Latest releases
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3,485 releases
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Brown raises concerns about flood management cuts and business grant delivery
Alliance South Down MLA Patrick Brown raises alarm over a reported cut of more than 60% to flood management funding in 2023/24 and questions why it was cut so deeply. He also queries how a £100k flood recovery grant scheme for businesses will be rolled out.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: DfI flood management funding cut figures for 2023/24 Original release: Brown raises concerns about flood management cuts and business grant delivery (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance gender pay gap reporting motion passes at Belfast City Council
Alliance councillors welcome the passing of their motion at Belfast City Council calling for gender pay gap reporting, noting no legal obligation exists in Northern Ireland. Councillor Tara Brooks, who proposed it, says the council should lead by adopting transparent methods for recording and…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council gender pay gap reporting motion passes Original release: Alliance gender pay gap reporting motion passes at Belfast City Council (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance celebrate 'Green Economy' breakthrough at NMD Council
Alliance Newry Mourne and Down councillors welcome the council's plans for photovoltaic solar farms on two redundant landfill sites at Aughnagun and Drumnakelly, which they say could bring in about £250,000 a year net. They also claim further Alliance-identified sites could help ease rates pressure.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Newry Mourne and Down council PV farms on Aughnagun and Drumnakelly landfill sites Original release: Alliance celebrate 'Green Economy' breakthrough at NMD Council (opens in a new tab)
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Children with SEN must be a priority – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to make children with special educational needs a priority, after figures showed over 1,000 such children will need a school place in September. He urges the minister to work with the Health Minister and other parties to overhaul the SEN…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Over 1,000 children with SEN needing school places in September Original release: Children with SEN must be a priority – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: UK Government must address plight of WASPI women
SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna calls on the Work and Pensions Secretary to make an urgent statement to Parliament on correcting the WASPI women's pension age situation after the Ombudsman found they were owed compensation.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman WASPI compensation finding Original release: Hanna: UK Government must address plight of WASPI women (opens in a new tab)
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Audit Office report must act as stimulus for change: Dodds
DUP Health spokesperson Diane Dodds says the Audit Office report on access to general practice must drive change, calling for technology to be used better, GP Federations to play a greater role, and multidisciplinary team funding to be rolled out across the province.
Health Issue: Comptroller and Auditor General report on access to general practice Original release: Audit Office report must act as stimulus for change: Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Patient safety must be a priority – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon, speaking after a Public Services Ombudsman event on health service complaints, says patient safety must be a top priority and urges the Department of Health to act urgently on concerns raised by patients, families and staff.
Health Original release: Patient safety must be a priority – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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GP practices need supported to deliver vital services – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins urges the Health Minister to produce a plan addressing GP staffing, covering both recruitment and retention, after a Comptroller and Auditor General report on access to general practice. She says GPs must be paid fairly and that reliance on temporary doctors must end.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Comptroller and Auditor General report on access to general practice Original release: GP practices need supported to deliver vital services – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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Doug Beattie comments on Leo Varadkar Resignation
UUP leader Doug Beattie MLA comments on the Taoiseach's announcement that he is stepping down as Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, saying it was a surprise. He wishes Leo Varadkar well and says the UUP looks forward to working constructively with his successor.
Other Issue: Leo Varadkar resignation as Taoiseach announcement Original release: Doug Beattie comments on Leo Varadkar Resignation (opens in a new tab)
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Long pays tribute to Varadkar following resignation announcement
Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA pays tribute to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar following his announced resignation, praising his role in north-south relations, restoring the Executive and his engagement on local issues.
Other Constitutional affairs Original release: Long pays tribute to Varadkar following resignation announcement (opens in a new tab)
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GP surgeries are at breaking point, warns Donnelly, in response to Audit Office report
Alliance health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA responds to an NI Audit Office report finding almost a third of GP practices have sought crisis support, and 39 assessed as at risk, urging the Health Minister to act on workforce, funding and transformation.
Health Issue: NI Audit Office report on GP services crisis Original release: GP surgeries are at breaking point, warns Donnelly, in response to Audit Office report (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter challenges Education Minister on violence against women and girls
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter challenges Education Minister Paul Givan over whether all schools should be required to teach violence against women and girls, after he said school autonomy should be respected. She calls for uniform mandatory education on the subject across…
Justice and policing Education Issue: Education Minister Givan's answer on schools teaching violence against women and girls Original release: Hunter challenges Education Minister on violence against women and girls (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins welcomes discussions on junior doctors pay
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins welcomes discussions between the health minister and trade unions aimed at agreeing a fair pay increase for junior doctors. She calls for the talks to continue and for a pay settlement to be reached quickly.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health minister and trade unions junior doctors pay discussions Original release: Kimmins welcomes discussions on junior doctors pay (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must support Irish-Medium education – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan calls on the Education Minister and Department to invest properly in accommodation, specialist teacher training and resources for Irish-Medium schools, some of which have been in temporary accommodation for over twenty-five years.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Education Minister must support Irish-Medium education – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Elliott explains that the complex interaction between farming and climate change requires addressing
UUP agriculture spokesperson Tom Elliott MLA says farming's role in climate change needs addressing, arguing farmers are partners rather than scapegoats. He points to carbon sequestration, renewable energy on farms and the sector's economic importance, and calls for incentives and collaboration.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Elliott explains that the complex interaction between farming and climate change requires addressing (opens in a new tab)
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School children denied engagement with natural world by Sea Border
TUV councillor Timothy Gaston says the Woodland Trust's Free Trees for Schools and Communities scheme excludes Northern Ireland because of the Protocol, which bans trees from Great Britain entering the region. He argues this shows the Windsor Framework has not removed such bans and accuses the DUP…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Woodland Trust Free Trees scheme unavailable in Northern Ireland Original release: School children denied engagement with natural world by Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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Brett secures support for miscarriage leave in Northern Ireland
DUP Economy Spokesperson Phillip Brett says his amendment to a Sinn Fein motion, agreed by the Assembly, should extend statutory leave and pay to workers who suffer a miscarriage up to 23 weeks, matching existing stillbirth provision.
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Assembly vote on Sinn Fein workers' rights motion with DUP miscarriage leave amendment Original release: Brett secures support for miscarriage leave in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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‘Time for a new deal for workers and families’ – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls on the Executive to work with employers and trade unions, including the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, to negotiate a new deal for workers and families. He says young people, women and disabled people face wage inequality and poor conditions, and his Assembly…
Economy and employment Disability and equality Original release: ‘Time for a new deal for workers and families’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party nominates Mal O’Hara as Seanad candidate
The Green Party nominates Mal O'Hara, its Northern Ireland leader, as its candidate for the Seanad seat left vacant by Sinn Féin's Niall Ó Donnghaile's resignation. The party says he would be the first elected senator to classify himself as "other" in the North, and that the nomination keeps…
Other Issue: Green Party nomination of Mal O'Hara for Seanad vacancy Original release: Green Party nominates Mal O’Hara as Seanad candidate (opens in a new tab)
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New recycling and waste management proposals are fantastic news for the environment, says Blair
Alliance MLA John Blair welcomes a 12-week DAERA consultation on recycling and waste, saying its 26 proposals could raise household recycling from 51 to 74 per cent. He urges the public to respond.
Environment and climate Issue: Department 12-week recycling and waste management consultation launch Original release: New recycling and waste management proposals are fantastic news for the environment, says Blair (opens in a new tab)