Alliance left off committee list

The committee will meet next week without the Alliance Party

The Alliance Party has been told it is not invited to take part in the Programme for Government Committee meeting next week.

Party leader David Ford said he does not understand this as he was invited to participate in a similar meeting last month.

That meeting, however, was aborted when Ian Paisley refused to attend.

The committee will involve Sinn Fein, the DUP, the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP.