Alliance manifesto calls for integrated funding

The cross-community Alliance Party will today call for public funds spent on segregating society in the North to be diverted to projects that benefit both communities.

The proposal will feature in the party’s Assembly election manifesto, which will be launched in Belfast by Alliance leader David Ford.

The cross-community party, which is defending six Stormont Assembly seats in the March 7 election, is also expected to call for support for integrated education for Protestant and Catholic schoolchildren and oppose plans to introduce water charges in the North in April.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams will today campaign in the west of the North and help launch his party’s strategy for agriculture and rural development.

He will be joined by fellow Sinn Féin MPs Pat Doherty and Michelle Gildernew in Omagh for the launch of the Delivering For Rural Ireland document.

Ms Gildernew said ahead of the release of the policy paper that the party is committed to keeping farming families on the land and guaranteeing good quality of life for rural communities.

“We believe that agriculture and fishing can be made sustainable within the context of an all-Ireland farming and fisheries policy,” the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP said.

“At the heart of our approach is the need for genuine consultation and engagement with farmers and fishermen, rural businesses and rural communities and their representative organisations linking agriculture, fisheries, enterprise, environment, culture, health, education, transportation, communications and social services.”

SDLP leader Mark Durkan will be joined on the campaign trail by the deputy leader of the Irish Labour Party, Liz McManus, in Lisburn.

They will be campaigning on behalf of the SDLP’s candidate in Lagan Valley, Marietta Farrell, who is defending the party’s seat in the constituency.

Mr Durkan yesterday launched his party’s Assembly manifesto, which called for corporation tax levels to be harmonised on both sides of the border, the creation of a revenue regulator to monitor charges levied on ratepayers by government and demanded the use of bio-fuels in public transport.

Ms McManus is the second senior political figure from the Republic to travel north of the border during the campaign to back the SDLP.

The leader of the opposition, Enda Kenny of Fine Gael, visited Newry last week to pledge his support, and senior figures from Bertie Ahern’s Fianna Fáil are also expected to cross the border to support the SDLP.