The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's cross-community party

 David Ford

Northern Ireland needs Commissioner for Victims: Bell

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 16th Jun 2004

ALLIANCE Victims Spokesperson Eileen Bell MLA has accused the Government of treating Northern Ireland victims as "not even an after-thought" following a Westminster debate on the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill.

Mrs Bell said that the legislation would create a Victims' Commissioner in England and Wales, but not in Northern Ireland "where one is most needed".

Mrs Bell said: "The Government should be including Northern Ireland in this legislation, or it should state why victims here are being treated as second-class citizens.

"In a recent Alliance submission to the Government on dealing with victims, we called for a Victims' Commissioner for Northern Ireland. Now, when the opportunity arises, we are forgotten about. Such a commissioner would be a valuable representative for the rights of victims and their organisations.

"The Government has not even treated victims of crime here as an after-thought, providing one more good reason for working to end Direct Rule and restoring the devolved institutions.

"Treating victims fairly is something the Government has been slow to realise, and if it is going to ignore Northern Ireland's genuine need for a Victims' Commissioner, it should spell out why."

Print this news story.
Previous news story: Ford condemns Randalstown attacks (Fri 11th Jun 2004).
Next news story: Alliance welcomes Hate Crime law to protect disabled (Thu 17th Jun 2004).

Related News Stories:

Thu 1st May 2008:

Neeson hails Firstsource jobs boost for Northern Ireland.

Mon 7th Apr 2008:

Without football offences laws, Northern Ireland could become a hooligan's paradise.

Wed 26th Mar 2008:

Stadium decision delay means Northern Ireland is missing massive opportunities.

Thu 13th Mar 2008:

Foster should act now to put levy on plastic bags to make Northern Ireland green leader .

Wed 6th Feb 2008:

Lib Dem Northern Ireland Spokesperson opens Ford's constituency office today.

Thu 3rd Jan 2008:

Alliance attacks OFMDFM over continuing Victims' Commissioner delay.

Fri 26th Oct 2007:

McCarthy in call for cervical cancer vaccination to be extended to Northern Ireland.

Mon 8th Oct 2007:

Northern Ireland joins Liberal leaders calling for action on climate change.

Tue 25th Sep 2007:

Progress on Victims' Commissioner needed to stop confidence being undermined .

Sat 22nd Sep 2007:

Alliance in call for action on human trafficking in Northern Ireland.

Wed 12th Sep 2007:

Alliance hits out over Victims Commissioner appointment delay.

Fri 24th Aug 2007:

McCarthy slams treatment of stroke patients in Northern Ireland.

Wed 22nd Aug 2007:

McCarthy calls for new Arthritis drugs to be introduced to Northern Ireland.

Tue 7th Aug 2007:

Alliance welcomes Aer Lingus investment in Northern Ireland.

Ford in call for Europe to recognise that foot and mouth has not hit Northern Ireland.

Wed 4th Jul 2007:

Alliance Leader hails people of Northern Ireland as green giants.

Tue 26th Jun 2007:

McCarthy demands home support for older people across Northern Ireland.

Thu 21st Jun 2007:

Alliance hails Olympics football boost for Northern Ireland.

Fri 6th Apr 2007:

Nine years on and still much work to be done in Northern Ireland.

Fri 30th Mar 2007:

New Assembly can put Northern Ireland at the top of the green league too.

Tue 13th Mar 2007:

Scheme tackling substance abuse must be extended across Northern Ireland.

Fri 2nd Mar 2007:

Alliance tackles voter apathy in Northern Ireland.

Wed 28th Feb 2007:

Time for a new start for Northern Ireland - Lo.

Tue 13th Feb 2007:

Shocking cost of segregation means lower standard of living in Northern Ireland.

Mon 12th Feb 2007:

Poverty is a real problem in Northern Ireland - time to tackle it.

Thu 8th Feb 2007:

Lo demands scheme to protect hospital staff across Northern Ireland.

Young voters can make a real difference in Northern Ireland.

Wed 17th Jan 2007:

Alliance blasts plans to cut number of police in Northern Ireland.

Neeson appointed to represent Northern Ireland on prestigious ships committee.

Tue 2nd Jan 2007:

Northern Ireland needs the power to protect young people from effects of smoking.

Mon 18th Dec 2006:

Funding needed for world-class mental health facilities for Northern Ireland.

Fri 8th Dec 2006:

Waiting list for eye treatment in Northern Ireland is appalling.

Wed 15th Nov 2006:

Alliance welcomes tax report and demands tax-varying powers for Northern Ireland.

Mon 13th Nov 2006:

Alliance demands immediate action to combat poverty in Northern Ireland.

Fri 10th Nov 2006:

Alliance Party of Northern Ireland - Response to the 'St. Andrews Agreement'.

Wed 25th Oct 2006:

Treasury funding for Northern Ireland must be real - Alliance.

Tue 24th Oct 2006:

Northern Ireland must heed environmental survey results before its too late - Alliance.

Fri 20th Oct 2006:

More affordable housing must be provided in Northern Ireland - Alliance.

Tue 17th Oct 2006:

Alliance slams massive drug and treatment delays forced on Northern Ireland.

Thu 21st Sep 2006:

Alliance welcomes software jobs boost for Northern Ireland.

Wed 20th Sep 2006:

Alliance demands consistent recycling policies across Northern Ireland.

Tue 19th Sep 2006:

Lets make Northern Ireland a world leader in television productions - Alliance.

Thu 17th Aug 2006:

Alcohol problems will haunt Northern Ireland in future - Alliance .

Fri 19th May 2006:

Removal of junk food from schools must be applied to Northern Ireland - McCarthy.

Mon 27th Feb 2006:

Neeson reappointed to represent Northern Ireland in Europe.

Tue 31st Jan 2006:

Alliance Party will support Victims' Commission's remit - Bell.

Tue 24th Jan 2006:

Challenge to Victims' Commissioner was inevitable - Bell.

Wed 11th Jan 2006:

Ignoring democratic parties and victims must not be a precedent - Bell.

Wed 21st Dec 2005:

Victims and exiles being treated abominably - Bell.

Tue 8th Nov 2005:

French riots a serious lesson for Northern Ireland - Parsley.

Wed 2nd Nov 2005:

Focus must be on victims, not terrorists - Bell.

Tue 1st Nov 2005:

Money must be spent on victims, not administration - Bell.

Mon 24th Oct 2005:

Bell slams Government for making victims 'a sectarian hand-out'.

Sat 15th Oct 2005:

'On-The-Run' law must include Victims Commission: Bell.

Wed 7th Sep 2005:

Parsley salutes Northern Ireland triumph.

Alliance congratulates Northern Ireland on victory.

Sun 4th Sep 2005:

Needs of victims must come first in 'on-the-run' legislation - Bell.

Wed 31st Aug 2005:

No group has monopoly on victims - Bell.

Tue 5th Jul 2005:

Victims and Survivors Commissioner overdue.

Tue 1st Mar 2005:

Alliance says Victims' Commissioner could play Maze centre role.

Tue 11th Jan 2005:

Where Now for Northern Ireland?

Tue 21st Sep 2004:

Criminal assets can help victims: Bell.

Fri 17th Sep 2004:

Need to deal with victims: Bell.

Wed 3rd Mar 2004:

Government betraying victims of violence: Bell.

Thu 12th Feb 2004:

Ghost of DeLorean still haunts Northern Ireland: Close.

Wed 29th Oct 2003:

'What next for Northern Ireland?' by David Ford.

Wed 24th Sep 2003:

Neeson: 'Tax-varying powers would be good for Northern Ireland'.

Wed 9th Jul 2003:

'No place for racist flags in Northern Ireland'.

Wed 25th Jun 2003:

'UUP fiddles while Northern Ireland burns!'.

Wed 30th Oct 2002:

Bell puts the Spotlight on IRA's Derry victims.

Mon 2nd Sep 2002:

Northern Ireland in 'Europe of regions'.

Tue 9th Jan 2001:

Northern Ireland child poverty funding must be adequately secure.

Mon 31st Jul 2000:

Eileen Bell - childrens commissioner soon!

Fri 24th Jul 1998:

'We must banish sectarianism and bigotry' - bell's plea to the people of Northern Ireland.

Mon 1st Jun 1998:

Alliance wins six seats in new Northern Ireland Assembly.

Related Press Articles:

Wed 6th Sep 2006:

Northern Ireland waking up to environmental neglect: Ford [Newsletter].

Mon 14th Aug 2006:

Letter regarding library provision in Northern Ireland: Cochrane [Newsletter].

Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Ltd, 82b Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BX.
Published and promoted by The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, 88 University Street, Belfast, BT7 1HE.
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.