Young Alliance pays tribute to Bell

3.30.00pm GMT Sat 10th Dec 2005

Young Alliance has paid tribute to Alliance Deputy Leader Eileen Bell, after her decision to stand down at the next Assembly Election.

Chairman Ian James Parsley, a Councillor in North Down, stated: "It has been an absolute privilege to work alongside Eileen since I joined the party. The energy, enthusiasm and determination she has brought to her drive to ensure fairness, integrity and progress for all her constituents, regardless of background, is an example to us all.

"Eileen has sacrificed much for the Alliance cause. Her legacy as an elected representative will be one of a diligent public representative known and admired by many, many people. She deserves no less."

His colleague in the youth wing, Pete Milner, who works in the party's constituency office in East Belfast, stated: "The party's position was hugely strengthened by Eileen Bell's work in a number of positions across the party. Her tenure as Deputy Leader saw an apparently hopeless situation turned into electoral gains while all about us were losing seats.

"Eileen's steadfastness has seen the party position improved, and the drive towards a genuinely shared future continued. We all have a real prospect of building a genuinely united community through new community relations initiatives, and that is largely due to Eileen's commitment to that cause.

"I have no doubt she will continue to use her knowledge and experience to the advantage of victims, the disadvantaged, and of course the party."