Latest releases
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1,457 releases
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’50:50 recruitment should be reinstated’ – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey calls for the reinstatement of 50:50 recruitment to the PSNI, saying the withdrawal of the policy has badly affected the recruitment of Catholic and nationalist officers. She urges the police to consult underrepresented groups on barriers to joining.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI 50:50 recruitment policy withdrawal Original release: ’50:50 recruitment should be reinstated’ – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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MLAs Pay Rise: Immoral, Unjustified, and an Insult to Every Worker and Vulnerable Child
Aontú calls the proposed 27% MLA pay rise immoral and unjustifiable, contrasting it with 3–5% increases for teachers, nurses and other public sector workers. It also demands the rise be stopped immediately, citing SEND and EA transport cuts.
Economy and employment Education Issue: Independent Remuneration Board MLA pay determination increase Original release: MLAs Pay Rise: Immoral, Unjustified, and an Insult to Every Worker and Vulnerable Child (opens in a new tab)
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No MLA Pay Rise: Don’t Reward Failure!
Aontú, through Gemma Brolly, backs a petition to stop a proposed 27% MLA pay rise, calling for an immediate halt, a full review of MLA expenses and allowances, and a cap tied to the highest public sector pay award. It also calls for investment in SEND services and a fair deal for public sector…
Economy and employment Education Issue: Independent Remuneration Board MLA pay determination increase Original release: No MLA Pay Rise: Don’t Reward Failure! (opens in a new tab)
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Minister announces dedicated advice service for Armed Forces community
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces a new telephone and text advice service for serving personnel, veterans and their families, with a follow-on run of outreach events and a senior official named as strategic lead.
Social security and welfare Issue: Communities Department Armed Forces community advice service launch Original release: Minister announces dedicated advice service for Armed Forces community (opens in a new tab)
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Maghie welcomes council approval of draft byelaws to address noise and graphic imagery
Alliance Belfast City Councillor Jenna Maghie welcomes council approval of draft byelaws restricting graphic imagery and noise in Belfast City Centre, including a 70-decibel noise limit, and urges the Communities Minister to enact them quickly.
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Belfast City Centre draft byelaws on graphic imagery and noise Original release: Maghie welcomes council approval of draft byelaws to address noise and graphic imagery (opens in a new tab)
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Lack of equality legislation for 20 years a shocking dereliction of duty, says Bradshaw
Alliance's Paula Bradshaw, Executive Office spokesperson, says the First and deputy First Minister's failure to bring forward equality legislation in 20 years is a dereliction of duty, citing an Assembly answer from the joint FMdFM office. She calls for institutional reform so that outdated…
Disability and equality Issue: Assembly answer on absence of equality legislation from Executive Office Original release: Lack of equality legislation for 20 years a shocking dereliction of duty, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister should confirm children will not lose classroom assistants – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan calls on the Education Authority and the Education Minister to confirm that no child currently receiving a classroom assistant will lose that support under new EA proposals. He says the policy could reduce or remove one-to-one help for some children and that his party…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority classroom assistant support policy proposals Original release: Education Minister should confirm children will not lose classroom assistants – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Deis ag Ard Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge díriú ar Éire nua a thógáil – Kearney | Conradh na Gaeilge Ard Fheis an opportunity to focus on building a new Ireland – Kearney
Sinn Féin's National Chairperson Declan Kearney, speaking ahead of Conradh na Gaeilge's Ard Fheis, calls Belfast's selection as host city significant and says its theme on the Irish language in a united Ireland is timely. He adds that he will join a panel discussion at the event.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Original release: Deis ag Ard Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge díriú ar Éire nua a thógáil – Kearney | Conradh na Gaeilge Ard Fheis an opportunity to focus on building a new Ireland – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Political institutions must be inclusive and representative of persons with disabilities, says Armstrong
Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong says political institutions should reflect and include people with disabilities. She made the remarks after being selected by the Assembly to attend a Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities regional forum in Edinburgh on 20-21 February 2026.
Disability and equality Original release: Political institutions must be inclusive and representative of persons with disabilities, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna condemns racist graffiti
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP condemns racist graffiti on the Bass Buildings in Alfred Street, Belfast, which a Belfast Asian Women's Academy representative said contained a death threat. She says racism and hate are on the rise and calls for a society-wide response.
Disability and equality Issue: Racist graffiti found at Belfast city centre residential building Original release: Hanna condemns racist graffiti (opens in a new tab)
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Sexual crimes during the Troubles must be addressed in the Legacy Bill
UUP Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA says he will table a motion on 17 February urging the Government to add sexual crimes as a specific criterion in the Legacy Commission Bill’s Troubles investigation, and calls on the First and Deputy First Minister to back it.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Legacy Commission Bill – inclusion of sexual crimes Original release: Sexual crimes during the Troubles must be addressed in the Legacy Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Racist graffiti in Bass Buildings reinforces cost of inaction on tackling racism, says Bradshaw
Alliance's Paula Bradshaw MLA says racist graffiti found in a Belfast city centre residential building shows the cost of inaction on racism, blaming the First and deputy First Minister for failing to act. She calls for an update to the Race Relations Order and a Racial Equality Strategy.
Disability and equality Issue: Racist graffiti found at Belfast city centre residential building Original release: Racist graffiti in Bass Buildings reinforces cost of inaction on tackling racism, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Welcome Nesbitt u-turn but major questions remain on his approach to puberty blockers
TUV equality spokeswoman Ann McClure welcomes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's reversal on Northern Ireland's role in the puberty blocker trial but says he must explain how the decision was made and reversed. Party colleague Timothy Gaston is seeking an urgent Assembly answer from the Minister, and…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Northern Ireland withdrawal from puberty blocker trial Original release: Welcome Nesbitt u-turn but major questions remain on his approach to puberty blockers (opens in a new tab)
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Commissioning of ADHD services vital, says McReynolds, following publication of ADHD Needs Assessment Report
Alliance East Belfast MLA Peter McReynolds welcomes the ADHD Needs Assessment Report and its proposals for a commissioned ADHD service across Northern Ireland. He calls on the Minister to act on the recommendations and deliver the support people with the condition need.
Health Disability and equality Issue: ADHD Needs Assessment Report publication and commissioned service proposals Original release: Commissioning of ADHD services vital, says McReynolds, following publication of ADHD Needs Assessment Report (opens in a new tab)
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Minister announces plans to tackle welfare fraud and error
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces a drive to tackle benefit fraud and error, citing recommendations from a specialist working group, including staff training and technology use. He warns some measures depend on funding bids and seeks Executive support for initial investment.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Communities Department benefit fraud and error working group recommendations Original release: Minister announces plans to tackle welfare fraud and error (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: 24/7 cross-border Thrombectomy Service would save lives
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath calls on the Health Minister to explore a co-funded 24/7 cross-border thrombectomy service in Belfast and set a realistic timeline, after a 2024 deadline was missed.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly debate on 24/7 thrombectomy stroke service in the North Original release: McGrath: 24/7 cross-border Thrombectomy Service would save lives (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Communities Minister has his priorities all wrong
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says the Communities Minister should address housing stress, poverty and support for vulnerable people rather than running a new welfare fraud advertising campaign and extra fraud measures. He argues most claimants are genuine and that…
Social security and welfare Issue: Communities Department benefit fraud and error working group recommendations Original release: Durkan: Communities Minister has his priorities all wrong (opens in a new tab)
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ADHD services must be improved – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn says ADHD services in the north are inadequate, with access depending on location, age and ability to pay privately. Ahead of a party motion, she calls on the Health Minister to work with trusts to set up a regional, uniform service.
Health Disability and equality Original release: ADHD services must be improved – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons launches Warm Healthy Homes Strategy for Northern Ireland
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons launches the Warm Healthy Homes Strategy 2026-2036 to tackle fuel poverty, saying it has Executive backing and will be paired with a £150million Warm Healthy Homes Fund next year.
Social security and welfare Housing Issue: Warm Healthy Homes Strategy 2026-2036 launch Original release: Lyons launches Warm Healthy Homes Strategy for Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Allen welcomes additional disability adaptation funding
UUP MLA Andy Allen welcomes the £6.5 million allocated to the Department for Communities for disability home adaptations. He calls for better support and oversight so adaptations meet specification, and urges the Minister to create a dedicated fund for accessibility in public and community…
Disability and equality Housing Issue: £6.5 million Department for Communities disability adaptations funding Original release: Allen welcomes additional disability adaptation funding (opens in a new tab)