Alliance Party leader David Ford has accused other Northern Ireland Executive parties of “delay, fudge and waffle” at the party’s annual conference.

Speaking at the La Mon Hotel on the outskirts of Belfast on Saturday the North’s justice minister said the pace of change needs to increase and that others had “been guilty of holding back Northern Ireland for too long”.

“Moving forward, faster” was the focus of the south Antrim MLA’s speech.

“The leaders of the other main parties have failed time and again to deliver the significant, important changes this society needs,” Mr Ford said.

“They have dithered and disagreed, protecting their own votes at the expense of progress.

“They have prevented us from dealing with the past in a way which would allow us to move into the future.”

Mr Ford described the Fresh Start Agreement as a false dawn for victims of the conflict and suggested the British and Irish governments, the DUP and Sinn Féin had let them down.

Alliance is also campaigning to remain in the EU ahead of the referendum on membership on June 23rd.

Employment and Learning minister Dr Stephen Farry said Europe brings practical benefits to the North in terms of policing, justice co-operation, common environmental standards and in terms of finance and the economy.

“Northern Ireland does well in terms of access to European programmes and support for our rural economy,” he said.

“We won’t be fooled by any notion that Northern Ireland would get the same or more money back if we were left in the hands of the UK Government.

“But leaving aside the financial transfers, the critical point is that Europe offers access to a huge single market worth over £700 Billion. And exports are central to the Northern Ireland Economy Strategy, with over half already going into that EU market.”

Dr Farry said the prospect of leaving the EU at a time when Northern Ireland was set to lower to the rate of corporation tax from 20 per cent to 12.5 percent “is a cruel irony”.

“Our access to Europe is one of the most compelling reasons for investing into Northern Ireland,” he said.

“I have done a lot of work on encouraging investment over the past five years. In all of that time, I have not a single investor who has advocated that Northern Ireland would be better out of Europe.

“A lower rate of Corporation Tax has the potential to provide a step-change in our economic fortunes, creating tens of thousands new jobs and spurring further economic growth.”

Assembly elections

Alliance currently has eight MLAs at Stormont. At the last Assembly election in 2011 it took 7 per cent of the first preference vote.

Party strategists are hoping it will make gains in East Antrim, North Down, East Belfast, North Belfast and South Belfast at the upcoming Assembly elections on May 5th.

Mr Ford said the party is going into the Assembly election campaign fully committed to building a united community and that “no other party can say it is as representative of every section of the community as Alliance”.

“It is time we stopped the delay, the fudge and the waffle of other parties and moved ahead, further and faster, to build a united community,” he said.

Outgoing Stormont MLA Anna Lo believes the tribal politics of “us and them” in Northern Ireland is hindering political, social and economic progress.

Ms Lo, the UK’s first parliamentarian from the Chinese community, is not seeking re-election to her South Belfast MLA at the upcoming Assembly elections.

Speaking on the theme of diversity she accused the Assembly of failing the LGBT community in the North on issues like adoption, blood donation and homophobic bullying in schools.

Ms Lo voiced optimism that same-sex marriage would be a reality in the North soon.

“I wish that marriage equality could have been achieved during my time at the Assembly but I know this will happen,” she said.

Describing the Northern Ireland Assembly a “very male, and very white” Ms Lo also said improving female and ethnic minority representation at Stormont should be areas of focus.

In her last party conference speech ahead of retirement she said Alliance “must continue to ensure that those who feel different know that they are valued”.

She told delegates: “It has been a great privilege to serve as an Alliance MLA. Thank you for your support and your friendship.”