Alliance Chair endorses Women's Manifesto

10.30.23am GMT Thu 1st Mar 2007

Alliance Party Chair Yvonne Boyle

Alliance Party Chair and Candidate for Foyle, Yvonne Boyle, has welcomed the launch of the Women's Manifesto for the Northern Ireland Assembly at the Equality Commission today.

Ms Boyle, a former North West Tutor for the 'Women into Politics' Programme, said: "I endorse the Women's Manifesto and am very pleased to be standing for a party which promotes equality of opportunity for all.

"The Alliance Manifesto endorses the full implementation of the recently developed Gender Equality Strategy."

"Alliance has 7 women out of 18 candidates in the Assembly election- over 35%. They are: Deputy Leader - Cllr Naomi Long, East Belfast; Anna Lo, South Belfast; Party Chair - Yvonne Boyle, Foyle; Former Chair - Jane Dunlop, North Antrim; Cllr Máire Hendron, Newry and Armagh; Margaret Marshall in Mid-Ulster and Sheila McQuaid in Upper Bann.

"If £1 billion was not wasted yearly in maintaining segregation, this money could be spent on improving front-line services for women in Foyle and throughout Northern Ireland. As a Senior Social Worker in the area, I work to reduce the effects of poverty on people's lives, and support survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Improved services could be funded to meet the needs of these areas, thus saving lives, easing suffering and reducing waiting lists. This would include addressing the increasing needs of young teenage girls at risk of self harm recently identified by the NSPCC.

"Economic needs in Foyle could also be addressed by more women being encouraged to start up their own businesses with Invest NI's new Pathclearing Initiative.

"In endorsing this Manifesto, I believe we need to continue to build a new vibrant partnership between women and men in Northern Ireland, at every level of society, based on a shared future and respect for diversity."

ENDS