Latest releases
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5,227 releases
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Seasann Sinn Féin le hearnáil na Gaeilge sa stailc i gcionne ciorruithe – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD & Conor McGuinness TD
Sinn Féin TDs Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Irish language and Gaeltacht spokesperson, and Conor McGuinness, junior spokesperson for Tuaithe, Pobail agus Gaeltacht, back the Irish-language sector strike against planned Foras na Gaeilge cuts. Ó Snodaigh urges Minister Dara Calleary to fund affected…
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Irish language organisations strike over Foras na Gaeilge funding cuts Original release: Seasann Sinn Féin le hearnáil na Gaeilge sa stailc i gcionne ciorruithe – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD & Conor McGuinness TD (opens in a new tab)
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Popular aspiration for Irish unity is growing – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney says a LucidTalk poll shows 53% of voters and 60% of under-35s aspire to Irish unity within 20 years. He calls on the Irish government to set up a Citizens' Assembly, draft a green paper and appoint a Minister for Reunification.
Constitutional affairs Issue: LucidTalk poll on Irish unity aspirations Original release: Popular aspiration for Irish unity is growing – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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We must work together to improve dental services in Fermanagh and South Tyrone – Dolan
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan calls for urgent action on the shortage of NHS dentists in Fermanagh, urging parties and ministers to work together. She says low NHS fee uplifts are driving dentists away and asks the Health Minister to explore reinstating financial support schemes.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Assembly debate on dental services in Fermanagh and South Tyrone Original release: We must work together to improve dental services in Fermanagh and South Tyrone – Dolan (opens in a new tab)
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Ofcom’s New Social Media Guidance - Toothless and Ineffective
DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart says Ofcom's new guidance on online misogyny and deepfake abuse lacks enforcement, calling it symbolic and relying on voluntary compliance. She calls for legally binding obligations and financial penalties for social media platforms.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Ofcom online misogyny and deepfake abuse guidance Original release: Ofcom’s New Social Media Guidance - Toothless and Ineffective (opens in a new tab)
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Lifting ban on Irish in our courts wrong on three fronts
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says repealing the ban on Irish in Northern Ireland's courts is regressive on equality, justice and finances. He claims it would make the legal profession less welcoming to Unionists, weaken juries' understanding of defendants, and add translation costs and delays.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: British government repeal of ban on Irish in courts Original release: Lifting ban on Irish in our courts wrong on three fronts (opens in a new tab)
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‘Hugely significant’ as British government to scrap ban on Irish in courts – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes reports that the British government will repeal its ban on Irish being used in courts, a provision from the 2022 Irish language act that has not yet taken effect. She describes the move as a major step for Irish speakers in the north.
Disability and equality Issue: British government repeal of ban on Irish in courts Original release: ‘Hugely significant’ as British government to scrap ban on Irish in courts – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Irish language organisations deserve fair funding – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy backs Irish language groups ahead of a Wednesday walkout protesting cuts to their funding, urging a fair, long-term resolution to Foras na Gaeilge funding disputes.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Irish language organisations strike over Foras na Gaeilge funding cuts Original release: Irish language organisations deserve fair funding – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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25 February 2025: The Arrival of the ‘West – East’ Irish Sea Border
TUV MP Jim Allister KC says export procedures on Northern Ireland goods moving to Great Britain show the Irish Sea border is cementing division, and calls on the government to abandon the Parcels Border and pursue Mutual Enforcement instead.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: West – East Irish Sea Border enforcement commencement on Northern Ireland to GB goods Original release: 25 February 2025: The Arrival of the ‘West – East’ Irish Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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DUP Peers welcome Gambling Levy
DUP peer Lord Browne says the draft gambling levy regulations are too low to meaningfully address gambling harm, citing 2.5% of adults affected and costs possibly near £5 billion, and urges the Minister to raise rates, including to at least 5% for the most harmful remote licences.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Draft gambling harm levy regulations for Great Britain Original release: DUP Peers welcome Gambling Levy (opens in a new tab)
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Repeal of ban on languages other than English in courts needs follow-up action from First and deputy First Minister, says Bradshaw
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Paula Bradshaw welcomes the Secretary of State’s decision to start the fourth section of the Identity and Language (NI) Act 2022, which clarifies the repeal of the ban on non‑English languages in courts, and urges the First and deputy First Minister to promptly
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Commencement of Section 4 of the Identity and Language Act Original release: Repeal of ban on languages other than English in courts needs follow-up action from First and deputy First Minister, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Ministers repeatedly dodging Assembly accountability: O’Toole
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA accuses Executive Ministers of repeatedly avoiding Assembly scrutiny, citing the Finance Minister's draft Budget and monitoring rounds issued by written statement. He also cites the Health Minister's grant funding cuts and an AERA avian flu update…
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Original release: Ministers repeatedly dodging Assembly accountability: O’Toole (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive must deliver support for private renters
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan welcomes Assembly support for a motion on protecting private renters, after his party's amendment calling for a standards and enforcement review, extended threatened-with-homelessness legislation and a bridging grant was passed. He calls on Executive parties to…
Housing Issue: Assembly motion on protecting private renters Original release: Durkan: Executive must deliver support for private renters (opens in a new tab)
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“We have lost a great patriot who lived his life for the freedom and unity of Ireland”
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald sends condolences after the death of Bik McFarlane, describing him as a lifelong republican and a key figure in the H-Blocks and the peace process. She pays tribute to his music and extends sympathy to his family.
Other Constitutional affairs Original release: “We have lost a great patriot who lived his life for the freedom and unity of Ireland” (opens in a new tab)
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Children with special educational needs in Irish-medium schools must not be left behind – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason urges the Health and Education departments to act urgently on support for children with special educational needs in Irish-medium schools, after a joint committee meeting. She says there is no clear picture of allied health professionals in the sector and calls for…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Joint Health and Education Committees meeting on SEN support in Irish-medium schools Original release: Children with special educational needs in Irish-medium schools must not be left behind – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Department of Health’s Core Grant scheme "exploitative" - Cllr Kendall
Green Party NI Councillor Lauren Kendall says the health department's core grant programme is exploitative, with only 25 of 259 applicants receiving £1.8m for 2025/26 – half the previous allocation – and urges an immediate restoration of funding for community wellbeing services.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Department core grant funding cuts 2025/26 Original release: Department of Health’s Core Grant scheme "exploitative" - Cllr Kendall (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly expresses concern over disparity in cancer death rates between areas
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA expresses concern over a Cancer Research UK report showing cancer death rates about 45% higher in Northern Ireland's most deprived areas. He urges the Department of Health to introduce lung cancer screening for high-risk people aged 55 to 74 and…
Health Issue: Cancer Research UK report on cancer mortality and deprivation in Northern Ireland Original release: Donnelly expresses concern over disparity in cancer death rates between areas (opens in a new tab)
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TUV urge public to have their say on planned MLA pay rise
TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston urges the public to respond to the Assembly committee's call for evidence on the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill, which he says would give MLAs a massive pay rise, and shares the TUV's submission opposing the proposals.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill call for evidence Original release: TUV urge public to have their say on planned MLA pay rise (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast Children’s Hospital project needs close monitoring as one of world’s most expensive – Brolly
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly calls for intensive monitoring of the Belfast Children's Hospital build to keep it on time and within budget, citing costs rising from an initial £250m to £671m and comparisons with the Dublin National Children's Hospital.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Belfast Children's Hospital cost increase and build delay Original release: Belfast Children’s Hospital project needs close monitoring as one of world’s most expensive – Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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Immediate action needed to address gaps in community SEN services – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges health and justice officials to coordinate so young people and adults with complex needs are not held in the justice system. She cites a teenage girl remanded in custody despite being bail-eligible, citing gaps in respite and residential provision.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Remand of teenage girl with complex needs due to lack of support services Original release: Immediate action needed to address gaps in community SEN services – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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‘On-site nurse must be restored to Knockevin Special School’ – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason calls on the Departments of Education and Health to work with the South Eastern Trust to quickly reinstate the on-site nurse at Knockevin Special School, after the Trust withdrew that support. She says the school was not consulted.
Health Education Issue: Knockevin Special School on-site nurse withdrawal by South Eastern Trust Original release: ‘On-site nurse must be restored to Knockevin Special School’ – Mason (opens in a new tab)