Latest releases
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2,477 releases
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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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Outcome of COP15 crucial to secure future for nature, says Nicholl
Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl, Chair of the All Party Group on Climate, argues ahead of COP15 in Montreal that the outcome will be crucial for nature as well as climate. She criticises the Prime Minister's decision not to attend and the Retained EU Law Bill, and says Northern Ireland's absence from…
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: COP15 UN biodiversity conference in Montreal, December 2022 Original release: Outcome of COP15 crucial to secure future for nature, says Nicholl (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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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)
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Dickson calls for a review of support mechanisms for staff experiencing domestic abuse
Alliance Economy Spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA calls on employers to review their policies and procedures so staff experiencing domestic abuse get the right support, citing the 16 days of activism campaign. He urges employers to consider paid leave for appointments, workplace security and…
Justice and policing Economy and employment Original release: Dickson calls for a review of support mechanisms for staff experiencing domestic abuse (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes campaign to raise awareness of the signs of all types of domestic abuse
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the PSNI's Tis' the Season Christmas campaign on domestic abuse, citing holiday-period call and crime figures, and calls for the Executive to be restored so parties can take forward violence-against-women measures.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI Tis' the Season Christmas domestic abuse awareness campaign Original release: Dillon welcomes campaign to raise awareness of the signs of all types of domestic abuse (opens in a new tab)
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“British Court of Appeal Permits Abortion Up Until Birth on Grounds of Down Syndrome For North of Ireland” – Cllr Doyle
Aontú Cllr Emmet Doyle criticises a British Court of Appeal ruling that allows abortion on grounds of Down syndrome up to birth, saying it will apply in Northern Ireland. He calls on Stormont to oppose abortion in the North and accuses Sinn Féin and the SDLP of supporting the change.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Court of Appeal rejects Heidi Crowter challenge on Down's syndrome abortion law Original release: “British Court of Appeal Permits Abortion Up Until Birth on Grounds of Down Syndrome For North of Ireland” – Cllr Doyle (opens in a new tab)
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Nicholl marks International Women Human Rights Defenders Day
Alliance Spokesperson for Migration Kate Nicholl MLA marks International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, calling for enhanced protections for women human rights defenders, especially those at risk in migration contexts, from violence, discrimination and harassment.
Disability and equality Immigration Original release: Nicholl marks International Women Human Rights Defenders Day (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance MLAs endorse “Never Cross the Line” campaign
Alliance MLAs endorse Ulster GAA's "Never Cross the Line" campaign on violence against women, which aims to teach young people about consent. Sports Spokesperson David Honeyford calls for similar campaigns across other sports, and Connie Egan urges sporting bodies to host workshops.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Alliance MLAs endorse “Never Cross the Line” campaign (opens in a new tab)
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Hazzard discusses Newry Rail Services with Translink Chief
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard says he met Translink CEO Chris Conway about rail services in Newry and asked Translink to work with Iarnród Éireann to expand Dublin connections. He calls for at least two direct morning trains reaching Belfast before 9am.
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Hazzard discusses Newry Rail Services with Translink Chief (opens in a new tab)
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A sad day for rights of the disabled – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart, who chairs the All-Party Pro-Life Group at Westminster, says the Court of Appeal's rejection of Heidi Crowter's challenge to allow abortion up to birth for babies with Down's syndrome is a sad day for disabled people's rights. She hopes Crowter will take the case to the…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Court of Appeal rejects Heidi Crowter challenge on Down's syndrome abortion law Original release: A sad day for rights of the disabled – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Education Authority proposes huge unnecessary expense on Irish – but includes no costings
TUV leader Jim Allister urges the public to respond to the Education Authority's interim Irish-language services policy, arguing its proposals, such as Irish voicemail options and translator meetings, carry vast unCosted expense amid budget pressures.
Disability and equality Education Issue: Education Authority interim policy on Irish-language services consultation Original release: Education Authority proposes huge unnecessary expense on Irish – but includes no costings (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Rachel Woods reiterates calls for Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy
Green Party Councillor Rachel Woods calls for a Northern Ireland Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, saying the lack of an Executive has stalled delivery despite promises, and urges mandatory relationship and sexuality education alongside recent abuse legislation.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women Original release: Cllr Rachel Woods reiterates calls for Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Violence against women and girls must be eliminated from our society, says Egan
Alliance Spokesperson for Violence Against Women & Girls Connie Egan MLA says targeted gender-based violence must be eliminated, citing 32,000 PSNI domestic abuse incidents in 2021 and calling for the stalled Executive Office VAWG strategy to move forward without ministerial sign-off.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Violence against women and girls must be eliminated from our society, says Egan (opens in a new tab)