Together We Can - ASSEMBLY MANIFESTO 2022 ALLIANCE PARTY - NationBuilder
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Together
We Can
ALLIANCE PARTY
ASSEMBLY MANIFESTO 2022
APRIL 2022
ALLIANCE PARTY ASSEMBLY MANIFESTO 2022
INTRODUCTION BY NAOMI LONG 4
KEY POLICIES 6
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS 10
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME 12
CHAPTER 1:
SHARED FUTURE, EQUALITY & HUMAN RIGHTS 13
SHARED FUTURE • PARADES, FLAGS & DEALING WITH THE PAST
GOOD RELATIONS • HUMAN RIGHTS • EQUALITY • OTHER EQUALITY ISSUES
CHAPTER 2:
JUSTICE 19
JUSTICE DELIVERY • VICTIM-CENTRED JUSTICE • SAFER COMMUNITIES
FASTER, FAIRER JUSTICE • PARAMILITARISM & ORGANISED CRIME
PRISONS • YOUTH JUSTICE • LEGACY
CHAPTER 3:
FINANCE 25
REDUCING THE COSTS OF DIVISION REFORMING THE PUBLIC SECTOR
•
IMPROVING BUDGET PROCESSES • REVENUE RAISING
LEVELLING UP & THE SHARED PROSPERITY FUND • DEBT FORBEARANCE
CHAPTER 4:
COST OF LIVING 31
CHAPTER 5:
CLIMATE CHANGE & GREEN NEW DEAL 35
CLIMATE CHANGE • GREEN NEW DEAL
CHAPTER 6:
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE 43
TRANSFORMATION • WAITING LISTS MISSION CONTEXT FOCUS SYSTEM
• • • •
HEALTH DELIVERY • SOCIAL CARE • COMMUNITY & VOLUNTARY SECTOR
PAGE 2 ALLIANCE PARTY ASSEMBLY MANIFESTO 2022
CHAPTER 7:
ECONOMY & SKILLS 51
A NEW & STRATEGIC ECONOMIC APPROACH
ECONOMIC POLICIES & DELIVERY STRUCTURES
SUPPORTING THE GROWTH OF LOCAL BUSINESSES
TOWN CENTRES & HIGH STREETS • SOCIAL ECONOMY • SKILLS
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT • EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS
CHAPTER 8:
EDUCATION 59
INTEGRATED EDUCATION • EARLY YEARS & CHILDCARE • HARRY’S LAW
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS • A COMPREHENSIVE, QUALITY CURRICULUM
SUPPORTING PUPILS & THEIR FAMILIES • STRUCTURES & BUILDINGS
CHAPTER 9:
AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT & RURAL AFFAIRS 65
NATURE, WILDLIFE & BIODIVERSITY • NATIONAL PARKS • WASTE
AGRICULTURE • ANIMAL WELFARE
CHAPTER 10:
COMMUNITIES, ARTS & SPORT 71
SOCIAL SECURITY • EMPLOYMENT • HOUSING • REGENERATION & SHARED SPACE
THE ARTS, CULTURE & HERITAGE • SPORT & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
VOLUNTARY ACTION & ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP • LOCAL GOVERNMENT
RURAL COMMUNITIES
CHAPTER 11:
INFRASTRUCTURE 79
SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE • WATER & SEWERAGE • SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
ROADS FOR THE FUTURE • ACTIVE TRAVEL • IMPROVING CONNECTIVITY
ROAD SAFETY • PLANNING
CHAPTER 12:
BREXIT & THE PROTOCOL 85
OUR RECORD ON PROTOCOL FLEXIBILITIES • WAY FORWARD
CHAPTER 13:
GOVERNANCE & POLITICAL REFORM 89
INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE • OPENNESS & TRANSPARENCY • CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
CONTENTS PAGE 3
INTRODUCTION BY NAOMI LONG
Dear friend, A vote for Alliance is a vote for a party that
will work hard for everyone; this manifesto
A generation ago, Northern Ireland came
sets out the areas we will prioritise over the
together to say ‘Yes’ to an historic
next five years to deliver progress for you,
opportunity. The Good Friday Agreement
your family and your community.
proved that together, we can achieve
anything. We have focused specifically on those matters
over which the Assembly has direct control or
This May, we have a momentous opportunity
influence. This isn’t a stand-alone document –
to deliver real change for the better.
to get the fullest picture of how Alliance plans
Political instability and collapse, caused by the to deliver better, it should be read in
selfish few, have been wasting energy instead conjunction with our Local Government and
of focusing it on what really matters – our Westminster manifestos, as well as our Green
health service, high paying jobs and healing New Deal and Fighting Fit policy papers.
division.
Your vote in May can elect more Alliance
This failure of political leadership has stoked MLAs, and together we can make the focus
the flames of violence, failed our communities delivery not division.
and held us back. To ensure devolution works,
On May 5th, vote Alliance, and together, we
we need to break this cycle of crisis, of selfish
can make it happen.
ultimatums and self-serving political stunts.
A vote for Alliance is the strongest
endorsement you can give for a politics Yours sincerely,
focused on delivery, not drama.
Together, we can do things differently:
• We can help fix our broken health service,
Naomi Long
tackle waiting lists and invest in mental
Leader, Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
health and preventative services.
• We can ensure our children are no longer
educated apart and deliver a better future
for our young people.
• We can secure reform of the Assembly to
make sure no party can hold progress to
ransom.
• We can deliver a Green New Deal to meet
the climate emergency head on and create
50,000 green new jobs.
• We can build safer communities, tackling
paramilitarism and hate crime, and better
supporting victims.
• We can ensure none of us have to choose
between heating our home and feeding
our family.
• We can support a sustainable recovery
from the pandemic for businesses, public
services and communities.
PAGE 4 ALLIANCE PARTY ASSEMBLY MANIFESTO 2022
INTRODUCTION BY NAOMI LONG PAGE 5
KEY POLICIES
SHARED FUTURE, EQUALITY & HUMAN RIGHTS FINANCE
• Create a comprehensive and cross-cutting • Create a plan to tackle the financial cost of
shared future strategy to drive forward division in Northern Ireland.
cohesion, sharing and integration.
• Review the case for the devolution of
• Introduce a Single Equality Act for further borrowing powers on the same
Northern Ireland covering age basis as the Scottish Parliament, to enable
discrimination protections in goods, additional capital investment.
facilities and services.
• Reform the budget scrutiny process to
• Support a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland allow for transparency and effective review.
that reflects international human rights
• Introduce audits of division within all
standards and meets the needs of all
departmental budgets.
citizens, and which can be used as a pre-
scrutiny tool for legislation and policy • Reform the civil service to attract the best
decisions across government. talent.
JUSTICE COST OF LIVING
• Strengthen legislation on hate crime • Introduce a home heating support grant
through a new Hate Crime Bill. voucher scheme, targeted at low-income
households.
• Deliver the remaining Gillen Review
recommendations. • Roll out a £20 per week child payment to
protect children already vulnerable to
• Reform sentencing laws.
poverty.
• Mainstream tackling paramilitarism within
• Work closely with the local banking sector
government.
to monitor the impact of rising interest
• Create a new female prison facility at rates.
Hydebank Wood.
• Explore initiatives to improve the
• Increase the age of criminal responsibility. affordability of food, particularly local
produce.
• Remove the reasonable chastisement
defence. • Bring home heating oil within the remit of
the Utility Regulator.
PAGE 6 ALLIANCE PARTY ASSEMBLY MANIFESTO 2022
CLIMATE CHANGE & GREEN NEW DEAL HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE
• Deliver a Green New Deal to create at least • Implement the recommendations of the
50,000 sustainable jobs by 2030. Bengoa Review to transform our healthcare
system.
• Create a new Department for Energy and
Climate Change. • Tackle our waiting lists and invest in our
workforce.
• Deliver an improved Northern Ireland
Climate Change Act. • Ensure that every Programme for
Government has the promotion of good
• Establish an Economic Strategy which will
health and well-being as a top priority for
support clean and inclusive growth.
all departments.
• Implement an immediate statutory ban on
• Invest in mental health, including a fully
all current and future fossil fuel exploration,
funded ten year mental health strategy and
including fracking.
separate emergency provision for those in
mental health crisis.
• Focus on early intervention and prevention,
such as addressing deprivation which leads
to illness and disease, introducing cost-
effective screening, and adopting a
harm-reduction model in the treatment of
alcohol and drug misuse.
KEY POLICIES PAGE 7
ECONOMY & SKILLS AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT & RURAL AFFAIRS
• Deliver the new Skills Strategy for Northern • Establish an independent Environmental
Ireland to address upskilling and retraining Protection Agency.
opportunities in the green economy.
• Ban puppy farming and strengthen
• Support a strong 14-19 Strategy to bridge regulation of the legal puppy trade.
the interface between school and college,
• Deliver an ambitious afforestation
apprenticeships, and training.
programme to increase Northern Ireland
• Introduce a Social Value Act to drive social tree cover and achieve the current target of
change through procurement. 19% cover by 2050.
• Invest in research and development to • Introduce carbon audits for farms to
ensure Northern Ireland is a global leader in support farmers to embrace
areas such as the green economy. environmentally beneficial farming
practices.
• Develop a comprehensive strategy to
rejuvenate our high streets and town • Expand the Environmental Farming
centres. Scheme to promote habitat restoration,
including linking areas of high value by
wildlife corridors.
EDUCATION
• Tackle rural crime such as wildlife crime
• End the use of academic criteria for post- and livestock theft.
primary transfer.
• Continue to promote and improve
COMMUNITIES, ARTS & SPORT
Integrated Education provision, building on
our Integrated Education Bill. • Push the UK Government to uplift benefits
in line with the true rate of inflation.
• Create a universal, affordable childcare
scheme, with fully funded hours paid • Prioritise the retrofitting of housing for
directly to providers. renewable energy sources and insulation.
• Expand SureStart areas to support families • Ensure any reforms to social housing
facing disadvantage. provision do not jeopardise fairness, quality
or diminish equality of access.
• Introduce Harry’s Law to end the use of
seclusion in schools and monitor the use of • Ensure good relations are a specific aim of
restraint as a last resort. regeneration and community planning.
• Invest in mental health counselling services • Commission an arts funding review.
and referral services within schools.
• Introduce social prescribing and create
• Secure evidence-based, inclusive well-being centres that have access to
Relationship and Sexuality Education in sports and leisure at the heart of
schools. communities.
• Recognise and support the development of
British and Irish Sign Languages.
PAGE 8 ALLIANCE PARTY ASSEMBLY MANIFESTO 2022
INFRASTRUCTURE GOVERNANCE & POLITICAL REFORM
• Create an independent infrastructure • End the designation system in the
commission with a 30-year vision to Assembly, replacing it with a weighted
prioritise, report on and drive delivery of majority.
infrastructure projects.
• Publish Executive meeting agendas to
• Significantly increase spend per capita on discourage the use of de facto vetoes of
Active Travel. Executive business.
• Develop a modern, all-Ireland rail network • Rename the First and deputy First Ministers
through a new 5-year plan for rail as “Joint First Ministers”.
investment.
• Form an Executive through voluntary
• Create an independent Sustainable Travel coalition, decided by negotiations between
Commissioner for Northern Ireland to parties.
increase uptake and address barriers.
• Continue to pursue full transparency of
• Review how the planning system can political donations.
incentivise the greening of our towns and
• Align the budget with Programme for
cities.
Government objectives and outcomes.
• Extend voting to over 16s for all elections
BREXIT & THE PROTOCOL and referendums.
• Agree on a comprehensive set of
agreements on a broad range of issues,
including SPS checks, customs checks and
governance and democratic accountability
issues.
• Formalise arrangements on medicines.
• Create a comprehensive UK-EU Veterinary
Agreement.
• Ensure enhanced representation for
Northern Ireland elected representatives
within the structures of the Trade &
Cooperation Agreement.
• Promote NI as an investment location due
to dual market access to GB and EU.
KEY POLICIES PAGE 9KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
Through the negotiations that led to the New • Made compensation and personal injury
Decade, New Approach (NDNA) agreement, arrangements fairer for victims.
and over the past two years in the Assembly,
• Appointed a Victims of Crime
Alliance has a track record of influencing
Commissioner Designate, who will give
outcomes and producing results.
victims a stronger voice within the justice
system.
JUSTICE • Commenced the Criminal Finances Act to
crack down on the proceeds of organised
• Created a new domestic abuse offence of
crime.
coercive control to capture non-physical
abusive behaviour.
• Introduced a stalking offence for the first GOVERNANCE, EQUALITY & HUMAN RIGHTS
time in Northern Ireland, as well as Stalking
• Achieved reform of the Petition of Concern
Prevention Orders.
within NDNA.
• Commenced Domestic Homicide Reviews,
• Legislated to ensure that teachers will, in
to prevent domestic violence and
future, be protected from religious
homicide, and to ensure that abuse is
discrimination in employment.
identified and responded to effectively at
the earliest opportunity. • Led efforts to reach agreement on
measures to strengthen transparency and
• Strengthened measures to help victims of
codes of conduct.
sexual offences – by delivering on the
Gillen recommendations, outlawing up- • Secured new forms of civic engagement,
skirting, down-blousing and cyber-flashing, including citizens’ assemblies.
and updating revenge porn laws. • Successfully lobbied to remove a three-
• Removed the requirement for victims and month ban on men who have sex with men
witnesses to provide evidence in advance from donating blood.
of a trial. • Achieved support for a motion to outlaw
• Established the Victims’ Payments Board to the practice of conversion therapy in
deliver the Troubles Permanent Northern Ireland.
Disablement Payment Scheme, after years
of delay and deflection by others.
PAGE 10 ALLIANCE PARTY ASSEMBLY MANIFESTO 2022FINANCE, THE ECONOMY & BREXIT PUBLIC SERVICES
• Secured recognition of problems of costs • Secured the first transformative piece of
of division in public finances. legislation for Integrated Education in the
Assembly’s history.
• Drove the establishment of the Fiscal
Council and Fiscal Commission on • Secured Independent Review of Education
improving financial management. in NDNA.
• Championed better access to COVID-19 • Successfully championed legislation to
financial support measures. address restraint and seclusion in schools,
and for flexible school starting age.
• Secured an amendment to the Parental
Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill • Delivered access to bespoke and secure
extending the entitlement of paid leave to rehabilitation and retraining services for
all those grieving a loss. former prison officers.
• Set out a plan for a green, equitable • Published comprehensive proposals to
economy and the creation of 50,000 new transform our health service.
green jobs by 2030 in our Green New Deal.
• Secured the Public Inquiry into Muckamore
• First political party to call for grace periods Abbey Hospital and the alleged
on application of aspects of the Protocol. mistreatment and abuse of patients.
• Successfully pushed for Northern Ireland • Successfully lobbied for a comprehensive
political representation on UK-EU decision- Cancer Strategy and new Cancer Drugs
making bodies. Fund.
• Achieved guarantees on the unfettered • Worked with birth mothers and adopted
access for Northern Ireland goods to Great adults to force the issue of Mother & Baby
Britain, and for the removal of the need for Homes onto the agenda of the Executive
exit summary declarations. Office and secure support for truth, justice
and accountability going forward.
• Championed flexibilities on the regulation
and supply of medicines into NI. • Secured a Health Committee inquiry into
waiting times.
• Led the campaign for the creation of a
UK-EU Veterinary Agreement. • Successfully secured reform of Northern
Ireland’s out-dated licensing laws.
• Ensured renters’ voices were included in
CLIMATE CHANGE & THE ENVIRONMENT
legislation around private tenancies.
• Secured Executive commitment to a Green
New Deal in NDNA.
• First party to publish comprehensive
proposals for a Green New Deal.
• Secured commitment to establish an
Independent Infrastructure Commission.
• Shaped and strengthened Northern
Ireland’s first Climate Change legislation,
securing sectoral plans that tackle
inequality and support green jobs and a
just transition for workers in high emitting
industries.
• Advanced a Private Member’s Bill to outlaw
hunting with dogs but were unfortunately
blocked by other parties.
• Achieved planned improvements to the
Electric Vehicle Charging Network
following presentation of a successful
Alliance petition.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PAGE 11LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME
• Single Equality Bill – to update our equality • Employment Bill – to regulate the gig
and non-discrimination protections, closing economy, to strengthen flexible working
existing gaps and including age-related options, and to ban ‘fire and rehire’
discrimination in goods, facilities and practices.
services.
• Animal Welfare Bill – to ban puppy
• Hate Crime Bill – to strengthen legislation farming, to strengthen the regulation of the
on hate crimes, building on the legal puppy trade, and to improve
recommendations of Judge Marrinan. information-sharing so that people who are
banned from keeping domestic animals are
• Sentencing Bill – to allow for sentences
prevented from doing so.
that better fit the crimes committed, and to
incorporate ‘Charlotte’s Law’. • Skills Bill – to create a life-long learning
guarantee.
• Education Bill – to introduce ‘Harry’s Law’,
to amend the Minimum Content Order on • Climate Change Bill – to go beyond the
Relationship and Sexuality Education, and current Climate Change Act, banning fossil
to strengthen the statementing process. fuel extraction and exploration.
• Hunting Wild Mammals with Dogs Bill – to • Conversion Therapy Ban Bill – to prohibit
ban this cruel sport, after other parties so-called “conversion therapy” which seeks
blocked our attempt to do so in the to change, “cure”, suppress a person’s
previous mandate. sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
• Environment Bill – to create an • Mobile Homes Bill – to update the current
independent Environmental Protection Caravans Legislation from 2011 to provide
Agency and to set legally binding targets local authorities with greater powers to
for restoration of species and habitats. enforce site license conditions against park
owners.
• Social Value Bill – to ensure all public
bodies are legally obliged to consider • Flying of Flags on Street Furniture Bill – to
social value in all aspects of their service regulate the flying of flags and other items
delivery. on lamp posts to ensure that shared spaces
are used for celebration, not demarcation
• Energy Bill – to ban fossil fuel extraction
of territory.
and exploration, to bring oil within the
remit of the Utility Regulator, and to require • Repeal the Vagrancy Acts – so that no one
all departments to consider energy is criminalised for being homeless or
transition in policy development. destitute.
• Housing Bill – to compel developers to • Repeal blasphemy laws – to strengthen
ensure new homes are sustainable, to freedom of, and from religion, and so that
strengthen regulation of letting agents, and these antiquated offences can never be
to reform the management of apartments. used to curtail freedom of expression.
PAGE 12 ALLIANCE PARTY ASSEMBLY MANIFESTO 2022SHARED FUTURE 14
PARADES, FLAGS & DEALING WITH THE PAST 15
GOOD RELATIONS 15
HUMAN RIGHTS 15
EQUALITY 16
OTHER EQUALITY ISSUES 18
CHAPTER 1
SHARED FUTURE, EQUALITY & HUMAN RIGHTS
SHARED FUTURE, EQUALITY & HUMAN RIGHTS PAGE 13SHARED FUTURE, EQUALITY & HUMAN RIGHTS
The Alliance Party has a vision of a shared to work and invest. This will also allow us to
future where everyone is safe, can play their save resources by investing in services for
part and is treated fairly and with respect. We everyone and ensure better public services for
believe in a society for everyone, underpinned all.
by our shared values of equality, respect for
Equality and human rights issues are an
diversity and interdependence. People must
essential part of this shared future. Alliance
be free from intimidation, discrimination and
will promote equality of opportunity, equality
fear.
of treatment, equality of access, and equality
We reject the notion of parallel societies, with under the law for all people, irrespective of
so-called ‘separate, but equal’ provision and gender, age, sexual orientation, disability,
instead believe a shared future will enable us religious belief, race and ethnicity, and political
to build a stronger Northern Ireland, making it opinion.
a more attractive place to live and learn, and
SHARED FUTURE • Strong vision and values that are used to
drive forward the core objective of
Too often, parties have paid lip service to the achieving cohesion, sharing and
ideals of a shared future, rather than integration.
implementing the necessary changes to have
a truly integrated society. The lack of shared • Context and links between this strategy
housing, provision of integrated education or and other government policy objectives.
continued demarcation of territory, continues • An action plan with timetable and targets,
to hold us back. This is not the image of a and associated resource commitments.
thriving society, and what should replace it is
a progressive and inclusive community across • Clarity around a delivery mechanism and a
Northern Ireland, with laws and policies which monitoring and evaluation framework.
promote integration.
As there is an inextricable relationship
We believe radical change is needed to reduce
between the creation of a shared future and
the impact of division on our society. This
the economic transformation of Northern
cannot be the mission of one Executive
Ireland, any strategy for a shared future must
Minister, but must be a priority across every
recognise that continued divisions limit
department. Shared future considerations and
Northern Ireland’s potential.
a commitment to integration are included
across our manifesto and any Alliance minister We need the mechanisms, policies and
will make it a priority in their department. programmes to dismantle the economic,
social and financial barriers to a shared future.
As well as embedding our commitments to a
We would like to see:
shared future throughout government, there
are a number of initiatives which can be taken • A practical and costed plan to tackle the
forward to ensure that all departments are financial implications of divisions within
working to promote integration and reduce future Programmes for Government and
division. budgets.
At the heart of this must be a comprehensive • All major policies assessed for their
and cross-cutting strategy to replace the potential impact on sharing versus
inadequate ‘Together: Building a United separation through Shared Future Policy
Community’. We recommend that this follows Proofing.
best practice in policy development and • An obligation on all Departments to
includes the following elements: actively encourage de-segregation and to
• Clear definitions and understanding of key promote cohesion, sharing and integration
concepts of ‘cohesion’, ‘sharing’, and within their policies, strategies and
‘integration’. spending plans, including capital
investment.
PAGE 14 ALLIANCE PARTY ASSEMBLY MANIFESTO 2022• New leisure, educational, health, social and GOOD RELATIONS
community facilities being built with an
explicit objective to ensure optimal and The good relations framework must extend
open public use. beyond the traditional understanding of ‘two
communities’ and should create a community
that integrates every resident. In order to
This will, however, only set the context within
strengthen good relations, we will:
which Executive Departments should develop
policies for sharing and integration. • Apply the good relations duty to all
Throughout this manifesto, we have organisations operating in the public
incorporated many policies which will support sector, including schools.
a shared future for Northern Ireland. • Insert good relations indicators into
appropriate departmental strategies to
ensure that these are contributing to
PARADES, FLAGS & improving good relations.
DEALING WITH THE PAST
• Actively monitor and assist local councils in
We believe that the peace process remains designing good relations strategies and
under threat as the direct result of other ensuring they improve good relations in
politicians being unable to come to an their area.
agreement on tackling the controversial issues
of parading, flags and the past. This has the
potential to undermine public confidence in HUMAN RIGHTS
politics, in the Northern Ireland institutions,
We believe human rights are inherent and
and in the peace process as a whole.
universal: an essential part of modern
As people, we share much in common, but we governance that protects the individual from
clearly have political and cultural identities injustice. That is why Alliance supports the
which divide us and at times challenge us. If European Convention on Human Rights and
we want to build a genuinely shared future the Human Rights Act.
then we cannot avoid or ignore these
We support the creation of a strong Bill of
tensions, and need to tackle them head-on.
Rights for Northern Ireland that reflects
Alliance believes that it is a failure to address international human rights standards and
these challenges that holds us back. It was the meets the needs of all citizens, not least those
Executive’s failure to do just this which led to who experience discrimination and
the establishment of the Flags, Identity, marginalisation. We believe that the Bill of
Culture and Tradition (FICT) Commission. Rights would be useful as pre-scrutiny tool for
Alliance called on the Executive Office to legislation and policy decisions across
publish the Commission’s report, alongside an regional and local government.
action plan to implement their
Too often, Northern Ireland has had to rely on
recommendations. The recommendations and
legislation from Westminster. Alliance believes
narrative contained in the report will guide us
the Assembly should enhance the protection
in our policies to effectively deal with the
of and legislate for human rights to the full
issues that divide our communities. In a new
extent that it can. We will oppose any
Executive, Alliance will publish an action plan
attempts by the current UK Government to
to implement the recommendations.
roll back or undermine human rights.
Details on proposals regarding dealing with
the legacy of the past can be found in the
Justice section later in this manifesto. EQUALITY
Despite equality policy being primarily
devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly, no
significant progressive reform to equality
SHARED FUTURE, EQUALITY & HUMAN RIGHTS PAGE 15legislation has passed under devolution: all the • Increasing the provision of Changing Places
major reforms have occurred under ‘Direct facilities in public sector buildings and new
Rule’. This is not sustainable. We want a Single builds the next Assembly mandate.
Equality Act that will harmonise existing anti-
discrimination measures and update and
strengthen equality provisions. Our Act would Women
also revise Fair Employment monitoring to Alliance will continue to highlight the need for
better reflect the diversity of mixed and practical interventions to remove systemic
multiple identities within Northern Ireland. The barriers which prevent equal opportunities for
introduction of the 2010 Equality Act in Great women. Our priorities for supporting women
Britain means that in certain areas our will include:
legislation lags behind the rest of the UK.
• Setting robust targets for the uptake in
Alliance is deeply concerned about the rise in Northern Ireland of UK-wide childcare
racial and religious hatred in Northern Ireland schemes, as part of a comprehensive
in recent years. Our proposal for a Single Childcare Strategy.
Equality Act would bring racial equality
legislation in line with the rest of the UK and • Promoting and improving Shared Parental
could be used as an instrument to deliver on Leave and flexible working arrangements
racial and religious protections. which Alliance introduced via the
Department for Employment and Learning.
The New Decade, New Approach agreement
committed to the introduction of a wide range • Promoting gender considerations into
of equality legislation and strategies, therefore careers promotion, particularly in relation
aiming to address decades of inequality for to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering
many in society. These strategies are now and Mathematics) opportunities.
overdue and will be a priority for Alliance in a • Continuing our strong opposition to
new Executive. domestic and sexual violence by investing
in welfare facilities, education and
awareness programmes. This will include
People with Disabilities support for refuges and other support
In order to ensure that people with disabilities services for victims, and recognition that
have equality of opportunity in Northern these services require specialist expertise
Ireland, we commit to: and knowledge from providers.
• Incorporating the UN Convention on the • Establishing mentoring schemes to
Rights for Persons with disabilities into increase the number of women in decision
domestic law. making positions.
• Creating a Pedestrian’s Charter. • Reforming the pension system to ensure it
is based on residence, recognising that
• Dignity of care in provision of services,
women are more likely to take breaks from
such as replacement of equipment without
contributions or make lower levels of
delay in order to live a day to day life.
contributions.
• Recognition of non-verbal and non-signing
• Renewing efforts to tackle Equal Pay and
communication as a means of language.
implement regulations about public audits
• Introduction of a Sign Language Act. of the gender profile of pay by large
employers.
• Ensuring there is a clear pathway for
transitional arrangements for people with
disabilities leaving full-time education,
which is standardised across the region.
PAGE 16 ALLIANCE PARTY ASSEMBLY MANIFESTO 2022LGBTQI+ People • Introduce children’s budgeting for
spending in Northern Ireland to ensure
Alliance has long supported the rights of
transparency on overall spending on
LGBTQI+ people, who sadly still often face
children.
discrimination and stigma. Our priorities for
improving LGBTQI+ rights include: • Build on our record in the Executive to
ensure a wide variety of education, training
• Banning the harmful practice of so-called
and employment schemes continue to be
“Conversion Therapy”.
available specifically designed to assist
• Producing guidance for schools on young people.
addressing prejudice and homophobic,
• Develop the financial skills of young people
biphobic, and transphobic bullying in
through education and collaboration with
schools.
banks to produce financial services suitable
• Asking every service to audit how their for children.
services are provided to LGBTQI+ people
to ensure no accidental bias.
Older People
• Developing a comprehensive Strategy for
Transgender People, to ensure that the Alliance believes that we need to see a shift in
distinct needs of transgender people are the way we consider older people’s
reflected in public services and other areas contribution to society. Often older people are
of life. We will back this up with legislation seen primarily as users of health and social
if necessary. care and whilst it is important that we reform
these services to ensure they meet the needs
• Ensuring the provision of trans healthcare
of older people, we also want to focus on the
is human rights compliant and adheres to
positive aspects that older people bring to
best practice globally.
Northern Ireland. We want to make society a
• Introducing inclusive Relationship and place where older people are valued and
Sexuality Education (RSE) into the school supported to live life to its fullest potential,
curriculum. with their rights respected and dignity
• Reforming and simplifying laws on gender protected. We will achieve this by:
recognition so that trans people can obtain • Introducing age discrimination legislation
legal recognition with a simple on accessing goods, facilities and services
administrative process based on the through a Single Equality Act.
principle of statutory declaration, and
• Creating a Programme for Government
without intrusive medical diagnosis
that includes outcomes for an ageing and
requirements.
older population.
• Delivering the long overdue Sexual
• Reforming adult social care provision
Orientation Strategy.
funding on the same basis as access to
NHS provision.
Children and Young People • Using the Active Ageing Strategy as the
Alliance wants to ensure that children and basis of our provision of services to older
young people aren’t left out of political debate people. We acknowledge that the current
and are protected from discrimination. We strategy is imperfect and will seek to
will: improve it.
• Improve the political voice of young people • Recognising that many older people may
by arguing for the introduction of votes at wish to stay in work and providing them
16 as part of legislation which covers with the opportunity to improve their skills.
people of all ages. • Promoting the uptake of pension credit
• Ensure that any new age discrimination and other benefits on which older people
legislation protects under-16s. sometimes miss out.
• Creating a Loneliness Strategy.
SHARED FUTURE, EQUALITY & HUMAN RIGHTS PAGE 17Immigration and Asylum • Ensures a human rights based, case-by-
case approach is applied to education
Alliance represents everyone in Northern
policy and practice to remove barriers
Ireland, and as such, we have long opposed
refugee children and children in the asylum
the UK Government’s hostile environment.
system face in enjoying full access to
Migration is a normal part of human life: it
education.
enriches our culture, opens our minds, causes
love and families to grow, and significantly • Fund the TEO Crisis Fund on a permanent
improves our economy. basis, so that that refugees and people
seeking asylum can access emergency
From the humanitarian crises of Afghanistan
support all year round to help them
and Ukraine to the deaths of migrants in the
through the extreme hardships of
Channel, it is clear that the people of Northern
destitution.
Ireland reject the Conservative Government’s
callous approach and want to play their part • Provide refugee family reunion integration
in supporting refugees and creating an services on a sustainable, long-term basis.
inclusive, vibrant and welcoming society.
Immigration and asylum are reserved matters
OTHER EQUALITY ISSUES
and opposing the Conservative Government’s
anti-immigration agenda is a major priority for Defamation
Alliance at Westminster. Nevertheless, we Whilst recent reforms are welcome, many
believe there is scope to use devolved powers aspects of Northern Ireland’s defamation laws
to create mitigations and strengthen migrant are outdated. Wealthy individuals are using
and asylum seekers’ rights in Northern Ireland. our current laws to intimate others with the
threat of legal action that can be both lengthy
and costly. It is vital that we can strike a
Welcoming Refugees and Asylum Seekers
balance on freedom of expression, to progress
Refugees and people seeking asylum face much-needed reform.
significant barriers in accessing support to
meet their basic needs, including physical and
mental healthcare, education, financial Marriage
security and support to rebuild their lives in a In order to reflect our commitment to equality
new place of safety. and freedom of religion, Alliance would reform
Alliance will ensure asylum seekers and our current marriage laws to put belief
refugees are integrated safely and inclusively marriage on an equal footing with religious
into society. To do this, we will: marriage.
• Continue to oppose the increasingly We would also raise the minimum age for
restrictive hostile environment policies, marriage and civil partnerships to 18, as is the
including the ban on working for those recommendation of the United Nations
seeking asylum. Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Through this legislative change, we aim to
• Implement the Refugee Integration
ensure that the free will of the child is
Strategy on a cross departmental basis, in
safeguarded and also to combat forced
collaboration with the community and
marriage, which qualifies as a form of gender-
voluntary sector working with those who
based violence.
arrive in Northern Ireland.
• Ensure a trauma-informed approach is
applied to the physical and mental health No Fault Divorce
support available to refugees and people Northern Ireland currently lags behind
seeking asylum, recognising they are a England and Wales in relation to the law
group particularly at risk of experiencing regarding grounds for divorce. Current divorce
trauma prior to their arrival. law stipulates that blame must be attributed
to one party. Alliance will introduce ‘no fault’
divorce, removing the need for the end of a
marriage to have been someone’s ‘fault’.
PAGE 18 ALLIANCE PARTY ASSEMBLY MANIFESTO 2022JUSTICE DELIVERY 20
VICTIM-CENTRED JUSTICE 21
SAFER COMMUNITIES 21
FASTER, FAIRER JUSTICE 22
PARAMILITARISM & ORGANISED CRIME 22
PRISONS 23
YOUTH JUSTICE 23
LEGACY 24
CHAPTER 2
JUSTICE
JUSTICE PAGE 19JUSTICE
Alliance believes that respect for the rule of But there is much more to be done, and we
law, and efficient and effective policing and cannot continue to expect crime and
justice systems are critical for a healthy, reoffending levels to reduce whilst failing to
vibrant and shared society. prevent people from coming into contact with
the justice system in the first place. This work
In the Department of Justice, Alliance has
begins in other departments – such as Health,
delivered progressive and wide-ranging
Education and Communities – and so we need
reforms, with five pieces of legislation in just
a truly cross-Executive approach to justice.
two years.
JUSTICE DELIVERY
In a short mandate, Alliance has delivered in Justice. We have:
• Created a new domestic abuse offence of coercive control to capture non-physical abusive
behaviour.
• Introduced a stalking offence for the first time in Northern Ireland, as well as Stalking
Prevention Orders.
• Commenced Domestic Homicide Reviews, in order to prevent domestic violence and
homicide, and to ensure that abuse is identified and responded to effectively at the earliest
opportunity.
• Strengthened measures to help victims of sexual offences – by delivering on the Gillen
recommendations, outlawing up-skirting, down-blousing and cyber-flashing, and updating
revenge porn laws.
• Removed the requirement for victims and witnesses to provide evidence in advance of a trial.
• Made compensation and personal injury arrangements fairer for victims.
• Appointed a Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate, who will give victims a stronger
voice within the justice system.
• Commenced the Criminal Finances Act to crack down on the proceeds of organised crime.
• Established the Victims’ Payments Board to deliver the Troubles Permanent Disablement
Payment Scheme, after years of delay and deflection by others.
• Increased support available for serving prison officers and extended the health and well-
being services provided by the Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust to retired officers.
• Consulted on important changes to be made in the new mandate, such as proposals for
‘Charlotte’s Law’ in relation to disclosure of information on the locations of victims’ remains
by those convicted of their killing, on policing oversight, as well as the contents of a Hate
Crime Bill.
• Published strategies and action plans to address key issues such as Victims and Witnesses,
Organised Crime, Forensic Services, Adult Restorative Justice and Digital Justice.
• Completed work on a Sentencing Bill for the next mandate, which will allow for sentences
that better fit the crimes committed.
PAGE 20 ALLIANCE PARTY ASSEMBLY MANIFESTO 2022VICTIM-CENTRED JUSTICE SAFER COMMUNITIES
For too long, the voices of victims in our All crime causes harm: whether that is
criminal justice system have not been heard. physical injury, mental trauma or financial cost,
Processes are difficult to navigate and victims these all take a toll on our communities and
have often reported feeling overwhelmed and our society more widely. The shared
side-lined in cases which can be life-changing communities that we want to build are safe
for them. communities.
Alliance believes that we need to place victims This is why Alliance believes that we need to
at the centre of the justice system in a way ensure offenders are held accountable for the
that delivers fairly and effectively for crimes they commit, that investment is made
everyone. in the latest evidence-gathering techniques,
and that the justice system is responsive to
We can do this by making the whole system
new and emerging types of crime.
more accessible and easier to understand, by
ensuring vulnerable victims are protected in We will:
court, and by ensuring that victims have an
• Strengthen legislation on hate crime
advocate in the new Victims of Crime
through a new Hate Crime Bill.
Commissioner Designate.
• Support the innovative work undertaken by
We will:
the Probation Board of Northern Ireland
• Implement the new Victims and Witnesses and community and voluntary sector
Strategy, which will improve the partners, such as problem-solving justice,
experiences of victims within the criminal which reduces rates of offending.
justice system by: enhancing the Victim
• Pursue a cross-Executive, harm reduction
and Witness Care Unit; providing practical
approach to community safety and
support to give best evidence; raising
reducing offending, by tackling mental
awareness of the Victims Charter;
health and substance abuse issues in the
delivering trauma-informed training of
community before people become involved
criminal justice partners; and strengthening
in criminality.
protections for vulnerable victims and
witnesses. • Work with communities to reduce the
number of interface structures across
• Deliver on the remaining recommendations
Northern Ireland.
in the Gillen Review to support victims in
cases of serious sexual assaults. • Deliver a new Domestic and Sexual Abuse
Strategy to raise awareness, support
• Place the Victims of Crime Commissioner
victims and address offending behaviour.
on a statutory footing, building on the
scoping work undertaken by the • Consult on new legislative proposals to
Commissioner Designate. tackle anti-social behaviour.
• Modernise our Courts Estate, creating • Continue to tackle violence against women
facilities which are accessible to all, and girls by keeping the law around drink
including a hub in the north-west. spiking and street harassment under
review.
• Support the use of technology in court,
including potentially broadcasting court • Repeal the Vagrancy Acts, so that no one is
proceedings. criminalised for being destitute or
homeless.
• Legislate on Charlotte’s Law, to improve
opportunities for disclosure of information
on the locations of victims’ remains by
those convicted of their killing.
JUSTICE PAGE 21FASTER, FAIRER JUSTICE PARAMILITARISM &
Our criminal justice system is too slow as a ORGANISED CRIME
result of outdated practices and chronic There is no place for paramilitarism in our
underinvestment. Delays impact most heavily society: these are criminal gangs who exploit
on victims and witnesses but also on those people and communities. Active paramilitary
accused of crimes. Whilst the pandemic has groups should disband or, like other organised
exacerbated an already difficult situation, crime gangs, face a robust law enforcement
progress had been made in early 2020 which approach which will disrupt and dismantle
can be built upon for the future. their operations.
This will require investment right across the We will:
justice system: from policing, to courts, to
prisons. Alliance believes it is imperative that • Continue to support investment in cyber-
we make this investment to create a modern crime and forensics to allow law
justice system that is fair and efficient. enforcement partners to relentlessly
disrupt and pursue organised crime groups.
We will:
• Work on a cross-agency, cross-
• Continue the roll out of committal reform, departmental basis to recognise the
which will reduce the burden on witnesses complex nature of organised crime.
having to give evidence twice and which
will also reduce delay. • Further embed a public health approach to
our work in tackling paramilitarism,
• Further embed the use of live-links within building on the learning from innovative
the justice system, removing the need for initiatives such as the Connect Project.
victims, witnesses and perpetrators to
travel to court and therefore reducing the • Introduce Violence Reduction Units,
disruption caused by adjournments. bringing together specialists to tackle
violent crime and address its underlying
• Reform sentencing so that it better reflects causes.
the seriousness of the crime and so that
sentences are easily understood. • Address the structural factors which leave
young people vulnerable to exploitation by
• Implement the Adult Restorative Justice paramilitaries and organised crime gangs:
Strategy to provide opportunities to repair educational underachievement,
harm, minimise the impact of offending on unemployment, poverty, substance abuse
victims and to reduce court caseloads and family breakdown.
through the use of effective diversionary
restorative options. • Mainstream tackling paramilitarism within
government: the entire public sector must
• Commence a review of access to justice, adopt a similar policy-proofing process to
including consideration of whether and that of Equality Impact Assessments.
how to reform and extend legal aid
entitlement to those who need it. • Create a protocol for community and
public bodies engaging with
representatives of paramilitary groups.
• Continue to advocate for a unified
approach to tackling all forms of
paramilitary and terrorist activity,
irrespective of source.
• Treat paramilitary style attacks as human
rights abuses and explore the use of
safeguarding and modern slavery laws to
crack down on those responsible.
PAGE 22 ALLIANCE PARTY ASSEMBLY MANIFESTO 2022PRISONS YOUTH JUSTICE
Using prisons solely to punish those who have Alliance believes that we need to centre the
offended is both wrong and ineffective: child’s best interests in the youth justice
without a focus on rehabilitation, prisons system: taking a trauma-informed approach,
become a ‘revolving door’ in the justice diverting children from the criminal justice
system, where offenders end up in a cycle of system at the earliest possible stage, and only
reoffending and custody. ever placing a child in custody as a last resort.
By doing all these things we can improve the
We believe we need to use the most effective
well-being and life chances of vulnerable
criminal justice approaches to divert,
children and improve outcomes for children,
rehabilitate and reintegrate people who have
families and victims.
offended in order to make our communities
safer. This means that whilst the deprivation of We want a compassionate and holistic
liberty of a custodial sentence is a approach to youth offending and youth
punishment, being within our prisons is an justice. We will:
opportunity for change.
• Change the age of criminal responsibility
Alliance Justice Ministers have been from ten, which is one of the lowest in
responsible for driving wide-ranging and Europe, to 14.
transformative reforms within our prisons over
• Simplify parts of the youth court process,
the past ten years, but there is much more to
particularly around the number and
do. We will:
structure of court-ordered community
• Review issues around bail and remand, to sentences.
tackle the very high levels of remand
• Introduce legislation to remove the defence
prisoners in our custody.
of reasonable chastisement.
• Continue to use technology as a force for
• Legislate on bail and remand for children,
good within prisons, for example by
strengthening the existing automatic
facilitating virtual visits for prisoners who
presumption of bail for children in order to
want to use them.
comply with UN Convention on the Rights
• Progress an ambitious capital programme of the Child responsibilities.
for our prison estate, including the
• Create a Regional Care and Justice Campus
redevelopment of Magilligan and a new
which will promote a caring and
female facility at Hydebank Wood.
therapeutic environment to address the
• Implement the strategy for supporting and complex needs of young people, and which
challenging women in girls in contact with will provide the best possible support to
the justice system. the small number of children and young
people who require a period of secure
• Commence a review of through-the-gate
accommodation for their own safety or the
support for those leaving our custody,
safety of others.
working across Executive departments to
join up on issues such as healthcare,
housing and training, to improve
opportunities for rehabilitation.
• Examine alternatives to custody and make
recommendations on the use of a
presumption against short custodial
sentences where there is a low public
protection risk.
• Implement the Prisons 25by25 strategic
improvement programme, creating a
modern, progressive and innovative Prison
Service which makes the community safer
by challenging and supporting people to
change.
GOVERNMENT
JUSTICE PAGE 23
25LEGACY The proposals represent an unwarranted and
unjustified interference in due process and
Alliance has long advocated an overarching would undermine public confidence in the
mechanism for dealing with the legacy of justice system.
Northern Ireland’s past. We remain committed
to establishing and supporting all of the Whilst the UK Government refuses to
legacy institutions proposed in the 2014 implement the Stormont House institutions to
Stormont House Agreement and we are deal with the legacy of our past in Northern
deeply concerned by the UK Government’s Ireland, the modern justice system feels the
decision to renege on its commitment to the strain.
New Decade, New Approach agreement to Alliance remains committed to the following
legislate on those legacy institutions. The principles: promoting reconciliation; upholding
proposals contained in their Command Paper the rule of law; acknowledging and addressing
of July 2021 represent a political betrayal and the suffering of victims and survivors;
a gross insult to victims and survivors, who facilitating the pursuit of justice and
have the right to, and expectation of, truth information recovery; human rights
and justice. compliance, and balance, proportionality and
fairness. We will continue to promote and
pursue these aims.
PAGE 24 ALLIANCE PARTY ASSEMBLY MANIFESTO 2022REDUCING THE COSTS OF DIVISION 26
REFORMING THE PUBLIC SECTOR 27
IMPROVING BUDGET PROCESSES 28
REVENUE RAISING 28
LEVELLING UP & THE SHARED PROSPERITY FUND 29
DEBT FORBEARANCE 30
CHAPTER 3
FINANCE
FINANCE PAGE 25FINANCE
Sound public finances are essential for a This financial situation is being exacerbated by
strong economy and investment in public the cost of living crisis: people are struggling
services. As a region that relies on a to make ends meet and face further and
significant financial subvention, Northern prolonged increases in energy and other
Ireland is particularly vulnerable to changes or costs. The most vulnerable members of
deficiencies in public expenditure decisions society, including children in low income
taken in Westminster, and there is a particular families, face continued hardship.
challenge to ensure that available resources
To maximise the impact of the Northern
are used efficiently and strategically.
Ireland budget, we believe four key areas of
Repeated deadlock and dysfunction reform are needed:
undermine the provision of public services
1 Reducing the costs of division.
and results in missed opportunities, financial
waste and general economic and political 2 Reforming the public sector.
instability, to the detriment of our businesses 3 Improving budget processes.
and citizens.
4 Reviewing existing and potential revenue
raising options.
REDUCING THE COSTS OF DIVISION The costs of a divided society can be
considered within four contexts:
Alliance has long advocated that the
Executive tackle division and segregation, not • Direct costs of policing riots, other civil
just because of our strong preference for disturbances and parades, the distortions
promoting integration and a shared future, but to policing that arise from the security
because we know that a divided society costs threat, and the costs to a wide range of
more to run. agencies in repairing damaged buildings
and facilities.
Major distortions and financial inefficiencies
remain in Northern Ireland due to the • Costs associated with providing duplicate
provision of public services in the context of a goods, facilities and services for separate
divided society. This is not just a legacy issue; sections of the community, either implicitly
this duplication in service delivery continues or explicitly. This includes services in
to be replicated and embedded within public relation to schools, GP surgeries, job
spending, resulting in significant waste and centres, community centres, and leisure
unnecessary financial constraints elsewhere, centres, for example.
and opportunity costs in terms of better use • Hidden costs which impact upon the
of scarce resources. As financial pressures environment within which departments and
grow, the cost of division becomes even more agencies operate. Examples include
untenable. significant pressures on the housing sector
The current estimates of the cost of division from demographic imbalances and senses
range between £400m and £830m annually. of territoriality, and implications for
This is money that could be used to invest in mobility.
reform of our public services, such as health • Lost opportunities for economic activity
and education. and tax revenue from lost investment and
tourism.
PAGE 26 ALLIANCE PARTY ASSEMBLY MANIFESTO 2022It is essential that we acknowledge and To do this, we will:
address the financial and societal implications
• Ensure that the recommendations of the
of division in Northern Ireland. We want to
Northern Ireland Audit Office report into
ensure any associated savings are redirected
the Capacity and Capability of the
into reforming public services, and growing
Northern Ireland Civil Service, and the
and rebalancing the local economy.
Report into the RHI inquiry, are responded
We will: to in full.
• Create a practical and costed plan to tackle • Sponsor a programme of reform to attract
the financial and societal impacts of the best talent to work for the civil service.
division.
• Strengthen efforts to achieve diversity in
• Pursue policy solutions that directly public appointments.
address the costs of divisions such as
• Create a public register of publicly-owned
integrated education and shared housing.
land and property in order to assist
planning and divestment.
REFORMING THE PUBLIC SECTOR • Generate savings through the sale of public
assets when public sector reforms reduce
Northern Ireland has undergone significant
the number of buildings or land required by
public sector reform in the last decade. The
the Executive. This will generate capital
Local Government Act and the restructuring
receipts for investment elsewhere. Some of
of the Executive departments demonstrates
the receipts should be earmarked for
that significant public sector reform can take
investing in energy efficiency across the
place – if the political will exists.
public sector to lower energy costs in the
The pandemic has also necessitated quick, long run.
radical change in service delivery, particularly
• Promote and encourage the delivery of
in health but also through the administration
services on a North-South basis,
of finance to businesses and the community
underpinned by a work programme agreed
and voluntary sector. Whist imperfect, this
between the Executive and the Irish
highlights that restructuring delivery is
Government, including: all-island
possible on a long-term basis.
marketing, e.g. tourism, green economy;
Alliance believes that a shift in the balance of investing in infrastructure, such as energy,
resources into programmes that seek to transport, telecommunications; culture;
prevent problems from emerging can produce environmental protection; and addressing
savings by avoiding the need to spend greater barriers to labour market mobility.
levels of resources after problems fully
develop. However, the funding of the former
tends to be optional, while the funding of the
latter tends to be statutory. A focus on
preventative measures can ensure savings
across a range of public spending areas
including health, justice and social care.
There are a number of areas where reform
could be undertaken to improve public
services whilst allowing budgets to be cut.
FINANCE PAGE 27You can also read
