Cllr Brian Smyth

If the needle exchange facility run by Extern closes and cannot find a new building in Belfast city centre, the impact could be serious. We need a practical solution that protects public health, supports recovery & keeps Belfast city centre clean, safe and thriving.

The new figures for drug deaths in Northern Ireland show a 48.5% increase. Stormont is burying its head in the sand, this is cowardice. The Portuguese model of decriminalisation for small amounts on people's possession offers an alternative. Treat addiction as a health matter & not a criminal one.

Thanks to Belfast Telegraph for covering the Drug Testing at Festivals motion, delighted it was formally agreed at Council last night. Harm reduction & clear information will save lives. As a Green councillor in Belfast, I am done listening to some moralise, whilst people needlessly die.

When politicians on the right, including the DUP say rising energy costs are linked to net zero & climate policies, they are full of crap. Today BP announced profits that have doubled in 3 months, because of war in the Middle East. This is obscene & corporate greed, hurting communities across NI.

Cregagh Glen Pollution Update I’ve secured agreement from Belfast City Council to carry out a full investigation into what’s been happening, including all incidents and responses from DAERA and NIEA since January 2024.

Positive news, my amendment calling on Belfast City Council to enter negotiations with the Department of Health to deliver drug testing at festivals has been agreed at committee. This is about saving lives,harm reduction, and giving people the information they need to make informed decisions.

1 in 5 MLAs are landlords. Many councillors & their family members also are. Is there the political will to tackle the housing crisis? The housing crisis in NI has been created by the 5 parties who have been in power for 28 years. Connect the dots. It’s not the fault of minority communities.

A question for anyone who doesn't believe in climate change. Thinks it's a scam and complete nonsense, with all that is going on in the world right now with rising energy costs.....

Update from Council today. I raised the need for night buses to be in place for duration of Fleadh Cheoil. 800k plus people expected to attend over 7 days, it is vital that we have it in place. Got agreement for new gates on the Ravenhill Rd side of Ormeau Park, gates that are disabled compliant.

MLAs in line for a £14,000 per year pay rise. My question to those 90 MLAs do you actually think you are delivering for the public? Most MLAs are nothing more than glorified councillors who pass meaningless motions. Meanwhile our infrastructure, health service, Lough Neagh etc are collapsing.

No vehicles were harmed in the making of this video.

Update on Boucher & Pitches Strategy last night at Council. We don't have to pit music & sport against each other. As Greens we successfully argued for a deferral to give everyone a few weeks to get this right. The bigger political parties are failing to deliver up Stormont & need a distraction.

I spoke to Frank Mitchell about the failure of the Hill Street pedestrianisation scheme this week. It's reflective of wider problems, at Stormont, especially Sinn Fein & DUP don't want to make NI work. When will they put their big boy & big girl pants on, govern this place & improve people's lives?

Belfast is now the most congested city in the UK. We can do better. The Ravenhill Road cycle lane consultation is a real opportunity to create safer, cleaner streets. Young people’s voices must be central to this. I’ve asked the DfI to consult with local schools. Let's build a cleaner Belfast.

I was on Nolan today talking on how Twitter/X is now running a business model that tolerates & profits from the sexual abuse & exploitation of women & children through AI deepfakes. Any political party or public rep who keeps treating X as a normal platform, while knowing this, is complicit.

I spoke at Council on Thursday about the deepening homelessness crisis & deaths in the city. Myself & Cllr Áine Groogan also met the Welcome Organisation this week to see the pressures they are under. I want to thank Lord Mayor Tracy Kelly for seeing the urgency in dealing with this.

A Christmas message to the 20 MLAs in Belfast.

Belfast needs an overdose prevention centre. Lives are needlessly being lost. We need leadership from Stormont, especially the Health & Justice Ministers. Are they worried by how some voters will feel about the prospect of an overdose prevention centre, 20 months out from an election?

Belfast city centre is at a crossroads. Will community need beat developer greed? We say yes. Time for overdose prevention, safer streets, and real public transport - not empty promises or empty buildings. A greener, fairer Belfast starts now. #BelfastCityCentre #GreenPartyNI

I spoke on Nolan this morning and called on Translink & Department of Infrastructure to reduce the cost of public transport over the Xmas period. Put increased services in place to get Belfast & NI moving. Ease congestion and make it economically viable for people to get on the bus or train.

People in NI have been failed for decades by the Stormont Executive. Migrants aren't to blame for collapsing public services, a lack of social homes, rising NHS waiting lists. It's down to Stormont and how they have prioritised division over investment in abandoned communities.

When racist violence erupted last summer, inaction from the executive let it fester and emboldened fascists. Stormont has a leadership vacuum on this and other issues. When far-right thugs try to lynch migrant workers outside McDonalds, silence from elected representatives is complicity.

It's been reported today that nearly half of those arrested in Northern Ireland last August during the racist violence, have previously been reported for domestic abuse. Don't tell me the biggest threat to women and children comes from immigrants, it's mostly comes from local straight white men.

I've been contacted by local residents about another potential pollution incident in the Loop River. I've informed NIEA and Andrew Muir's office, but both I believe are weak and ineffective. It's not a question of if, but when water quality becomes a risk to human health in NI.

A message to all other Belfast City Councillors: Hopefully BCC acquires the Assembly Rooms in next few months, but don't pat yourselves on the back, thinking job done. This is only the end of the beginning. We still have more to do in delivering a city centre people will be proud of.

Cherryvale Park update: he huge fallen tree from Storm Eowyn has now been cleared, we will be undertaking tree planting come the Autumn. I have asked for this in other South & East Belfast parks. I've also asked for any new entrance on that side to include pedestrian access.

sMYTH BUSTING the Green Party, Pt 3: The Greens don't get the cost of living crisis The working and middle classes are being squeezed, while Stormont shows no ambition or bravery. We want to build a new Green economy, create thousands of jobs/apprenticeships, and end fuel poverty.

sMYTH BUSTING the Green Party, part 2: The Greens want to ban cars. No we don't. We want to strengthen public transport & active travel. Our roads are congested & filled with dirty air. 34% of people in Belfast don't have access to a car. Is this really the best we can do?

sMTYH BUSTING, the Green Party, part 1. The Greens only care about the environment. Well that's not exactly the case, let's talk about Housing.

We need a new approach to drug and alcohol misuse in Belfast. We can't ignore rising drug deaths & the impact of zero tolerance policies. Let's make Belfast the first harm reduction city in Ireland, support our night time economy & make this city a model of progressive change.

As thousands of people come into Belfast City Centre to celebrate St Patrick's Day, one of its most important & historic buildings lies left to rot by the failure of private developers. It's time for Assembly Rooms to come into public ownership & save it for future generations.

Entrance to Cherryvale Park blocked and seriously damaged due to a large tree that has collapsed. Stay at home and keep safe. I'll keep people updated.

The Sinn Fein minister responsible for transport policy is failing Belfast. There is no imagination to reduce car dependency & strengthen public transport. As Greens we believe there are alternatives, greater investment in buses, cycling & walking. Delivering cleaner streets & healthier outcomes.

Seeing videos of parts of Belfast flooded, due to Storm Bert. This city's crumbling waste water infrastructure leaves it at serious risk. Meanwhile the Stormont Executive shows little urgency to fund it and that it is growing into a public health crisis.