Latest releases
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11,733 releases
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Durkan: Education Minister must value role of classroom assistants
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says Education Minister Paul Givan should give classroom assistants proper respect, ahead of an SDLP Opposition Day motion on Monday. He criticises proposed reforms, especially around special educational needs, and calls for scrutiny of the Executive.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Classroom assistant reforms proposed by Education Minister Paul Givan Original release: Durkan: Education Minister must value role of classroom assistants (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan welcomes Irish Government co-operation with Omagh Bomb Inquiry
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan welcomes Irish Government support for legislation allowing evidence to be given through Southern courts to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry. He calls for the process to be prioritised and progressed quickly, and urges the Irish Government to engage with the Omagh…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Irish Government legislation on cooperation with Omagh Bombing Inquiry Original release: McCrossan welcomes Irish Government co-operation with Omagh Bomb Inquiry (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party meet with Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA says he pressed Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee on maritime security, Stormont reform and legacy, and will write to her demanding details of alleged Troubles amnesty claims made by Michael McDowell.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: UUP meeting with Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee Original release: Ulster Unionist Party meet with Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee (opens in a new tab)
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Economy Minister needs to engage with UK Government to help local people during energy crisis, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA has written to Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald urging her to engage with the UK Government on support for households facing rising energy and fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict. He calls for help similar to the 2022 package after Russia's…
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Rising energy and fuel costs following Middle East conflict Original release: Economy Minister needs to engage with UK Government to help local people during energy crisis, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Long launches campaign to tackle myths and misconceptions around rape
Alliance Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA says everyone has a role in challenging rape myths after her department launched the social media campaign 'Rape Myths = Real Harm'. She argues such myths shift blame onto victims and let perpetrators evade justice.
Justice and policing Issue: Department of Justice 'Rape Myths = Real Harm' social media campaign launch Original release: Long launches campaign to tackle myths and misconceptions around rape (opens in a new tab)
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SoS must step in to ensure establishment of independent Environmental Protection Agency, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA calls on Secretary of State Hilary Benn to step in and help establish an independent Environmental Protection Agency, which he says all main parties committed to in New Decade, New Approach. He accuses the DUP of blocking it at the Executive ahead…
Environment and climate Constitutional affairs Issue: Independent Environmental Protection Agency establishment blocked at Executive Original release: SoS must step in to ensure establishment of independent Environmental Protection Agency, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP calls for Executive support package after energy costs spike
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA calls on the Executive to create a support package for families hit by the sharp rise in energy costs after the Middle East conflict, urging use of UK Spring Statement funding, regulation of heating oil and a green transition.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Energy cost surge following Middle East conflict Original release: SDLP calls for Executive support package after energy costs spike (opens in a new tab)
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Roofe says community in shock following death of woman
Alliance Enniskillen Councillor Eddie Roofe says the local community is shocked after a woman's body was found at a Corban Avenue property following a nearby road collision. He urges anyone with information to contact police immediately.
Justice and policing Issue: Corban Avenue, Enniskillen woman's death investigation Original release: Roofe says community in shock following death of woman (opens in a new tab)
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Justice Minister's political interference in policing
UUP says FOI responses show Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA contacted police via WhatsApp to complain about a PSNI logo used in a UUP press release, calling this political interference in police operational independence. It calls on the Minister to appear before the Assembly and ensure such…
Justice and policing Issue: PSNI logo use in UUP press release and Naomi Long WhatsApp messages Original release: Justice Minister's political interference in policing (opens in a new tab)
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DUP representatives mark 17th anniversary of Massereene attack
The DUP's South Antrim MLA Trevor Clarke and colleagues honour the two soldiers killed at Massereene Barracks ahead of the 17th anniversary, warning against groups seeking to continue such violence and against romanticising terrorism.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Original release: DUP representatives mark 17th anniversary of Massereene attack (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston challenges Executive Ministers after “neither” gender category exposed in violence against women funding scheme
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says funding for a violence against women scheme is allocated to groups using a third gender category, 'neither', and has submitted questions to all Executive Ministers on how departmental data is broken down by gender and defined.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Violence against women funding scheme gender category 'neither' questions to Executive Ministers Original release: Gaston challenges Executive Ministers after “neither” gender category exposed in violence against women funding scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston publishes his response to Stormont’s MLA only consultation on MLA pay
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston submits his response to the Independent Remuneration Board consultation, opposing the proposed rise in MLA basic salary from about £53,000 to £67,200. He argues the increase is out of step with public sector pay and that the benchmarking against other legislatures is…
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Issue: Independent Remuneration Board MLA pay determination increase Original release: Gaston publishes his response to Stormont’s MLA only consultation on MLA pay (opens in a new tab)
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Dublin’s moral outrage rings hollow on Legacy and the Middle East
Upper Bann MLA Doug Beattie MC accuses the Irish Government of double standards, claiming it ignored its own role in the Troubles on legacy and that Irish airspace and Shannon Airport facilitate US operations in the Middle East. He also says Sinn Féin's criticism of the government on this is for…
International affairs Community relations and legacy Original release: Dublin’s moral outrage rings hollow on Legacy and the Middle East (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party marks the 17th Anniversary of the Massereene Barracks attack
The UUP marks the 17th anniversary of the 2009 Massereene Barracks attack, remembering Sappers Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar killed and two soldiers and two civilian delivery men wounded. Robin Swann MP pays tribute to armed forces personnel living under threat, and Steve Aiken MLA warns that…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: Ulster Unionist Party marks the 17th Anniversary of the Massereene Barracks attack (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance’s response to the Independent Remuneration Board’s consultation into MLA pay
Alliance says it would be inappropriate for MLAs to set their own pay and calls for any increase to reflect public finance pressures and uplifts for other public sector workers. It opposes the proposed hike and urges pay to be stopped entirely for MLAs from parties that block Assembly functioning…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Independent Remuneration Board MLA pay determination increase Original release: Alliance’s response to the Independent Remuneration Board’s consultation into MLA pay (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister must listen to those on frontline tackling poverty – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to take on board concerns from local councils and community organisations about his plan to tackle poverty, and to bring forward a more ambitious plan. He says the minister ignored campaigners and councils during its…
Social security and welfare Local government Issue: Communities Committee hearing on Communities Minister's anti-poverty plan Original release: Communities Minister must listen to those on frontline tackling poverty – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Minister’s childcare proposals must increase support and fairness for pre-schools – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says any childcare proposals from Education Minister Paul Givan must improve funding and fairness across pre-school settings. She argues the planned extension of free pre-school hours should close funding gaps that leave some providers feeling overlooked, and calls for…
Education Issue: Education Minister's proposed extension of free pre-school hours Original release: Minister’s childcare proposals must increase support and fairness for pre-schools – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston exposes O’Neill hypocrisy on MLA pay
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says First Minister Michelle O'Neill cannot distance herself from a £14,000 MLA pay rise, arguing Sinn Féin helped establish the benchmarking scheme that steered the Remuneration Board towards large uplifts. He calls on her to admit the Stormont establishment created the…
Public finance and taxation Issue: Independent Remuneration Board MLA pay determination increase Original release: Gaston exposes O’Neill hypocrisy on MLA pay (opens in a new tab)
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Givan welcomes Independent Review of Assessment Report
Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes the Independent Review of Assessment report, saying it delivers on the TransformED strategy and provides an evidence base for a low‑stakes, low‑workload assessment system that reduces workload and supports progress for every child.
Education Issue: Publication of Independent Review of Assessment report Original release: Givan welcomes Independent Review of Assessment Report (opens in a new tab)
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Women Left Waiting Years in Pain – Urgent Investment Needed in Northern Ireland’s Gynaecology Services
TUV councillor Anna Henry, Mid and East Antrim, warns women face years of chronic pain awaiting first gynaecology specialist appointments, citing June 2025 figures showing over 14,000 waiting in the South Eastern Trust and wait times near two years, and calls for urgent investment.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Department of Health June 2025 gynaecology outpatient waiting list figures Original release: Women Left Waiting Years in Pain – Urgent Investment Needed in Northern Ireland’s Gynaecology Services (opens in a new tab)