Latest releases
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4,189 releases
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SEN school placements must be suitable and appropriate – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says many children with special educational needs still lack suitable school places for September and urges the Education Minister to adopt a ‘SEN first’ strategy that embeds SEN pupils in schools’ planned enrolments, giving families assurance and schools clarity.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Shortfall of SEN school places for September 2024 Original release: SEN school placements must be suitable and appropriate – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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'Beyond belief’ that the deputy First Minister doesn’t appear to have been aware of key waiting list document - Beattie
UUP Leader Doug Beattie calls on deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to explain how she was unaware of the Elective Care Framework, which he says was endorsed by the Executive and proposes a £700m multi-year investment to tackle waiting lists. He says she appears not to have read the…
Health Issue: Little-Pengelly's awareness of Elective Care Framework waiting lists plan Original release: 'Beyond belief’ that the deputy First Minister doesn’t appear to have been aware of key waiting list document - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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McMurray secures meeting with DAERA Minister over Warrenpoint stench.
Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray says he has secured a meeting with the DAERA Minister over foul odours affecting residents in Warrenpoint, reported since 2023 and investigated by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. He calls the stenches shocking and pledges to keep working with…
Environment and climate Issue: Warrenpoint foul odours meeting with DAERA Minister Original release: McMurray secures meeting with DAERA Minister over Warrenpoint stench. (opens in a new tab)
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DUP Leader addresses Manifesto Launch
The DUP, launching its General Election manifesto in East Belfast, says it will press the next Government to ensure Northern Ireland funding cannot fall below assessed need, citing a £124 for every £100 spent in England benchmark. It also lists its record on energy support, sub-postmasters…
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Original release: DUP Leader addresses Manifesto Launch (opens in a new tab)
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Ms Mulholland welcomes introduction of hybrid working for Council groups
Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland welcomes Assembly approval of remote meetings regulations for councils, saying they give councillors with disabilities, caring duties or rural constituencies more flexible participation. She voices concern that each council will set its own hybrid working rules, which…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Assembly approval of local government remote meetings regulations 2024 Original release: Ms Mulholland welcomes introduction of hybrid working for Council groups (opens in a new tab)
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Greater clarity on abortion required
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Department of Health's abortion statistics published today understate figures he obtained through Assembly questions, citing 8,488 abortions since 2020 against 5,497 in the release. He also calls for Northern Ireland data on reasons for abortion and maternal…
Health Issue: Department of Health abortion statistics publication June 2024 Original release: Greater clarity on abortion required (opens in a new tab)
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To actually tackle mental health crisis we must invest in services, says Honeyford
Alliance Economy spokesperson David Honeyford MLA calls for increased investment in mental health services after the Public Accounts Committee report on mental health services, saying only £10m was allocated to the Department of Health's strategy in its first three years, £24m below the estimated…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Public Accounts Committee report on Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland Original release: To actually tackle mental health crisis we must invest in services, says Honeyford (opens in a new tab)
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TUV calls on RCN to speak out following Cullen’s shameful failure to condemn murders of nurses
TUV West Tyrone Westminster candidate Stevan Patterson criticises RCN chief Pat Cullen for not condemning the Enniskillen and Omagh murders of nurses and retired healthcare workers, and calls on the Royal College of Nursing to distance itself from her comments.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: TUV calls on RCN to speak out following Cullen’s shameful failure to condemn murders of nurses (opens in a new tab)
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DUP will continue to champion case of WASPI women – Shannon
DUP Westminster candidate Jim Shannon says a DUP MPs team will keep campaigning for WASPI women seeking redress over state pension age changes, welcoming the Ombudsman's finding of maladministration by the DWP and urging the next government to deliver full compensation. He criticises Labour and…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman WASPI maladministration report Original release: DUP will continue to champion case of WASPI women – Shannon (opens in a new tab)
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Tackling ammonia levels requires more than just addressing planning application backlog, says Blair
Alliance spokesperson John Blair MLA says a DUP motion on on-farm investment does not address ammonia emissions, arguing that clearing the backlog of planning applications with insufficient mitigations will not reduce levels enough.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DUP motion on on-farm investment and ammonia emissions Original release: Tackling ammonia levels requires more than just addressing planning application backlog, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Greens join calls for a Wealth Tax in the UK
Green Party NI leader Mal O'Hara calls for a UK wealth tax, aligned with Scottish, English and Welsh Greens, targeting household wealth above £3.4 million and saying it would raise at least £75 billion a year alongside a windfall tax on energy companies.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: Greens join calls for a Wealth Tax in the UK (opens in a new tab)
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Green Deputy Leader welcomes court ruling on no gas caverns campaign
Green Party Deputy Leader Lesley Veronica welcomes the Court of Appeal ruling that DAERA's decision to allow gas storage caverns under Larne Lough was irrational, crediting the No Gas Caverns campaign and Friends of the Earth.
Environment and climate Issue: Court of Appeal ruling on Larne Lough gas storage caverns Original release: Green Deputy Leader welcomes court ruling on no gas caverns campaign (opens in a new tab)
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McMurray raises questions about weed killer usage on South Down verges
Alliance MLA Andrew McMurray says he is questioning the Department for Infrastructure over widespread weedkiller spraying on South Down roadside verges, which constituents report has left them scorched and wildflower areas damaged. He wants to establish which chemicals were used and how…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: South Down roadside verge weedkiller spraying by Department for Infrastructure Original release: McMurray raises questions about weed killer usage on South Down verges (opens in a new tab)
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Executive Office must move much faster on race relations, says Bradshaw, marking Refugee Week.
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw, chair of the Stormont Executive Office Committee, calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to show greater urgency in developing and implementing a new Race Relations Strategy that includes refugee integration, marking Refugee Week.
Immigration International affairs Original release: Executive Office must move much faster on race relations, says Bradshaw, marking Refugee Week. (opens in a new tab)
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Court ruling testament to hard work of campaigners, says Donnelly
Alliance candidate Danny Donnelly welcomes a Court of Appeal ruling that a licence for gas caverns off East Antrim should have gone to the full Executive, crediting campaigners on Islandmagee. He calls for an end to this and other fossil fuel projects across Northern Ireland.
Environment and climate Issue: Court of Appeal ruling on East Antrim gas caverns licence Original release: Court ruling testament to hard work of campaigners, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition Day focuses on North-South progress and dual market access
SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole calls on the Economy Minister to produce a dual‑market access strategy and set up a joint Invest NI‑IDA working group, and urges motions for cross‑border healthcare cooperation, extension of all‑island tourism brands and opposition to the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation
Economy and employment Health Issue: SDLP Opposition Day on dual market access and cross‑border tourism Original release: SDLP Opposition Day focuses on North-South progress and dual market access (opens in a new tab)
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Health minister must bring forward a plan to stabilise NHS dentistry – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins urges the health minister to produce an immediate plan to shore up NHS dental care, warning that practices going private are leaving lower-income patients struggling to get treatment. She calls for a meeting with the British Dental Association.
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Too much at stake to not have green new deal, says Farry
Alliance candidate Stephen Farry, standing in North Down, says the UK Government cannot afford to lack a green new deal as climate impacts intensify. He points to Alliance's 2021 Green New Deal and accuses the Conservatives of U-turning on climate pledges and approving fossil fuel expansion.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Original release: Too much at stake to not have green new deal, says Farry (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty: Casement cannot be allowed to slip
SDLP West Belfast Councillor Paul Doherty warns that failing to finish the Casement Park upgrade for the 2028 European Championship would betray west Belfast, after GAA President Jarlath Burns said the work is unlikely to be ready in time. He urges the Executive and British Government to secure…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Jarlath Burns comments on Casement Park benefits for other sports Original release: Doherty: Casement cannot be allowed to slip (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: Failure to agree Lough Neagh report is another broken promise by Executive
SDLP Opposition AERA Spokesperson Patsy McGlone says the Executive’s failure to agree the AERA Minister’s Lough Neagh report and its 30‑plus recommendations is another broken promise, condemning the lake to further decline, and pledges the SDLP will work constructively but hold parties to account.
Environment and climate Issue: Executive fails to agree Lough Neagh report recommendations Original release: McGlone: Failure to agree Lough Neagh report is another broken promise by Executive (opens in a new tab)