I welcome the fact that this ban has finally become permanent. It was the first motion I introduced when elected to the Assembly in 2007.

It has taken a long time and North Down representatives have played important roles in the campaign to ban this barbaric so called sport.

40 years the MP for Bangor the late Bertie McConnell introduced  a Bill to ban coursing in the old Northern Ireland Parliament. Although it was passed by the Commons, it was delayed by the Senate and fell when the Parliament was prorogued in 1972. Continue reading “Permanent Ban on Hare Coursing” »

BRIAN WELCOMES THE CONSULTATION ON THE PROPOSED PLASTIC BAG TAX AND ARGUES THAT IT MUST BE INTRODUCED AT A HIGH LEVEL AROUND 15P TO DISCOURAGE SHOPPERS FROM USING PLASTIC BAGS

In light of the success of a similar levy in theIrishRepublicthe opposition from the NIIRTA would seem extremely short-sighted.

Brian Wilson states as I pointed out at  the second stage debate of the Bill  I welcome the fact that the income will be used to fund the Green New Deal but the ultimate success of the legislation will be  when plastic bags are phased out completely and no revenue was raised.

I have supported a levy on plastic bags for many years but not on economic grounds but on environmental grounds.  Continue reading “Proposed Plastic Bag Tax” »

I first met Oliver Napier in 1975 when carrying out an interview for my Msc dissertation on the Alliance Party.

Despite his busy schedule he was very generous with his time and talked in depth about his early years in politics from the creation of New Ulster Movement to the Sunningdale Agreement and the power-sharing Executive. He spoke with passion on the need to break the mould of sectarian politics and promote a united community based on equality and justice for all.

Continue reading “Sir Oliver Napier” »

I find it hard to believe that it is 4 years since we gathered in Ards Leisure centre to hear the returning officer announce that I had been returned as a Green Party MLA for North Down.

Although this historic breakthrough came as a shock to the media I was always reasonably confident that we could take the seat. On the doorstep many voters were expressing the need to leave behind the old divisive arguments about flags emblems and policing and move on to the issues of the twenty first century. These issues included climate change, sustainability and dependence on fossil fuels and often coincided with the Green party agenda. Continue reading “Green Living – Assembly Review” »

AT the AGM the main parties have agreed to exclude me from the councils important finance and policy committees. Last term they argued that as I was a member of the Green party I was not entitled to a place, this excuse is no longer valid.

As a councillor with 30 years experience and degrees in government and economics I feel I could make a major contribution to the good governance of the council. Instead they have filled the committees with party hacks with no experience (newly elected) and others with no interest or knowledge of finance.

Is it any wonder the council has been criticised for its economic competence.