Latest releases
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1,373 releases
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Sinn Féin supports Assembly recall to address removal of SEN summer schemes – Mason
South Down MLA Cathy Mason says Sinn Féin will back Alliance's petition to recall the Assembly over the cancelled SEN summer schemes. She urges Education and Health Ministers to resolve the issue quickly, calling the decision deplorable and criticising the DUP and UUP ministers' blame exchange.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: Sinn Féin supports Assembly recall to address removal of SEN summer schemes – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Ministers must work together to deliver special school summer schemes
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA calls on the Health and Education Ministers to cooperate and restore the cancelled special school summer schemes, urging the Executive to provide nursing support and reverse the decision.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: McGrath: Ministers must work together to deliver special school summer schemes (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Special school summer schemes underlines Executive dysfunction
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA welcomes certainty that special school summer schemes will go ahead after the Education Authority confirmed Department of Health nursing and clinical support. She says the episode underlines Executive dysfunction and needless distress for…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: Hunter: Special school summer schemes underlines Executive dysfunction (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows welcomes confirmation that Special School summer schemes will go ahead
UUP leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA welcomes confirmation from the Health and Education Ministers that summer schemes at special schools will proceed. He calls for a full review of the Education Authority's workforce and training, and says he has written to the Education Minister…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: Burrows welcomes confirmation that Special School summer schemes will go ahead (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance in bid to recall Assembly over cancellation of special school summer schemes
Alliance's Eóin Tennyson, Deputy Leader, says his party has submitted a petition to recall the Assembly over the Education Authority's decision to cancel summer schemes at special schools. He calls on the Education and Health Ministers to return and set out how they will fix the problem.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: Alliance in bid to recall Assembly over cancellation of special school summer schemes (opens in a new tab)
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Ministers' U-turn following Alliance’s Assembly recall to save SEN summer schemes
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA welcomes the Education Authority's confirmation that special educational needs summer schemes will go ahead this year, but says Education and Health Ministers handled the situation inadequately. He says it should have been resolved earlier and vows to keep…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: Ministers' U-turn following Alliance’s Assembly recall to save SEN summer schemes (opens in a new tab)
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Vulnerable Children Left in the Lurch as Stormont Pulls Summer Schemes
TUV Ballymena Councillor Matthew Armstrong condemns the withdrawal of Education Authority support for all special schools' summer schemes, calling the timing unacceptable and blaming Stormont for leaving vulnerable children without provision.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: Vulnerable Children Left in the Lurch as Stormont Pulls Summer Schemes (opens in a new tab)
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Olympic decision restores fairness and protects women’s sport -…
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe welcomes an Olympic participation rules decision as a step towards fair competition and integrity in elite sport. She says she is taking forward a Private Members' Bill and public consultation on women's sport in Northern Ireland and urges support for her campaign.
Disability and equality Issue: Olympic participation rules decision on women's category eligibility Original release: Olympic decision restores fairness and protects women’s sport -… (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan calls on Health Minister to review funding process for Women’s Aid
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan asks the Health Minister to revisit the withdrawn core grant for Women's Aid, which he says was cut by half in 2023 and then removed entirely in 2024. He raised it at the Health Committee.
Justice and policing Health Original release: McGuigan calls on Health Minister to review funding process for Women’s Aid (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister’s failure to deliver schemes for children in special schools is ‘unacceptable’ – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says the DUP Education Minister’s failure to provide summer programmes for pupils in special schools is unacceptable, and she will write to the Health and Education Ministers urging them to devise a solution for these children and their families.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: Education Minister’s failure to deliver schemes for children in special schools is ‘unacceptable’ – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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65 Women Murdered Across Ireland Since 2020, This is No Country for Women – Senator Sarah O’Reilly
Aontú Senator Sarah O'Reilly raises gender-based violence in the Seanad, saying 65 women have been killed across the island since 2020 and calling for more refuge spaces, as Ireland falls well below Council of Europe recommendations. She also raises concerns over the death of Kelly Lynch in…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: 65 Women Murdered Across Ireland Since 2020, This is No Country for Women – Senator Sarah O’Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison urges Education and Health Ministers to act urgently to save Summer schemes at special schools
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison calls on the Education and Health Ministers to urgently secure a joint funding package so summer schemes can run in special schools this year, after the Education Authority cancelled schemes over healthcare concerns.
Education Health Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: Mathison urges Education and Health Ministers to act urgently to save Summer schemes at special schools (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna raises violence against women and girls in House of Commons
SDLP leader Claire Hanna MP used Northern Ireland Questions in the Commons to press for stronger action on violence against women and girls, citing recent killings and a murder conviction and urging the Executive and UK Government to act beyond expressions of concern.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Hanna raises violence against women and girls in House of Commons (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed to tackle spiralling rents across NI, says Armstrong
Alliance Housing spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls on the Communities Minister to act urgently on spiralling private rents, citing a report that rents rose an average of 51% over five years. She urges restrictions on rent increase frequency, a ban on inflation-busting hikes and a cap on…
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Reported rise in Northern Ireland rents over five years Original release: Urgent action needed to tackle spiralling rents across NI, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister Can't Be Trusted on Extent of Defective Block in Derry
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin accuses Communities Minister Gordon Lyons of dismissing a wider defective block problem in the North too readily, and says the Derry and Strabane council area's full extent remains unknown. He calls for assurances of government support for potentially…
Housing Local government Issue: Communities Minister comments on defective block extent in Derry and Strabane Original release: Communities Minister Can't Be Trusted on Extent of Defective Block in Derry (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew welcomes progress on delivering Sign Language Bill
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes progress on the Sign Language Bill after it was approved at Consideration Stage. He says the Bill is an important step towards giving the deaf and deafblind community access to public services in their own language, and praises their input into shaping it.
Disability and equality Issue: Sign Language Bill approval at Consideration Stage Original release: Gildernew welcomes progress on delivering Sign Language Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister must drive down ‘out of control’ rent prices – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to act on rising rents after new figures showed average rents continuing to climb. He says the minister has failed to buy any of the 600 homes funded for temporary accommodation and should prioritise delivering social and…
Housing Issue: New figures showing continued rise in average rents Original release: Communities Minister must drive down ‘out of control’ rent prices – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Gerry Carroll’s People's Housing Bill: the Tenant Protections Stormont Refuses to Deliver
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll says Belfast rents have jumped over 50% in five years, leaving tenants vulnerable to evictions and disrepair. He announces a private members People’s Housing Bill to cut rents and ban no‑fault evictions, calling for urgent action on the housing crisis.
Housing Issue: Belfast rents rise faster than any other UK city Original release: Gerry Carroll’s People's Housing Bill: the Tenant Protections Stormont Refuses to Deliver (opens in a new tab)
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Crisis in endometriosis care must be addressed immediately – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn, Chair of the Women's Health APG, calls for urgent action on endometriosis care after an event at Stormont and a report published today. She calls for fully resourced gynaecology services, faster referral pathways and better training, and says she will press the Health…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Endometriosis report published March 2026 calling for urgent action on care Original release: Crisis in endometriosis care must be addressed immediately – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Reilly welcomes investment in Irish language projects
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes over £4 million of Irish government investment in Irish language projects in the north, part of a £5 million Shared Island Initiative package for cultural and community development.
Disability and equality Issue: Irish government Shared Island Irish language investment package Original release: Reilly welcomes investment in Irish language projects (opens in a new tab)