Dr. Alasdair McDonnell MP

In todays meeting with the Secretary of State myself and SDLP colleagues made it very clear that parades must not politicised. We told the Secretary of State very firmly that the unionist proposal for a new Commission would undermine local dialogue, the Parades Commission and the courts and this must not be allowed to happen. […]

Last night, during watermain works, NI Waterstaff discovered a large void, or underground hole under the Ravenhill road, Belfast. We need to prioritise the safety of all road users during works to deal with the discovery of an underground hole on the Ravenhill Road. I am also calling for further investigation of the ground conditions […]

“I wish to thank those who came out to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza at last weekends Rally. I pleased that so many public representatives, including many members of the SDLP have attended the Irish Congress of Trade Unions rally in Belfast to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. ‘The world has witnessed the […]

The Hallet Review Report in relation to the OTR letters was published by the British Government this morning. “Justice Hallett conducted this review into secret letters issued to republican terrorism suspects under time constraints and I want to acknowledge and thank Justice Hallett for her diligence and efforts. It is evident that the SDLP were […]

Questions to the Secretary of State during Northern Ireland Questions in Westminster on Wednesday 16th July   I asked the Secretary of State: Could the Secretary of State confirm that an independent arbitration body is absolutely necessary to arbitrate on contentious parades and would she confirm that the parades commission is the law and that […]

I am very  disappointed in relation to this afternoons events at the all party talks.  The UUP and DUP are to withdraw from the Talks on the future of flags, parading and the Past in reaction to the Parades Commission refusal to allow the 12th July march to pass the Ardoyne shop fronts. The SDLP […]

  “Today we learned that Irish Minister for Education RuairíQuinn TD has announced that he is to withdraw from the Irish Cabinet and will not contest the next General Election. “Ruairí Quinn, like so many of his Labour Party colleagues has been a powerful friend to the SDLP and a strong supporter of the peace process and […]

  “Tensions are high in communities across Northern Ireland ahead of the beginning of the Marching season. The failure of other parties to sign up to the Haass/O’Sullivan proposals and the perceived detachment of the British government from that process has only made things worse.   “With new talks aimed at achieving resolution based on […]

The coalition Government have confirmed plans for their final year in office following todays Queens speech. The SDLP will support any legislation which will improve the standard of living for hard-pressed working families so we will study with interest the coalition plans to allow workers to contribute to Dutch-style collective pensions.   Suggestion of a […]

Great news about the historic appointment of two female mayors in Belfast and Derry. SDLP women Nichola Mallon and Brenda Stevenson made history at the start of June as they took on these roles in their respective cities. I am delighted that, for the first time, both Belfast and Derry will have strong women as their First […]