Latest releases
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3,378 releases
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Delargy welcomes new ATU measures to support students applying through CAO system
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes Atlantic Technological University’s new measures that will better support northern students applying through the CAO system, praises ATU’s leadership and urges the Irish government to remove barriers to all‑Ireland mobility.
Education Issue: ATU introduces new CAO support measures for northern students Original release: Delargy welcomes new ATU measures to support students applying through CAO system (opens in a new tab)
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Donna McGettigan TD welcomes changes to ATU’s admissions process to improve access for students from the North
Sinn Féin further and higher education spokesperson Donna McGettigan TD welcomes Atlantic Technological University’s new admissions scoring system that recognises mixed A‑level and alternative qualifications, saying it improves access for students from the North. She also welcomes the Dundalk IT‑QUB
Education Issue: Atlantic Technological University admissions policy changes Original release: Donna McGettigan TD welcomes changes to ATU’s admissions process to improve access for students from the North (opens in a new tab)
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New PSNI search guidance is confusion dressed up as compassion
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA criticises the Justice Minister's interim guidance on searching detainees, which asks the PSNI to first seek a female officer to search people who identify as women, calling it confusing and a dereliction of duty. He says officers need firm rules and that no female…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI interim guidance on searching transgender detainees Original release: New PSNI search guidance is confusion dressed up as compassion (opens in a new tab)
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Cuts to skills programmes undermines economic potential and could have devastating effects, says Nicholl
Alliance economy spokesperson and All-Party Group on Skills chair Kate Nicholl MLA says she is disappointed and concerned for the economy after the Department for the Economy announced major cuts to skills development programmes.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Department for the Economy skills development programme cuts Original release: Cuts to skills programmes undermines economic potential and could have devastating effects, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
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No girl should have to ask permission to wear trousers to school – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says the School Uniforms Bill’s latest Assembly stage provides an opportunity to guarantee every pupil the automatic right to wear trousers, urging school uniform policy to be brought into the 21st century.
Education Disability and equality Issue: School Uniforms Bill passes Assembly stage Original release: No girl should have to ask permission to wear trousers to school – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance introduces essential legislation to end cruel so-called conversion practices
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA introduces the Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill to the Assembly, seeking to ban conversion therapy and coercive conversion behaviour in Northern Ireland with penalties of fines or up to two years in custody.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill introduced to Assembly Original release: Alliance introduces essential legislation to end cruel so-called conversion practices (opens in a new tab)
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People Before Profit Endorse Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham
People Before Profit endorses Sharon Graham in the Unite general secretary election, citing her record on disputes and workplace organising, while criticising her stance on war, climate and Gaza. It urges members to back her over Simon Dubbins, whom it says would revive Unite's ties with Labour.
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Unite general secretary election ballot Original release: People Before Profit Endorse Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin calls on Finance Minister to reverse Civil Service withdrawal from Belfast Pride
SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin urges the Finance Minister to overturn the Civil Service's decision to pull out of this year's Belfast Pride, arguing the legal basis cited, an English High Court judgment, does not apply in Northern Ireland.
Disability and equality Issue: Civil Service withdrawal from Pride march Original release: McLaughlin calls on Finance Minister to reverse Civil Service withdrawal from Belfast Pride (opens in a new tab)
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Farmers were right on NAP, the hard work of delivery now falls to Muir
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA cautiously welcomes the revised Nutrients Action Programme published for consultation, but says delivery now rests with Minister Muir. He calls for the economic impact assessment to be published in full and says Northern Ireland Water, wastewater and…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Revised Nutrients Action Programme published for consultation Original release: Farmers were right on NAP, the hard work of delivery now falls to Muir (opens in a new tab)
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Transparency needed from DUP on further Donaldson allegations, says Long, calling for fully independent investigation
Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA calls for a fully independent, external review into what DUP leadership knew about alleged victims of Jeffrey Donaldson, after BBC Spotlight revelations, and urges Edwin Poots to give a full account of his knowledge.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: BBC Spotlight programme on Jeffrey Donaldson allegations Original release: Transparency needed from DUP on further Donaldson allegations, says Long, calling for fully independent investigation (opens in a new tab)
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Building the A5 ‘an absolute priority’ for Sinn Féin – Begley
Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley, speaking from the Court of Appeal, says building the A5 remains a key priority and that delay is costing lives. She points to Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins pursuing an appeal against the most recent High Court ruling, supported by Tyrone GAA's campaign.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road appeal against the latest High Court ruling Original release: Building the A5 ‘an absolute priority’ for Sinn Féin – Begley (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston Slams Growing Gender Identity Service as Officials Confirm Funding Will Increase
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston criticises the funding for the lifespan gender identity service after Department of Health officials told the health committee the initial £806,000 is recurrent and will increase. He expresses concern for vulnerable young people and calls the spending astonishing given…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Department of Health lifespan gender identity service funding briefing to health committee Original release: Gaston Slams Growing Gender Identity Service as Officials Confirm Funding Will Increase (opens in a new tab)
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Givan voices disappointment over delay to SEN Regulations
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan expresses serious concern that the Special Educational Needs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 have been delayed from September 2026 to September 2027 after extended Education Committee scrutiny. He says the delay postpones reduced assessment timescales…
Education Disability and equality Issue: SEN Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 implementation delay to September 2027 Original release: Givan voices disappointment over delay to SEN Regulations (opens in a new tab)
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Jon Burrows responds to behaviour Tsar announcement
UUP leader and education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA welcomes in principle the Department of Education's announcement of a behaviour tsar but says it must bring real change in schools. He calls for clear consequences for repeat disruptive pupils, support for principals, and for Belfast teaching…
Education Issue: Department of Education behaviour tsar announcement Original release: Jon Burrows responds to behaviour Tsar announcement (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison hits back at Minister’s statement on SEN Regulations
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison, chair of the Education Committee, rejects the Education Minister's criticism of the committee's handling of SEN regulations, saying the rules need proper examination and accusing the DUP of responsibility for the special educational needs system and placement shortages.
Education Disability and equality Issue: SEN Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 implementation delay to September 2027 Original release: Mathison hits back at Minister’s statement on SEN Regulations (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: Civil Service Pride Withdrawal 'Regressive and Reckless'
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll condemns the head of the Civil Service's decision to withdraw staff from the Pride march, calling it regressive and reckless. He accuses political figures of stoking transphobia for gain and urges civil servants who wish to march to do so.
Disability and equality Issue: Civil Service withdrawal from Pride march Original release: Carroll: Civil Service Pride Withdrawal 'Regressive and Reckless' (opens in a new tab)
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Mason welcomes €13.5 million investment to strengthen early years workforce
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes a €13.5 million Shared Island Fund investment to strengthen the early years workforce, upskill early educators and improve resources for children with additional needs. She calls on the Education Minister to deliver a childcare strategy covering quality…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Shared Island Fund €13.5 million early years workforce investment Original release: Mason welcomes €13.5 million investment to strengthen early years workforce (opens in a new tab)
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Mallaghan welcomes major investment to tackle Lough Neagh water quality
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan welcomes €33 million of Shared Island funding for a water quality programme in the Lough Neagh catchment running to 2031. He says it must be matched by sustained delivery to safeguard the lough.
Environment and climate Public finance and taxation Issue: Shared Island funding for Lough Neagh water quality Original release: Mallaghan welcomes major investment to tackle Lough Neagh water quality (opens in a new tab)
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Finucane welcomes continuation of Gaza Student Scheme
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane welcomes the announcement that the Gaza Student Scheme will continue for the 2026/27 academic year, offering students a route to continue their studies. He says his office will support students applying to the scheme.
Education International affairs Issue: Gaza Student Scheme continuation for 2026/27 academic year Original release: Finucane welcomes continuation of Gaza Student Scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Whyte: Irish Government funding for Sailortown Bridge project must be matched by DFI.
SDLP North Belfast councillor Carl Whyte welcomes €800,000 from the Shared Island Fund for the next design phase of the Sailortown–Odyssey pedestrian and cycle bridge in Belfast. He calls on the Department for Infrastructure to guarantee funding to completion, warning against repeating the…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Shared Island Fund €800,000 for Cork–Belfast Docklands Bridges project Original release: Whyte: Irish Government funding for Sailortown Bridge project must be matched by DFI. (opens in a new tab)