Neeson welcomes inquiry into rail accidents

By
10 July 1998
Press

THE Alliance Party’s Assembly Team leader has welcomed the Government’s decision to launch an inquiry into recent railway accidents.

But Mr. Sean Neeson, who is a shadow Assembly member for East Antrim, said the announcement from Environment Minister Lord Dubs was “long overdue”.

Lord Dubs has appointed Mr. Christopher Hall, a principal inspector of railways, to review the conduct of the outcome of the NIR inquiries into the three recent railway accidents in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Neeson is hopeful that the inquiry will address what, he claims is, the current safety aspect of all trains belonging to NIR.

And the Carrickfergus Councillor, who was appointed as acting leader of the Alliance Party after last month’s Assembly election, has also confirmed that his request for a meeting with the Environment Minster still stands.

“I am pleased that Lord Dubs has taken steps with what is a very serious and very sensitive issue. The people of Northern Ireland must have confidence in their public transport service,” said Mr. Neeson.

“I have been very active in trying to bring this matter to the public notice and I will continue to monitor the situation.

“I have already requested a meeting with Lord Dubs and I will be seeking a meeting with the management of Translink. I would like to inform Translink and Lord Dubs about the serious level of under-funding of the rail network in Northern Ireland.

“It is clear that most of the trains – apart from enterprise express – are all obsolete and there is an urgent need to invest in new rolling stock.

“Furthermore, the rail track throughout much of Northern Ireland needs upgrading and the dithering of the Bleach Green loop must come to an end,” added the acting Alliance Party leader.

Local Protestant community must support Catholic communities: McGarry

By
10 July 1998
Press

FOLLOWING last night’s outbreak of violence in the small County Down fishing village of Kilkeel, a senior member of the Alliance Party has urged the local Protestant community to “fully support” their Catholic neighbours.

And Dr. Philip McGarry, who is the Alliance Party President, said it was imperative that members of the local Protestant clergy show “total solidarity” with the village’s small Catholic community.

The Alliance man also urged members of the Protestant clergy to do “everything in their power” to prevent further outbreaks of sectarian violence.

“Catholic communities in towns like Kilkeel and Carrickfergus at the present time feel isolated and threatened,” said the former Belfast City Councillor.

“They are aware that the security forces have been unable to maintain their rule of law and they have grave fears about will happen over the coming weekend.

“I would also like to say that the Alliance Party welcomes recent contributions made by the main Church leaders. However, it is essential that local Protestant clergy are also active.

“I would further ask the local Protestant clergy in areas where there has been violence and intimidation against Roman Catholics, to show support for their neighbours in a direct and practical fashion,” he added.

Dr. McGarry also urged members of the local Protestant clergy to “actively seek” to ensure that there is no repetition of the violence which, he claims is, “spiralling out of control”.

Alliance call for end to all Drumcree protests

By
10 July 1998
Press

WITH tension mounting across Northern Ireland, a leading member of the Alliance Party has called on for an end to all illegal protests and road blockades.

And Dr. Philip McGarry, who is the President of the Alliance Party, has also called on community do “what they can” to prevent further street disturbances and illegal protests.

The former Belfast City Councillor further called for an end to what, he says is, the “blatant intimidation” of families across Northern Ireland.

“Events on the streets and around Drumcree have been gradually spiralling out of control over the last few days,” explained Dr. McGarry.

“Those who have called for people to come out in support of the Orangemen bear a major responsibility for the widespread violence and intimidation which has taken place.

“I would wish to strongly echo the sentiments of the Presbyterian moderator who has urged people to accept decision of Parades Commission and obey the rule of law.

“At this time of great tension and fear throughout the whole community, I would urge all responsible leaders to call upon all public protests and demonstrations to end. I would also urge the people who have been involved in the protests to return to their homes,” he said.

Rice welcomes news of public transport cash injection

By
10 July 1998
Press

THE Alliance Party’s transport spokesperson has welcomed the Government’s decision to provide a £20m investment package for Northern Ireland’s public transport sector.

And Castlereagh Councillor Geraldine Rice – who is also the Alliance Party’s Environment spokesperson – has hit out at those who have attacked yesterday’s announcement from Lord Dubs.

Mrs. Rice said it was “essential” that those creating trouble in the wake of the Drumcree stand-off in Portadown should not be allowed to determine the implementation of funding for public transport.

The Castlereagh Councillor also said that £20 million investment package for Ulsterbus and Citybus was long “overdue”.

Mrs. Rice said:

“The announcement from Lord Dubs should be welcomed from all quarters and I don’t see why the continuing spate of hijackings and cancelled services should have any bearing on the announcement.

“I have consistently called for an urgent review of the public transport system in Northern Ireland and the delivery of 138 new buses has to be commended.

“We need more people to use the public transport service as the number of people with cars is rising at an alarming rate.

“I am glad that this decision has been announced and I think it will help bring our public transport service into line with other services in the United Kingdom.”

Government must prove that no one is above or beyond the law: Alliance

By
4 July 1998
Press

With the failure to reach any agreement over the Drumcree Orange Order march, Alliance Assembly Member David Ford has stressed the need for the Rule of law to be observed and upheld.

David Ford said:

“Yet gain, a refusal to accept a realistic and honourable compromise on either side has led to a stand-off at Drumcree. Both sides must accept responsibility for this, and both sides must now do all in their power to discourage any lawlessness, in Portadown or elsewhere in Northern Ireland.

“It has been said that this march is an acid test for nationalists. I believe it is an acid test for the fair and impartial maintenance of law and order in Northern Ireland. For too long the issue of Drumcree has been decided on the basis of which side can threaten the greater violence. This year the decision has been taken, under the law, to block the march from the Garvaghy Road. That decision must now be upheld. Government must ensure that the police are given all the support they need to prove that no section of the Northern Ireland community is above or beyond the law.”

Alliance wins six seats in new Northern Ireland Assembly

By
1 June 1998
Elections

THE six seats that the Alliance Party won in June’s Assembly election have created a significant ‘centre’ grouping the new body between Unionism and Nationalism.

This group has an enormous contribution to make in trying to hold the Agreement together, and taking up the challenge of building a more liberal and non-sectarian Northern Ireland.

The elections were however somewhat disappointing for Alliance. They demonstrated the ‘swings and arrows’ of STV.

Only a few hundred votes either way could have produce anything from 5 to 9 seats. Eight or nine seats would have guaranteed an Alliance seat in the new power sharing Executive.

Alliance polled 6.5 per cent of the vote, similar to our level of support in the 1996 elections that led to the Talks.

Then people voted for their own ‘side’ to fight their corner in the Talks; sadly it seems that voters still believe that it is possible to make things work by bolstering their own tribe to represent their interests.

The results show the enormity of the task of creating a realignment in politics. That task will now fall to the Alliance Party under a new leader.

Lord Alderdice, having led the Party for eleven years, has decided to step down. Since doing so, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mo Mowlam, has appointed him to act as the Presiding Officer of the new Northern Ireland Assembly.

Sean Neeson, former Chief Whip of the party and spokesman on European issues has been elected to serve as interim leader of the party until a full leadership election is held in September.

"Turn out in force and support the Agreement": Bell

By
14 May 1998
Press

THE Alliance Party’s Chairperson has issued an impassioned plea to the people of North Down urging them to turn out in force – and vote ‘Yes’ in next Friday’s referendum.

Speaking to North Down Alliance Association members last night, Councillor Eileen Bell said it was “imperative” that a resounding ‘Yes’ vote be recorded on May 22.

Councillor Bell, who is an Alliance Party Constituency Representative for North Down, also insisted that any new assembly in Northern Ireland would have to respect “all traditions”.

The former Stormont Talks Delegate and Northern Ireland Forum member warned against the idea of a Nationalist and Unionist assembly. She said that any assembly would have to include representatives from all political perspectives.

“Over the past few weeks I have listened to certain politicians labelling the Mitchell accord as an accommodation between the ideologies of Nationalism and Unionism. However, this is completely untrue – it is an accommodation between all political perspectives,” she said.

Mrs. Bell added: “Any assembly in Northern Ireland will not work without the support of politicians who don’t consider themselves to be Nationalist or Unionist. It is important that all traditions are equally represented.

“If the agreement is endorsed by the community, then we will do our best to make sure that the government of Northern Ireland is accountable, democratic and representative. We must not have a return to the old system of Stormont.

“The agreement reached on Good Friday presents us with a unique opportunity to move forward. It is not a perfect agreement, but we must realise that there is no alternative.

“And even if some of the people don’t agree with the package, they still have time to change their minds and vote ‘Yes’. It can lead us to a better future and it can give us greater control over our own community.”

Bell praises women's conference

By
12 May 1998
Press

Attempts made by the National Women’s Commission to get more women into politics have been welcomed by the Alliance Party Chairperson and North Down Councillor Eileen Bell who was speaking at the Commissions Conference last weekend.

Cllr Bell said:

“It was important for the women of Northern Ireland to work together.

“I think that last weekends Conference was a good occasion and very informative to all women who want to become involved in a wide range of activities.

“It shows that women from a wide range of political parties have a networking system that can help them in the world of politics.

“Organisers of the Conference have to be commended for their efforts in bringing women together. Women have an active role to play in politics and I think people are beginning to realise this.

“Women who have been in representative Politics for many years appreciate the deficiencies in our Political System but would still say that we do better by participation in the Political Arena than standing outside complaining. We must adopt a strategy for change and improvement that it will include both male and female politicians so that the old bugbears of competition and distrust are less likely to hinder that improvement.

“If this Assembly is going to work effectively for all the people of Northern Ireland it is essential that it will be made up in clear terms of representation and diversity. We must work together in the common aim of a better Northern Ireland for everyone not just on our own personal agenda.”

The Alliance Party Chairperson has described last weekends Women’s Commission Conference as a “great boost”.

Alliance Council endorses Agreement at special meeting

By
2 May 1998
Press

The Alliance Party Council – the policy decision making body of the Party – today gave a formal endorsement to the Good Friday Agreement. The Council met at Carrickfergus today for a specially organised discussion on the Agreement. Speaking at the meeting, Alliance Party Chair, Cllr Eileen Bell, welcomed the endorsement of the deal, and hit back at claims by the ‘No’ Campaign that the ‘Yes’ campaign has been badly organised.

Cllr Bell said:

“The Party Council had an excellent and very positive discussion of the Agreement, and as the Party’s Talks Team we were delighted with the endorsement they gave to what had been achieved at Stormont. The Party has committed itself to working for a huge ‘Yes’ vote in the Referendum, and to building on the foundation that we will then have for the creation of a new future for Northern Ireland.

“It is amusing to hear the No Campaigners trying to criticise the ‘Yes’ Campaigners for being disorganised – now that they are losing the argument over the Agreement, they are reduced to arguing over who has the better campaign! We did not have the luxury of sitting on the sidelines for months and months as the DUP and the UKUP had. The parties who forged the Agreement were busy directing our time and energies towards moving Northern Ireland forward, not dragging it backwards. But having done so, we now have an Agreement which the overwhelming majority of people can and will support.”

Alliance launches "Yes" campaign

By
1 May 1998
Press

The Alliance Party today launched their ‘Yes’ Campaign for the May 22 Referendum, at a press conference in their Party Headquarters.

Lord Alderdice said:

“From now to Referendum Day our single priority is to tell the people of Northern Ireland the truth about the Good Friday Agreement. The level of lies and misinformation that has been inspired by the ‘No’ campaign has been disappointing. Their campaign for a ‘No’ vote began long before the parties that had the courage to stay at the Talks had reached any agreement. With that in mind, it is perhaps not surprising that the information that they are giving people bears little similarity to the contents of the Agreement.”

At the Press Conference, Campaign Director Cllr. Richard Good showed journalists a room in the Party’s headquarters building which has been converted to an information room for the Referendum Campaign. Posters on the wall of the room read ‘Welcome to the Alliance Truth Commission’.

Cllr Good said:

“The volume of letters and calls received here at Party Headquarters and by our Councillors across Northern Ireland has shown us that many people who want to support this Agreement are becoming confused by the ‘No’ campaign. They are left in confusion when the DUP/UKUP campaign tell them things about the Agreement that, upon further reading, simply cannot be found anywhere in the Agreement. Our campaign is designed to do one thing – to tell it as it is to the people of Northern Ireland. When we do, I am convinced that people will recognise that the Agreement is a compromise – and the best way forward for all of us.”