Latest releases
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3,448 releases
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Eastwood to establish All-Party Working Group on Skills with cross-party group of MLAs
Alliance Economy spokesperson Sorcha Eastwood MLA says she and a cross-party group of MLAs will set up an All-Party Working Group on Skills to press government departments and MLAs to act on skills development. She cites concerns from businesses, healthcare providers and green industries about…
Education Economy and employment Original release: Eastwood to establish All-Party Working Group on Skills with cross-party group of MLAs (opens in a new tab)
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McDonald comments on Antrim and Causeway EDs pressures
TUV Bannside Alderman Stewart McDonald says Northern Trust hospitals are beyond breaking point after the Trust issued a statement on extreme pressure in Antrim and Causeway emergency departments, with patients reportedly kept in corridors.
Health Issue: Northern Trust statement on Antrim and Causeway emergency department pressures Original release: McDonald comments on Antrim and Causeway EDs pressures (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Free period products must be delivered
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter says free period products should reach people across the North after a Menstruation Matters event at Stormont. She calls for the period products legislation to be kept intact and implemented in schools, colleges and public buildings.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Stormont Menstruation Matters event on period products legislation Original release: Hunter: Free period products must be delivered (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath hosts health roundtable
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says he hosted a roundtable at Stormont with health organisations including the British Medical Association and Royal College of Nursing to discuss safeguarding health services. He calls for transformation and says the SDLP will hold the Executive to account…
Health Original release: McGrath hosts health roundtable (opens in a new tab)
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Doug Beattie meets with Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland as local government funding is due to stop
UUP Leader Doug Beattie MC MLA says he met Women's Aid Federation NI over its loss of core Department of Health funding from 30 September, and calls for a return to government to secure funding for domestic abuse support organisations.
Justice and policing Local government Issue: Department of Health Women's Aid Federation funding ending Original release: Doug Beattie meets with Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland as local government funding is due to stop (opens in a new tab)
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There can be no tolerance for hate crime – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey says hate crime is unacceptable after a Detail report showed race hate crimes rising across the north and more than doubling in South Belfast. She urges victims to report incidents to the PSNI and pledges continued engagement with minority ethnic groups.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Detail report on rising race hate crime in Northern Ireland Original release: There can be no tolerance for hate crime – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Archibald calls on Department of Health to continue Women’s Aid funding
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says Department of Health funding for the Women's Aid Federation is set to end within days and urges the Permanent Secretary to commit to continuing the £147,000 annual grant.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Department of Health Women's Aid Federation funding ending Original release: Archibald calls on Department of Health to continue Women’s Aid funding (opens in a new tab)
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Ratcliffe dismayed by loss of emergency surgery at Daisy Hill
TUV chairman Keith Ratcliffe, a Cusher councillor, says he is distressed that emergency surgery is ending at Daisy Hill, sending patients roughly 20 miles to Craigavon Area Hospital. He warns isolated communities in Newry and Armagh will be hit hardest and accuses officials of ignoring local…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital emergency surgery loss Original release: Ratcliffe dismayed by loss of emergency surgery at Daisy Hill (opens in a new tab)
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Kyle articulates support for Dunluce School
TUV councillor and vice-chairman Allister Kyle, a former pupil, voices support for Dunluce School in Bushmills, opposing proposed closure on 31 August 2024 and questioning the Education Authority's consultation and the lack of a Coleraine super-school location and impact assessment for the town.
Education Local government Issue: Dunluce School closure proposal Education Authority consultation Original release: Kyle articulates support for Dunluce School (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds welcomes transfer test application extension
DUP Education Spokesperson Diane Dodds welcomes SEAG's decision to reopen transfer test applications for a further short period, saying it gives parents who missed the deadline a chance to apply. She urges anyone wishing to apply to do so before 5pm on Monday.
Education Issue: SEAG transfer test application window reopening Original release: Dodds welcomes transfer test application extension (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast Trust lack of transparency extremely unhelpful on ending of meals on wheels service, says McAllister
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister says Belfast Trust's lack of transparency over ending its meals on wheels service has been unhelpful, and calls on the Trust to guarantee no one goes without meals and to set up a sustainable solution for users.
Health Social security and welfare Issue: Belfast Trust meals on wheels service ending without replacement Original release: Belfast Trust lack of transparency extremely unhelpful on ending of meals on wheels service, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Egan criticises decision to axe Women's Aid funding
Alliance MLA Connie Egan criticises the removal of central government funding for Women's Aid, saying Northern Ireland is now the only UK region where the group receives none. She warns the decision could harm people needing urgent help and blames the DUP's Stormont boycott.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Department of Health Women's Aid Federation funding ending Original release: Egan criticises decision to axe Women's Aid funding (opens in a new tab)
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Pupils can hide their “gender” from parents in NI schools
TUV leader Jim Allister calls on the Education Authority to withdraw and revise its "Supporting Transgender Young People" guidance, claiming it lets schools withhold pupils' gender transitioning from parents. He also says pronoun options in the SIMS school records system should be removed.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority "Supporting Transgender Young People" guidance and SIMS pronoun option Original release: Pupils can hide their “gender” from parents in NI schools (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party leader welcomes establishment of first consumption room in UK
Green Party leader Mal O'Hara welcomes Glasgow becoming the first UK city to open a drug consumption room, and urges other cities to move quickly. He calls for the Attorney General in Northern Ireland to follow Scotland's Lord Advocate and issue a similar decision so a facility can open in Belfast.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Glasgow drug consumption room opening Original release: Green Party leader welcomes establishment of first consumption room in UK (opens in a new tab)
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Opening of Scottish drug consumption room evidence of need for different way to tackle drugs crisis, says Bradshaw
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says the opening of Scotland's first drug consumption room in Glasgow shows new strategies are needed, citing open drug use and discarded needles in Belfast City Centre. She says consumption rooms have helped in parts of North America and calls for…
Health Issue: Glasgow drug consumption room opening Original release: Opening of Scottish drug consumption room evidence of need for different way to tackle drugs crisis, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Privatisation of post-primary transfer tests has led to significant concern for parents, says Mathison
Alliance Education Spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says the privatised post-primary transfer system, now run by SEAG, has caused significant parental worry over poor communication and no consideration of exceptional circumstances for missed deadlines. He also questions schools paying SEAG…
Education Issue: SEAG management of post-primary transfer tests and parental concerns Original release: Privatisation of post-primary transfer tests has led to significant concern for parents, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance Party endorses smoke-free Northern Ireland plans
Alliance's health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw backs a vision to cut smoking prevalence below 5% by 2035, urging swift Executive action on a new Tobacco Control Strategy, vape sales rules, retailer licensing and wider smoke-free spaces. She also warns against cutting quit-smoking programmes during…
Health Issue: Action on Smoking and Health smoke-free vision launch in Belfast Original release: Alliance Party endorses smoke-free Northern Ireland plans (opens in a new tab)
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School Crossing Patrol recruitment to re-start: Dodds
DUP Education Spokesperson Diane Dodds says she understands recruitment of school crossing patrol staff is to restart after a earlier pause linked to tight finances. She says schools with unfilled vacancies, including Clounagh Junior High School, will be told hiring can proceed.
Education Issue: School crossing patrol recruitment resumption by Education Authority Original release: School Crossing Patrol recruitment to re-start: Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Cllr Áine Groogan welcomes Safe Access Zones
Green Party Councillor for Botanic Áine Groogan welcomes the establishment of Safe Access Zones across all Northern Ireland trust areas from 29 September, crediting Green enabling legislation from the previous Assembly. She calls on the department to establish abortion healthcare services across…
Health Issue: Safe access zones outside Northern Ireland health clinics introduced Original release: Green Party Cllr Áine Groogan welcomes Safe Access Zones (opens in a new tab)
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Further Education is key to our skills agenda and needs to be protected says Eastwood
Alliance Economy Spokesperson Sorcha Eastwood warns that short-term thinking could undermine the Further Education sector after meeting FE lecturers. She calls on the Department for Economy to avoid further FE provision cuts, and urges reform talks to conclude before any redundancies are discussed.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Further Education sector budget pressures and potential redundancies Original release: Further Education is key to our skills agenda and needs to be protected says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)