
18 October 1998
Press

Alliance Leader Sean Neeson and the party’s Justice Spokesperson Steve McBride will meet tomorrow, Monday 19 October, with General John de Chastelain, Chairman of the Decommissioning Body. Speaking in advance of the meeting Sean Neeson insisted that the decommissioning issue not be allowed to delay the process any longer.

Sean Neeson said:

“Decommissioning has been allowed to fester like an open wound in the side of the Agreement. Republicans and Loyalists should look upon decommissioning as an opportunity to build confidence in the process across the community. But Unionists must not look upon it as a precondition to fulfilling the obligations that rest on David Trimble as First Minister. He must move immediately to establish the Executive.

“If the Executive is not formed then the North-South Ministerial Council cannot be established before the October 31 deadline. If that deadline is missed then David Trimble and the Ulster Unionists will have breached the Agreement. We cannot afford to ignore deadlines as though they do not matter. David Trimble should seize upon the goodwill being shown towards him in the wake of the Nobel Prize and get the implementation of the Agreement back on track.”

NOTES:

The Alliance Party representatives will meet with the Decommissioning Body at 2.00pm on Monday at Rosepark House.

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.