Legislation promoting integrated education and cross-community housing in Northern Ireland have been included in a blueprint for the next Assembly unveiled by the Alliance Party.
Its leader, current justice minister David Ford, has proposed a series of pieces of legislation that he said would deliver proposals postponed by the current executive, as well as providing new ideas for the future.
Mr Ford also tabled legislation that would bring the crisis-hit Northern Ireland Water company under greater government control.
The Alliance leader said his party’s legislative programme was the first attempt by a party to spell out a proposed agenda for Assembly law makers in advance of a new term.
“Politics is about providing solutions, and that’s why Alliance is launching our legislative programme. Northern Ireland needs fresh ideas and strong leadership,” he said.
“We are the first party in Northern Ireland to ever publish specific plans for legislation for a future Assembly term. We are leading change. I believe that one of the essential ingredients to attracting investment and new jobs is stability in our political institutions.
“A key part of that stability is making it a duty of all departments to co-operate and collaborate to meet general objectives. These could include promoting community safety and combating crime; promoting public health; working for sustainable development; and promoting a shared future.”
His proposals included plans for a shared and integrated education bill and legislation to create an Independent Environmental Protection Agency.
Mr Ford said all the measures would improve community relations, help deliver savings and, in the case of NI Water, help find the investment needed to upgrade the antiquated water supply system.
“We want to deliver better, more joined-up government. Northern Ireland has too many politicians but not enough leaders,” he said.
“This is our ambitious starting point as a programme for legislation in the new term.”
PA