Latest releases
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3,449 releases
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Savage Tory cuts to public services must end – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan backs education chief executives' letter to the British Secretary of State, blaming Tory cuts for hitting disadvantaged pupils and urging a properly funded Executive to restore Stormont.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Seven education chief executives' letter to the British Secretary of State on funding Original release: Savage Tory cuts to public services must end – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins expresses concern at adults with learning disabilities being overcharged in Trust
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins says it is deeply concerning that Southern Health and Social Care Trust overcharged adults with learning disabilities for their utility bills and will write to the Department of Health to investigate and ensure reimbursements are promptly made.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Kimmins expresses concern at adults with learning disabilities being overcharged in Trust (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone meets Northern Trust to highlight concern at domiciliary care shortage
SDLP Rural Communities Spokesperson Patsy McGlone, joined by Moyola councillor Denise Johnston, has met the Northern Health and Social Care Trust over shortages of domiciliary care packages in Mid Ulster. He says the shortfall in staff and hours is keeping otherwise healthy patients in hospital…
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McLaughlin welcomes changes to university application process
SDLP Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin welcomes Irish Further Education Minister Simon Harris's change to how A-Level results from Northern Ireland students are evaluated for Southern university applications. She says it will treat applicants from the North more equally and calls for more…
Education Issue: Irish Further Education Minister A-Level evaluation criteria change for Southern universities Original release: McLaughlin welcomes changes to university application process (opens in a new tab)
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Murphy challenges Tory measures which will damage local economy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy says he has written to Home Secretary James Cleverly to challenge UK plans to restrict legal migration, warning they will damage the local economy and worsen staff shortages in health, social care, manufacturing and agri-food.
Immigration Economy and employment Issue: UK Government raise skilled worker salary threshold Original release: Murphy challenges Tory measures which will damage local economy (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to deliver for all communities – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly calls for full implementation of Acht Gaeilge, including appointment of a commissioner, marking one year since it became law. She says an Executive must be restored immediately to deal with a growing backlog of issues.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Acht Gaeilge one-year anniversary and call for commissioner appointment Original release: Executive needed to deliver for all communities – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to improve women’s healthcare – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls for the Executive to be restored without delay so a Women's Health Strategy can be delivered. She says there are no specialist services for endometriosis in the North, with women diagnosed late and not receiving proper treatment.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Executive needed to improve women’s healthcare – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Proposed redundancies in Further Education colleges a result of political failure says Eastwood
Alliance Economy Spokesperson Sorcha Eastwood says MLAs should act to protect the further education sector after five of six FE colleges considered voluntary redundancy, potentially affecting hundreds of workers. She calls for all alternatives to be explored and for transformation to happen before…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Further Education colleges considering voluntary redundancy procedures Original release: Proposed redundancies in Further Education colleges a result of political failure says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance Party backs Safer Ageing Week campaign to end abuse of older people
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw, South Belfast MLA, backs Hourglass's Safe Ageing Week campaign on abuse of older people, arguing that the absence of a functioning Executive is holding back progress and calling for one to be formed alongside a strategy for older victims.
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‘Tackling educational underachievement must a priority’ – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says tackling educational underachievement is a top priority after PISA results showed lower-achieving pupils in the north falling in maths, reading and science. He blames UK government cuts to education and calls for the Executive and Assembly to be restored immediately.
Education Issue: Latest PISA assessment results for Northern Ireland pupils Original release: ‘Tackling educational underachievement must a priority’ – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Affordable and sustainable childcare must be a priority – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason calls for affordable and sustainable childcare to be a priority in a new Executive, citing an Employers for Childcare survey on parents struggling with costs. She urges the restoration of the Executive and delivery of a new childcare strategy.
Education Issue: Employers for Childcare survey on childcare costs Original release: Affordable and sustainable childcare must be a priority – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Victims payments scheme must be victim focused – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart calls for the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme to be administered with victims as the priority, citing delays of up to 26 months. She asks the NI Affairs Committee to press the Secretary of State over backdating ending in August 2024 and over ineligibility for…
Community relations and legacy Social security and welfare Issue: Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme evidence to NI Affairs Committee Original release: Victims payments scheme must be victim focused – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Survey highlights NI educational excellence
DUP education spokesperson and Upper Bann MLA Diane Dodds welcomes an international survey showing Northern Ireland pupils outperformed dozens of education systems in maths, reading and science. She urges protecting that standard, tackling the attainment gap, and says chronic underfunding has left…
Education Issue: International survey of pupil achievement results December 2023 Original release: Survey highlights NI educational excellence (opens in a new tab)
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No place for racism or discrimination in our society – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey calls on the PSNI to step up efforts against racist and hate attacks in Belfast, including those targeting the Belfast Multi Cultural Association. She urges referral of alleged recordings of community leaders at the charity to the Police Ombudsman, and says Sinn Féin…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: BBC documentary revelations on racist attacks and PSNI recordings in Belfast Original release: No place for racism or discrimination in our society – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers welcomes the UK Government’s consultation on a smoke-free generation proposals
UK Ulster Unionist health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes the UK Government's consultation on a smoke-free generation, arguing it gives Northern Ireland a chance to raise concerns about rising smoking and vaping, particularly among young people.
Health Issue: UK Government consultation on smoke-free generation proposals Original release: Chambers welcomes the UK Government’s consultation on a smoke-free generation proposals (opens in a new tab)
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Butler alarmed at the cost of childcare in the Northern Ireland Childcare Survey 2023
UUP MLA Robbie Butler, spokesperson for young people, welcomes the Employers for Childcare survey but is alarmed by rising costs, citing families paying over £14k a year and 84% of providers at breaking point. He calls for mandatory registration and inspection of childminders and a Childcare…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Employers for Childcare survey on childcare costs Original release: Butler alarmed at the cost of childcare in the Northern Ireland Childcare Survey 2023 (opens in a new tab)
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Allen welcomes help with health cost notification but presses for further action
UUP MLA Andy Allen welcomes the notification to Universal Credit claimants about completing an HC1 form for help with dental and optical costs, but urges the Department of Health to develop a more seamless, longer-term solution.
Social security and welfare Health Issue: Universal Credit HC1 form notification for Help with Health Costs Original release: Allen welcomes help with health cost notification but presses for further action (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes victory for victims of contaminated blood scandal in Commons
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes a Commons amendment, backed by the opposition, that widens interim payments to more infected blood scandal victims and creates a new body to administer compensation. She calls for any new arrangements to be UK-wide and victims treated…
Health Issue: Commons amendment on infected blood scandal interim payments and compensation body Original release: Bradshaw welcomes victory for victims of contaminated blood scandal in Commons (opens in a new tab)
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Employers for Childcare survey highlights yet again the desperate need for action on childcare, says Nicholl
Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl says an Employers for Childcare survey showing a 14 per cent rise in full-time childcare costs since 2021, now over £10,000 a year, shows childcare is increasingly unaffordable. She calls for delivery of the Early Education and Childcare Strategy and points to Alliance's…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Employers for Childcare survey on childcare costs Original release: Employers for Childcare survey highlights yet again the desperate need for action on childcare, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
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PSNI actions with charity ‘disappointing’ says McAllister
Alliance's Policing Spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls the PSNI's reported advice to a racially attacked charity to clarify its work to loyalist leaders deeply concerning. She says she will raise it at the Policing Board and that Kate Nicholl MLA will table it at the APG on Ethnic Minority…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: BBC documentary revelations on racist attacks and PSNI recordings in Belfast Original release: PSNI actions with charity ‘disappointing’ says McAllister (opens in a new tab)