Latest releases
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3,054 releases
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No girl should have to ask permission to wear trousers to school – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says the School Uniforms Bill’s latest Assembly stage provides an opportunity to guarantee every pupil the automatic right to wear trousers, urging school uniform policy to be brought into the 21st century.
Education Disability and equality Issue: School Uniforms Bill passes Assembly stage Original release: No girl should have to ask permission to wear trousers to school – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Donaldson Deal Continues to Damage Northern Ireland as New EU Rules Take Effect
TUV councillor and Newry and Armagh candidate Keith Ratcliffe says the DUP/Donaldson Deal is damaging Northern Ireland, citing new EU rules from 1 July: a €3 customs duty on low-value parcels, new steel movement arrangements and ferry emissions charges. He argues the Irish Sea Border remains in…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: New EU customs duty and ferry emissions charges from 1 July 2026 Original release: Donaldson Deal Continues to Damage Northern Ireland as New EU Rules Take Effect (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance introduces essential legislation to end cruel so-called conversion practices
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA introduces the Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill to the Assembly, seeking to ban conversion therapy and coercive conversion behaviour in Northern Ireland with penalties of fines or up to two years in custody.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill introduced to Assembly Original release: Alliance introduces essential legislation to end cruel so-called conversion practices (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin calls on Finance Minister to reverse Civil Service withdrawal from Belfast Pride
SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin urges the Finance Minister to overturn the Civil Service's decision to pull out of this year's Belfast Pride, arguing the legal basis cited, an English High Court judgment, does not apply in Northern Ireland.
Disability and equality Issue: Civil Service withdrawal from Pride march Original release: McLaughlin calls on Finance Minister to reverse Civil Service withdrawal from Belfast Pride (opens in a new tab)
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‘The Light of a New Republic’ – Mary Lou McDonald addresses Sinn Féin’s annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration at Bodenstown
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald calls for a united 32‑County Republic and an end to British rule, urging investment in housing, health, equality and community support, in her address at the annual Wolfe Tone commemoration at Bodenstown.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Wolfe Tone commemoration at Bodenstown Original release: ‘The Light of a New Republic’ – Mary Lou McDonald addresses Sinn Féin’s annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration at Bodenstown (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Donaldson verdict must be a watershed moment
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says revelations after Jeffrey Donaldson's conviction should mark a watershed moment, questioning senior DUP figures' past vetoes on rights and education and their handling of Donaldson's private life. She calls for accountability and reforms including healthy…
Justice and policing Constitutional affairs Issue: BBC Spotlight programme on Jeffrey Donaldson allegations Original release: Hanna: Donaldson verdict must be a watershed moment (opens in a new tab)
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Transparency needed from DUP on further Donaldson allegations, says Long, calling for fully independent investigation
Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA calls for a fully independent, external review into what DUP leadership knew about alleged victims of Jeffrey Donaldson, after BBC Spotlight revelations, and urges Edwin Poots to give a full account of his knowledge.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: BBC Spotlight programme on Jeffrey Donaldson allegations Original release: Transparency needed from DUP on further Donaldson allegations, says Long, calling for fully independent investigation (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston Slams Growing Gender Identity Service as Officials Confirm Funding Will Increase
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston criticises the funding for the lifespan gender identity service after Department of Health officials told the health committee the initial £806,000 is recurrent and will increase. He expresses concern for vulnerable young people and calls the spending astonishing given…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Department of Health lifespan gender identity service funding briefing to health committee Original release: Gaston Slams Growing Gender Identity Service as Officials Confirm Funding Will Increase (opens in a new tab)
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Givan voices disappointment over delay to SEN Regulations
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan expresses serious concern that the Special Educational Needs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 have been delayed from September 2026 to September 2027 after extended Education Committee scrutiny. He says the delay postpones reduced assessment timescales…
Education Disability and equality Issue: SEN Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 implementation delay to September 2027 Original release: Givan voices disappointment over delay to SEN Regulations (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP speech Future of these Islands: Preparing for Change
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP, speaking at a future of these islands event, argues political leaders must shape change rather than react to it and says the SDLP wants a New and agreed Ireland. She calls for cross-party working and principles to plan for a New Ireland, and invites unionist…
Constitutional affairs Community relations and legacy Issue: SDLP "Future of these Islands: Preparing for Change" event at The MAC Original release: SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP speech Future of these Islands: Preparing for Change (opens in a new tab)
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Another talking shop preaching to the converted.
UUP Deputy Leader Diana Armstrong MLA, writing in the News Letter, dismisses the SDLP's "Future of these Islands: Preparing for Change" event at The MAC in Belfast as a talking shop preaching to the converted. She says Northern Ireland will remain in the UK under the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement…
Constitutional affairs Issue: SDLP "Future of these Islands: Preparing for Change" event at The MAC Original release: Another talking shop preaching to the converted. (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison hits back at Minister’s statement on SEN Regulations
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison, chair of the Education Committee, rejects the Education Minister's criticism of the committee's handling of SEN regulations, saying the rules need proper examination and accusing the DUP of responsibility for the special educational needs system and placement shortages.
Education Disability and equality Issue: SEN Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 implementation delay to September 2027 Original release: Mathison hits back at Minister’s statement on SEN Regulations (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: Civil Service Pride Withdrawal 'Regressive and Reckless'
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll condemns the head of the Civil Service's decision to withdraw staff from the Pride march, calling it regressive and reckless. He accuses political figures of stoking transphobia for gain and urges civil servants who wish to march to do so.
Disability and equality Issue: Civil Service withdrawal from Pride march Original release: Carroll: Civil Service Pride Withdrawal 'Regressive and Reckless' (opens in a new tab)
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Ten Years After Brexit, Northern Ireland Still Takes Orders from Brussels
TUV chairman Allister Kyle says Northern Ireland must wait until Monday for steel tariff rates, while Great Britain had its rates announced on Thursday, and claims this shows Northern Ireland still follows Brussels rules. He asks when the Brexit referendum will be honoured.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK steel tariff announcement and delayed Northern Ireland steel tariff rates Original release: Ten Years After Brexit, Northern Ireland Still Takes Orders from Brussels (opens in a new tab)
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DUP in office on back of Donaldson’s Protocol lies
TUV leader Jim Allister says the DUP knew Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was misleading people about the Irish Sea border yet backed him and urged unionists to trust him, accusing the party of putting Stormont office ahead of honesty and entrenching the Protocol.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Donaldson Protocol claims and DUP Stormont office Original release: DUP in office on back of Donaldson’s Protocol lies (opens in a new tab)
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Aiken calls for suspension of Windsor Framework implementation following delay to EU-UK talks
UUP Windsor Framework Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA calls for the UK Government and EU to suspend further Windsor Framework implementation after EU-UK talks and the July summit were delayed. He cites border checks in Larne and Belfast, SPS checks, Maritime Emissions levies and a new parcels…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Delay to EU-UK summit and talks on Windsor Framework issues Original release: Aiken calls for suspension of Windsor Framework implementation following delay to EU-UK talks (opens in a new tab)
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Ten Years On, Brexit Remains Undelivered in Northern Ireland
TUV spokesman Dr Dan Boucher marks ten years since the 2016 EU referendum, arguing Brexit remains undelivered in Northern Ireland and that the UK must leave the EU as a whole. He backs the European Union Withdrawal Alternative Arrangements Bill over the government's proposed European Partnership…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Ten Years On, Brexit Remains Undelivered in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Irish unity will remove the negative reality of Brexit – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA, speaking in the Assembly on the 10th anniversary of Brexit, says it has been an economic and political failure and calls on the Irish and British Governments to begin planning for Irish unity as a route back into the EU, using Ireland's EU Council…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Tenth anniversary of Brexit Assembly debate Original release: Irish unity will remove the negative reality of Brexit – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Micheál Martin must prepare European colleagues for a United Ireland in the EU – Kathleen Funchion MEP
Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion urges Taoiseach Micheál Martin to brief European leaders on the prospect of a united Ireland and automatic EU membership for the north, after he spoke about EU enlargement.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Taoiseach Martin's comments on EU enlargement and Irish unity Original release: Micheál Martin must prepare European colleagues for a United Ireland in the EU – Kathleen Funchion MEP (opens in a new tab)
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Time to reset relationships after lost decade of Brexit, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA says the UK should reset its EU relations, marking ten years since the referendum, and calls for re-entry to the Single Market and Customs Union. He claims Brexit costs £90 billion a year and urges eventual rejoining.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Time to reset relationships after lost decade of Brexit, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)