http://www.allianceparty.org/articlearchive.php Recent Press Articles from The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland en-GB The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland http://www.allianceparty.org/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2008 The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland 2008-10-13T11:57+01:00 United Kingdom http://www.allianceparty.org/articles/000073/devolution_is_a_valuable_prize_and_hurdles_must_be_cleared_ford_sunday_life.html We are in the home straight, but Sinn Fein must sign up to policing to clear the final hurdle and ensure that we can all claim the prize of devolution. 2006-10-08T09:00+01:00 http://www.allianceparty.org/articles/000071/learning_the_lessons_of_student_life_leonard_south_belfast_news.html Accompanied by my party's Deputy Leader, Belfast City Councillor Naomi Long, last week I had the pleasure of having lunch with the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Queen's University, Gerry McCormack. It was an enjoyable meeting, where we discussed the political process and Queen's outlook for the new academic year. 2006-09-30T09:00+01:00 http://www.allianceparty.org/articles/000070/its_time_we_gave_our_graduates_the_chance_they_richly_deserve_parsley_community_telegraph.html As recent graduates find themselves still temping, working in bars or doing deliveries, families across Northern Ireland will already be wondering what it takes for graduates to be given a chance in high-class employment here at home. 2006-09-22T09:00+01:00 http://www.allianceparty.org/articles/000069/alliance_plans_to_solve_rates_issue_long_community_telegraph.html The rates debate is an interesting one, and is one in which Alliance is focused on providing a solution to the crisis while other parties will do nothing on the issue except play the blame game. 2006-09-22T09:00+01:00 http://www.allianceparty.org/articles/000067/northern_ireland_waking_up_to_environmental_neglect_ford_newsletter.html Eight beaches around Northern Ireland were awarded Blue Flag Status in 2006 and the same number received that accolade in 2005. The number of beaches in Northern Ireland which were given this internationally-recognised status is extremely low and indicates the level of sewage and pollution around some areas of the coastline. Worse still, it was recently announced that Northern Ireland will have no blue flag beaches at all by 2007, because Tidy Northern Ireland could not enough secure funding to employ a beach officer. 2006-09-06T00:00+01:00 http://www.allianceparty.org/articles/000066/call_for_plastic_bag_levy_wilson_community_telegraph.html The Government must introduce a levy on plastic bags, similar to the measure in place in the Republic of Ireland and elsewhere in Europe. 2006-08-18T12:00+01:00 http://www.allianceparty.org/articles/000065/letter_regarding_library_provision_in_northern_ireland_cochrane_newsletter.html Dear Editor, 2006-08-14T16:57+01:00 http://www.allianceparty.org/articles/000064/we_can_best_speak_to_the_middle_east_by_example_long.html I was interested to hear of David Ervine's call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Lebanon conflict. Given that an explosives find in Glencairn has raised concerns about UVF activity, and that a North Belfast man who was sent a bullet in the post, believes it came from the UVF, David Ervine should be trying to prevent loyalist violence. 2006-08-14T16:51+01:00 http://www.allianceparty.org/articles/000060/hains_bullyboy_tactics_will_not_work_leonard_irish_times.html Nearly two-thirds of adults in Northern Ireland do not believe that the Good Friday Agreement should be implemented in full, with no modifications. 2006-07-24T09:51+01:00 http://www.allianceparty.org/articles/000059/culture_of_responsibility_must_begin_with_politicians_ekin_belfast_community_telegraph.html A groups of children aged ten and under were last week were arrested for vandalising a school and church in Newtownabbey. We frequently hear reports of children getting involved in rioting and attacking the emergency services when on call-outs. 2006-07-19T12:00+01:00 http://www.allianceparty.org/articles/000057/time_to_hit_back_against_racism_duncan_south_belfast_news.html Last month I accompanied a group of young Indian cricketers while they were being shown around Stormont. While they were having lunch afterwards I was able to talk to some of the young Sikh members of the team about their impressions of Belfast. 2006-07-17T12:39+01:00 http://www.allianceparty.org/articles/000055/questions_over_pup_decision_campbell_community_telegraph.html In his letter to you (June 2), in reference to loyalist paramilitaries, Councillor Michael McGimpsey claims that "loyalism is in transition". 2006-06-16T00:00+01:00 http://www.allianceparty.org/articles/000054/time_to_get_on_with_the_work_rice_south_belfast_news.html A recent serious illness gave me the opportunity to reflect not on what I may or may not have achieved, but how much more I want to do, to serve all of my constituents. 2006-06-13T18:40+01:00 http://www.allianceparty.org/articles/000050/assembly_needs_firmer_foundations_leonard_south_belfast_news.html Next Monday will see the spectacle of your MLAs returning to the Northern Ireland Assembly. They'll sign the entry book and take their seats in the chamber, for the first time since being elected three years ago. 2006-05-10T00:00+01:00 http://www.allianceparty.org/articles/000049/assembly_needs_firmer_foundations_ford_fortnight.html Northern Ireland's politicians have been given a precious opportunity to get things right. People have had enough of stop-start politics and a revolving door Assembly. Therefore, it is crucial that the Assembly and Executive are not only restored, but placed on a firm and sustainable basis. It would be farcical if the institutions were to return, only to collapse a few months later. 2006-05-05T11:29+01:00