Young Alliance welcomes positive meeting with Minister

12.00.00am GMT Wed 19th Jan 2005

Young Alliance has welcomed the progress made during a meeting with Minister of State for political development, John Spellar MP. The delegation explored how best to break the current deadlock in the political process and ways to ensure young people's constructive involvement in it.

Young Alliance Chair and North Down Council candidate for Holywood, Ian Parsley said: "We had a very productive meeting with the Minister during which we discussed our view that a voluntary coalition is the best way to place decision-making with those who have a legitimate mandate here.

"We also asked the Minister to support our campaign for the introduction of more Youth Councils around Northern Ireland. It is essential that young people are not turned off the political process. Youth Councils will give young people a strong voice and give them a chance to make a real difference on issues that affect them."

Young Alliance delegate, Ian Williamson, said: "We discussed the need to unite the community through culture, education and employment and underlined the importance of government setting a good example in these areas. We stated that they should help remove the 'two communities' mindset which pervades much of the job application and project funding process. Young people should have the chance to define their own identity and break free from the shackles of segregation.

"Young Alliance will continue to liase with the Minister regarding all these issues and we hope to see progress in these areas in the near future."