Latest releases
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2,358 releases
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Ofcom report demonstrates benefits of DUP broadband investment
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine says the Ofcom Connected Nations 2022 report shows the benefits of DUP-secured broadband investment, citing full fibre availability of 85% in Northern Ireland against 41% in England and 71% in Fermanagh and Omagh.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Ofcom Connected Nations 2022 report on broadband availability Original release: Ofcom report demonstrates benefits of DUP broadband investment (opens in a new tab)
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‘Don’t suffer in silence this Christmas’ McKernan message to those suffering domestic abuse
SDLP Representative for Cusher Emmajayne McKernan urges people experiencing domestic abuse to seek support over the festive period, after a meeting with Women's Aid. She directs people to Armagh Down Women's Aid for confidential help.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: ‘Don’t suffer in silence this Christmas’ McKernan message to those suffering domestic abuse (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald TD speech following election of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach
Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald, speaking after Leo Varadkar's election as Taoiseach, says the Fianna Fáil–Fine Gael–Green coalition has failed, citing the housing emergency, hospital waiting lists and foodbank reliance.
Housing Health Issue: Change of Taoiseach in the Republic of Ireland December 2022 Original release: Mary Lou McDonald TD speech following election of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald TD speech following nomination of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD says the Taoiseach nomination of Leo Varadkar will not be supported, citing housing, healthcare and rent rises under Fine Gael and arguing the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government has failed people.
Housing Health Issue: Change of Taoiseach in the Republic of Ireland December 2022 Original release: Mary Lou McDonald TD speech following nomination of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach (opens in a new tab)
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Planned cuts to youth services greatly concerning, says Alliance representatives, particularly for LGBTQIA+ young people
Alliance representatives express concern at planned Education Authority cuts to youth services, which could close LGBTQ youth groups. Connie Egan MLA says she has written to the EA seeking Section 75 protections in funding applications, while Andrew Muir MLA calls for the decision to be reversed.
Disability and equality Education Issue: Education Authority cuts to youth services and LGBTQ youth groups Original release: Planned cuts to youth services greatly concerning, says Alliance representatives, particularly for LGBTQIA+ young people (opens in a new tab)
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Solutions needed to maintain Heathrow connectivity – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart has written to Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris urging urgent action on the Aer Lingus Belfast City to Heathrow route, which faces disruption from EU carrier rules after March 2023. She calls for a derogation or faster UK registration and certification for the…
Infrastructure and transport International affairs Issue: Aer Lingus Belfast City to Heathrow route withdrawal Original release: Solutions needed to maintain Heathrow connectivity – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Time to update the NI Act to remove designations in the assembly, says Armstrong, following NIHRC Annual Statement
Alliance Communities Spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls for the NI Act to be updated to remove designation in the Assembly, following the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's Annual Statement. She advocates a weighted majority system to replace the current designation system.
Constitutional affairs Disability and equality Issue: NIHRC Annual Statement 2022 on equality law and Assembly designation Original release: Time to update the NI Act to remove designations in the assembly, says Armstrong, following NIHRC Annual Statement (opens in a new tab)
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Risk of homelessness exacerbated by the combination of a number of different pressures, including the lack of an Executive, says Cllr Donnelly
Alliance Councillor Stephen Donnelly warns that combined pressures, including rising energy prices and the lack of a Stormont Executive, will increase homelessness risk. He says the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Brexit Committee unanimously backed Alliance requests on public information…
Housing Local government Original release: Risk of homelessness exacerbated by the combination of a number of different pressures, including the lack of an Executive, says Cllr Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín writes to Speaker over ‘unacceptable comments’
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says UUP leader Doug Beattie’s remarks about women on the Assembly floor were totally unacceptable and fell below expected standards, and she has written to the Speaker urging the incident be formally acknowledged.
Disability and equality Issue: Doug Beattie comments on women in Assembly Original release: Ní Chuilín writes to Speaker over ‘unacceptable comments’ (opens in a new tab)
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More conversation around homelessness sorely needed, says Armstrong, in recognition of Homelessness Awareness Week
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA, speaking during Homelessness Awareness Week, calls for more public conversation on homelessness, especially familial homelessness, citing 4,820 families presenting to the Housing Executive as homeless between October 2021 and September 2022. She urges continued…
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“Abortion Censorship Zones Echo the Ban in Civil Rights Marches in the North” – Denise Mullen
Aontú Cllr Denise Mullen criticises the UK Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Abortion Censorship Bill, arguing it restricts pro-life campaigners and cites 6,412 public submissions, mostly opposed. She calls on Stormont to reverse the bill and fund support for women with unplanned pregnancies.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Safe Access Zones legislation Original release: “Abortion Censorship Zones Echo the Ban in Civil Rights Marches in the North” – Denise Mullen (opens in a new tab)
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Clare Bailey has welcomed today’s ruling from the Supreme Court
Green Party MLA Clare Bailey welcomes the Supreme Court ruling that the Northern Ireland Assembly had legal competence to pass the Safe Access Zones Bill, which will now proceed to Royal Assent. She pays tribute to campaigners and says the ruling paves the way for similar legislation elsewhere.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Safe Access Zones legislation Original release: Clare Bailey has welcomed today’s ruling from the Supreme Court (opens in a new tab)
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Supreme Court ruling shows benefit of functioning Stormont, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw welcomes a UK Supreme Court ruling that allows the Safe Access Zones Bill to become law in Northern Ireland, upholding the ban on protests outside abortion service facilities, and cites it as evidence of a functioning Stormont.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Safe Access Zones legislation Original release: Supreme Court ruling shows benefit of functioning Stormont, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Women have waited too long for modern and compassionate health services – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín calls on the Department of Health to start commissioning abortion services for women in the north now, after the British Secretary of State instructed it to do so. She says women have waited long enough and have had to travel to England, often alone.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Secretary of State instruction to Department of Health on abortion services commissioning Original release: Women have waited too long for modern and compassionate health services – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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Limiting the impact of both the cost of living crisis and the climate emergency go hand in hand, says McMullan
Alliance Councillor Ross McMullan welcomes Belfast City Council's decision to waive building control fees for individual loft insulation applications, saying it will make insulation more affordable amid the cost of living crisis.
Economy and employment Local government Issue: Belfast City Council waiving building control fees for loft insulation Original release: Limiting the impact of both the cost of living crisis and the climate emergency go hand in hand, says McMullan (opens in a new tab)
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Further confirmation of ringfenced funding for reproductive health services a welcome step, say Bradshaw and Egan
Alliance MLAs Paula Bradshaw and Connie Egan welcome the Secretary of State's ringfenced funding and formal instruction to the Department of Health to commission reproductive health services, calling it a further step, while urging swift full provision locally.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Secretary of State instruction to Department of Health on abortion services commissioning Original release: Further confirmation of ringfenced funding for reproductive health services a welcome step, say Bradshaw and Egan (opens in a new tab)
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The UCU Strikes
People Before Profit interviews Aisling O'Beirn, a UCU representative at Ulster University, on the picket line over the strike. She describes casualised contracts, rising workloads, staff shortages and cuts to pension benefits as the central issues.
Education Economy and employment Issue: UCU strike at Ulster University Original release: The UCU Strikes (opens in a new tab)
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Perpetrators of domestic abuse should leave the home instead of victims, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong calls for perpetrators of domestic abuse, rather than victims, to leave the home where the victim wishes to stay, and for legal powers allowing tenancies to transfer to victims. Her remarks follow a meeting with Housing Executive CEO Grainia Long.
Justice and policing Housing Original release: Perpetrators of domestic abuse should leave the home instead of victims, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin urges progress on tackling sexual offences
SDLP Justice Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin says new PPS figures on sexual offences, showing prosecution rates rose from 23.6% to 31.6% in 2021/22, show the need for a violence against women and girls plan from a reformed Executive.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PPS annual report on sexual offence prosecutions 2021/22 Original release: McLaughlin urges progress on tackling sexual offences (opens in a new tab)
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Muir seeks action on MOT chaos
Alliance Infrastructure Spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA says he has contacted the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Infrastructure over MOT booking backlogs, which leave drivers unable to renew certificates or road tax and facing fines. He calls for swift improvement and firm measures from…
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Muir seeks action on MOT chaos (opens in a new tab)