Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Disability and equality: remove filter
- Community relations and legacy: remove filter
- Environment and climate: remove filter
3,078 releases
-
Head of Government apology significant step for victims, says Bradshaw
Alliance's Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes the deputy First Minister's on-the-record apology to survivors of historical institutional child abuse, recorded in Hansard on 4 March. Connie Egan MLA calls it a first step and urges work on redress and a memorial.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Deputy First Minister's Hansard apology to institutional child abuse survivors Original release: Head of Government apology significant step for victims, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
-
Dunne presses for clarity on concessionary fares scheme
DUP MLA Stephen Dunne presses the Infrastructure Minister for clarity on the future of the Concessionary Fares Scheme, noting no decision has followed the consultation that closed in August 2023. He welcomes the Minister's stated intention to keep the scheme in its current form and calls for…
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: Concessionary Fares Scheme consultation outcome and future of fare concessions Original release: Dunne presses for clarity on concessionary fares scheme (opens in a new tab)
-
Communities Minister decision more ideological than practical
Green Party councillor Anthony Flynn criticises the Communities Minister's decision to end remote council meetings from 6 March, calling it short-sighted and ideological. He says remote attendance improves accessibility for councillors with caring or health needs and urges the minister to extend…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Communities Minister ending remote council meetings from 6 March Original release: Communities Minister decision more ideological than practical (opens in a new tab)
-
Dillon welcomes extension of Nexus contract
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Department of Health confirmation that Nexus NI's counselling contract for victims of sexual abuse and violence will run for another year. She says she will keep working with the health minister and Nexus on a long-term plan for these services.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Department of Health extension of Nexus NI counselling contract Original release: Dillon welcomes extension of Nexus contract (opens in a new tab)
-
Alliance dog whistle politics avoids the main issue
TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell accuses Alliance leader Naomi Long of using a sectarianism charge to deflect from Casement Park's cost, asking how the £300 million bill would be funded and whether the GAA funding deal bars chanting at the stadium.
Community relations and legacy Public finance and taxation Issue: Casement Park redevelopment funding and sectarianism accusation Original release: Alliance dog whistle politics avoids the main issue (opens in a new tab)
-
Sheerin backs call for public enquiry into Sean Brown killing
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin welcomes the coroner's decision to ask the UK Secretary of State for a public inquiry into the 1991 killing of Sean Brown, after the inquest was halted over withheld state material. She urges swift action and says the Legacy Act blocks families' access to justice.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Coroner seeks public inquiry into Sean Brown killing Original release: Sheerin backs call for public enquiry into Sean Brown killing (opens in a new tab)
-
We must be driven by making NI the best it can be
DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson MP, speaking at East Antrim DUP Association, urges supporters to focus on making Northern Ireland work and warns against a border poll. He also criticises legacy measures from the 1998 Belfast Agreement as corrupting justice and calls for unionism to unite…
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Original release: We must be driven by making NI the best it can be (opens in a new tab)
-
McGlone: Public inquiry must be held into murder of Sean Brown
SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone calls for a public inquiry into the murder of Sean Brown after a coroner halted the inquest because material was being withheld. He says the Northern Ireland Secretary should order one promptly, and that the family has waited nearly three decades for answers.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Coroner seeks public inquiry into Sean Brown killing Original release: McGlone: Public inquiry must be held into murder of Sean Brown (opens in a new tab)
-
Deeply concerning Department of Health has ended Nexus NI contract – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says it is alarming that the Department of Health has ended Nexus NI's specialist counselling contract for victims of sexual abuse and violence. She calls on the Health Minister to review the decision, arguing GP referrals are not an adequate substitute.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Department of Health ends Nexus NI specialist counselling contract Original release: Deeply concerning Department of Health has ended Nexus NI contract – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
-
Rivers Trust report on state of NI waters disappointing but not surprising, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA says newly published Rivers Trust data showing no Northern Ireland river stretches at good overall status is disappointing but not surprising. He links the decline to agricultural run-off, sewage, invasive species and underinvestment, and calls for…
Environment and climate Issue: Rivers Trust State of Our Rivers 2024 report on Northern Ireland waters Original release: Rivers Trust report on state of NI waters disappointing but not surprising, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
-
TUV receive vacuous reply when pressing DUP Minister over commemoration of terrorism at Casement
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Communities Minister's written reply on Casement Park is legally empty, arguing that equality duties under sections 75 and 76 bind only public authorities and so cannot reach the GAA. He asks how the minister could be so poorly advised.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Casement Park redevelopment use and commemoration of terrorism reply Original release: TUV receive vacuous reply when pressing DUP Minister over commemoration of terrorism at Casement (opens in a new tab)
-
Innocent victims have paid the highest price: Robinson
DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson MP says justice for victims of terrorism has been denied for 25 years and calls the legacy legislation an amnesty that was wrong. He accuses Sinn Fein of hypocrisy over early prisoner releases and "on the run" letters, and urges Dublin to investigate atrocities…
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: High Court ruling on Legacy Act provisions under the Protocol Original release: Innocent victims have paid the highest price: Robinson (opens in a new tab)
-
Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan reaffirms his commitment to transform the Special Educational Needs system in Northern Ireland, following a visit to Fleming Fulton School. He says children with SEN do not always achieve the same outcomes as peers and will press Executive colleagues for…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan (opens in a new tab)
-
Yet another wheel comes off the Donaldson Deal
TUV leader Jim Allister says a High Court ruling undermines the Donaldson Deal, which he claims had assured that EU fundamental rights no longer applied in Northern Ireland. He argues the court relied on Article 2 of the Protocol to disapply key parts of the Legacy Act, and says this confirms…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: High Court ruling on Legacy Act provisions under the Protocol Original release: Yet another wheel comes off the Donaldson Deal (opens in a new tab)
-
Farry calls for Legacy Act suspension, pending a repeal
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MP calls for the UK Government to suspend the Legacy Act pending repeal after a Belfast High Court ruling that its conditional immunity for Troubles-era crimes breaches the ECHR. He also urges lifting the inquest deadline and halting ICRIR work.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: High Court ruling on Legacy Act provisions under the Protocol Original release: Farry calls for Legacy Act suspension, pending a repeal (opens in a new tab)
-
More help needed to support carers – Dillon
SF MLA Linda Dillon says more help is needed for carers, especially women forced to cut hours or leave jobs, reacting to a Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report. She calls for investment in social care, stronger workers' rights and better childcare, and welcomes the Economy Minister's…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report on female carers Original release: More help needed to support carers – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
-
Stewart expresses concerns on the impact of projected sea level rises on rail infrastructure
UUP infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA expresses concern over a Translink-commissioned report on projected sea level rise threatening rail locations, saying 7 are at high risk by 2040. He calls for urgent consultation with the Department for Infrastructure on moving and re-routing the…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Translink report on sea level rise impacts to rail infrastructure Original release: Stewart expresses concerns on the impact of projected sea level rises on rail infrastructure (opens in a new tab)
-
Career or Care report lays bare the failure to support our unpaid carers, says Eastwood
Alliance's Sorcha Eastwood MLA says carers need far more support, citing a Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report finding nearly 60% of unpaid carers are women. She backs its recommendations, including paid carer's leave, and says she has asked the Economy Minister to include it in a…
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report on female carers Original release: Career or Care report lays bare the failure to support our unpaid carers, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
-
Education Minister needs to prioritise and invest in special educational needs and disabilities, says Mathison, ahead of Assembly debate
Alliance's Nick Mathison MLA, Chair of the Assembly's Education Committee, urges the Education Minister to direct any extra SEND funding to pupils and the workforce ahead of a Monday Assembly debate. He says the current support system has failed pupils, parents and schools and warns against a…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Assembly debate on special educational needs and disabilities provision Original release: Education Minister needs to prioritise and invest in special educational needs and disabilities, says Mathison, ahead of Assembly debate (opens in a new tab)
-
Alliance calls for gender pay gap reporting in Belfast City Council
Alliance councillors, through South Belfast Councillor Tara Brooks, call for Belfast City Council to lead by adopting transparent methods for recording and reporting the gender pay gap, noting Northern Ireland has no legal obligation to do so.
Disability and equality Local government Original release: Alliance calls for gender pay gap reporting in Belfast City Council (opens in a new tab)