Latest releases
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1,496 releases
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Hunter: Minister must halt SEN reform
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA calls on the Education Minister to halt proposed special educational needs (SEN) reforms, citing an open letter from 14 organisations including teaching unions and warnings from the Children's Law Centre. She says the Minister has ignored…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Children's Law Centre opposition to SEN reform proposals Original release: Hunter: Minister must halt SEN reform (opens in a new tab)
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Efforts to stymie growth of the Irish language will fail – McLaughlin
Sinn Féin councillor Ronan McLaughlin welcomes the court’s favourable decision on Belfast City Council’s call‑in case concerning its Irish language policy, saying efforts to block the language’s growth will fail and urging Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to advance an Irish Language Strategy while
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Court ruling on Belfast City Council Irish language policy Original release: Efforts to stymie growth of the Irish language will fail – McLaughlin (opens in a new tab)
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Aontú Membership Surges After Fuel Protests
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín says the party has gained hundreds of new members and two councillors in the last two weeks, and is negotiating with seven more. He cites poll ratings and plans for candidates ahead of possible early elections, north and south.
Other Economy and employment Original release: Aontú Membership Surges After Fuel Protests (opens in a new tab)
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Léiríonn Gildernew imní faoi thodhchaí mhaoiniú Thionscadal Logainmneacha
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew, Chair of the Communities Committee, calls on the Department for Communities to keep funding the Place-Name Project after a ministerial answer showed translation service funding runs only until Summer 2026.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Place-Name Project translation service funding ending Summer 2026 Original release: Léiríonn Gildernew imní faoi thodhchaí mhaoiniú Thionscadal Logainmneacha (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Absence of no fault divorce in Marriage Bill a missed opportunity
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill's omission of no-fault divorce is a missed opportunity to modernise marriage law. He asks the Finance Minister to explain why it was left out, arguing it could help tackle abuse.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill omission of no-fault divorce Original release: O'Toole: Absence of no fault divorce in Marriage Bill a missed opportunity (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan calls for urgent action to tackle failures in autism services
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan urges urgent action to tackle persistent shortcomings in autism support, citing evidence heard by the All-Party Group for Autism from the Independent Autism Reviewer. He calls on the Department of Health to work closely with the reviewer and to prioritise the Autism…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Independent Autism Reviewer evidence to All-Party Group for Autism Original release: Boylan calls for urgent action to tackle failures in autism services (opens in a new tab)
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Brownlee welcomes installation of sensory unit at Children’s Hospital
DUP MLA Cheryl Brownlee welcomes the installation of a new sensory unit at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, a multisensory 'Cubbie' purchased with Little Heroes NI funding, which she says will officially open this week.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children sensory unit installation Original release: Brownlee welcomes installation of sensory unit at Children’s Hospital (opens in a new tab)
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Givan: Pre-School Inclusion Fund is delivering targeted support for…
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan says a visit to Holywood Nursery School shows the Pre-School Inclusion Fund is delivering targeted support for children with special educational needs. He cites a new sensory room, extra classroom assistant hours and £4.5million invested in 2025/26 across…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Givan visit to Holywood Nursery School on Pre-School Inclusion Fund Original release: Givan: Pre-School Inclusion Fund is delivering targeted support for… (opens in a new tab)
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Justice Minister refuses to confirm violence against women funding is spent on women
TUV Bannside councillor Anna Henry says Justice Minister Naomi Long refused to confirm that funding to tackle violence against women is spent on women, and calls for serious questions to be asked about how the money is allocated.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Justice Minister's response on violence against women funding in Assembly Original release: Justice Minister refuses to confirm violence against women funding is spent on women (opens in a new tab)
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One year on, women still waiting for law to be enforced - Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart urges the UK Government to act quickly on the Supreme Court's For Women Scotland ruling, saying women's rights remain unclear a year on. She calls for the EHRC Code of Practice and NHS guidance to be published without delay and for the law to be enforced in full across the…
Disability and equality Issue: For Women Scotland Supreme Court ruling one-year anniversary Original release: One year on, women still waiting for law to be enforced - Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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DUP Co-opts New MLA for Foyle
The DUP announces that Julie Middleton is taking her seat as MLA for Foyle following her co-option. DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP praises her experience and council record, and Middleton pledges to represent Foyle and stand up for unionist priorities.
Other Issue: Julie Middleton co-option as MLA for Foyle Original release: DUP Co-opts New MLA for Foyle (opens in a new tab)
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Dunne praises McIlroy during Stormont Matter of the Day
North Down MLA Stephen Dunne says Rory McIlroy's back-to-back Masters wins are a source of local and national pride, and he used a Matter of the Day in the Assembly to recognise the golfer's achievement.
Other Original release: Dunne praises McIlroy during Stormont Matter of the Day (opens in a new tab)
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Jon Burrows calls on His Majesty King Charles III to knight Rory McIlroy after historic back-to-back Masters victories
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA calls on King Charles III to knight Rory McIlroy following his back-to-back Masters victories, describing him as the greatest athlete Northern Ireland has produced and citing his golf tourism impact.
Other Issue: Rory McIlroy back-to-back Masters victories Original release: Jon Burrows calls on His Majesty King Charles III to knight Rory McIlroy after historic back-to-back Masters victories (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone pays tribute to James McGarvey
SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone pays tribute to former councillor James McGarvey, who represented the party on Cookstown District Council for two decades, including a term as chair. McGlone recalls his civil rights background and community work.
Other Local government Original release: McGlone pays tribute to James McGarvey (opens in a new tab)
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Review clearly shows an urgent need to tackle underlying and unacceptable behaviours within the PSNI – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Justice Minister to urgently change regulations to speed up and improve PSNI disciplinary processes, following Rachel Langdale's review finding sexism, misogyny and a flawed misconduct process.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Rachel Langdale review of PSNI sexism and misogyny findings Original release: Review clearly shows an urgent need to tackle underlying and unacceptable behaviours within the PSNI – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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All-Ireland strategy on inclusion for those with disabilities needed – Ruairí Ó Murchú TD
Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú says the government should adopt an All‑Ireland inclusion strategy and a shared North‑South definition of disability, and work harder to boost employment for disabled people, following the ESRI report on island‑wide disability rates.
Disability and equality Issue: ESRI report on disability rates across the island Original release: All-Ireland strategy on inclusion for those with disabilities needed – Ruairí Ó Murchú TD (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP calls for intervention following Langdale findings
The SDLP calls on The Executive Office to deliver a coordinated response to the Langdale report's findings on violence against women and girls, proposing an independently chaired taskforce of TEO, the PSNI and women's sector representatives. Claire Hanna urges the DoJ and PSNI to act on failings…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Langdale report findings on violence against women and girls Original release: SDLP calls for intervention following Langdale findings (opens in a new tab)
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Begley comments on major fire in Omagh
Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley offers thoughts for an injured person after a fire at Boyd Bedding in Omagh, commends the emergency services and air ambulance, and asks motorists to avoid the closed Bankmore Road.
Other Issue: Boyd Bedding fire in Omagh Original release: Begley comments on major fire in Omagh (opens in a new tab)
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McHugh announces he will not stand in 2027 elections
Sinn Féin MLA Maolíosa McHugh confirms he will not stand in the 2027 Assembly election, saying he will remain an MLA for West Tyrone for the coming months and continue active involvement with the party.
Other Local government Original release: McHugh announces he will not stand in 2027 elections (opens in a new tab)
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Impassioned speeches need to be followed with concrete action:…
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe says problems with summer schemes for children with SEN reflect a wider system failure that needs real action, not party political attacks. She calls for the Executive to unblock a 10-year SEN facilities investment plan and warns the draft budget's education cuts would hit…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Assembly debate on SEN summer provision and draft budget cuts Original release: Impassioned speeches need to be followed with concrete action:… (opens in a new tab)