Latest releases
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3,334 releases
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An evidence-based RSE curriculum is what is best for our children and young people, says Egan
Alliance education spokesperson and North Down MLA Connie Egan calls for a standardised, inclusive, evidence-based RSE curriculum in schools, following an ETI report finding almost half of Northern Ireland schools teach little or nothing on consent, LGBTQ+ issues and related topics. She says she…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education and Training Inspectorate report on relationship and sexuality education Original release: An evidence-based RSE curriculum is what is best for our children and young people, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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Muir says key infrastructure will be left to crumble due to Budget cuts
Alliance infrastructure spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA says key infrastructure will be left to decay after a 14 per cent cut to the Department for Infrastructure's day-to-day spending, warning of threats to street lighting, water and public transport, and calls for the Executive to be restored.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Department for Infrastructure 14 per cent day-to-day budget cut Original release: Muir says key infrastructure will be left to crumble due to Budget cuts (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Solutions needed to reverse bleak health picture
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath warns that a near 10% health budget cut will worsen waiting lists, raise car parking charges and hit community and voluntary groups. He calls for the Triple Lock proposal to resist the cuts and says a future Executive should seek extra funding from London.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Department of Health flat cash budget allocation 2023 Original release: McGrath: Solutions needed to reverse bleak health picture (opens in a new tab)
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Father of three and TUV candidate speaks out on proposed loss of Causeway maternity services
TUV candidate Jonathan McAuley expresses disappointment at the proposed closure of the Causeway Hospital maternity ward, arguing Antrim cannot cope with current workload and that women are transferred from Antrim to Causeway. He says staff feel the 14-week consultation was a waste of time and…
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital maternity services proposed closure consultation Original release: Father of three and TUV candidate speaks out on proposed loss of Causeway maternity services (opens in a new tab)
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TUV Council candidate Allister Kyle raises concern over Magherabuoy plans
TUV candidate Allister Kyle calls on Lord Rana to make his intentions clear for the former Magherabuoy House Hotel in Portrush, claiming concern over plans to house asylum seekers there. He asks whether the council has joined the government funding scheme and raises possible planning issues over a…
Immigration Housing Issue: Magherabuoy House Hotel Portrush proposed asylum seeker accommodation Original release: TUV Council candidate Allister Kyle raises concern over Magherabuoy plans (opens in a new tab)
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Every NI council needs a green new deal, says Alexander
Alliance council candidate Robbie Alexander calls for every Northern Ireland council to create a green new deal to tackle climate change, citing carbon-neutral council facilities, ending single-use plastics, safe cycle lanes and living wage employment. The call comes ahead of Alliance's local…
Environment and climate Local government Original release: Every NI council needs a green new deal, says Alexander (opens in a new tab)
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Long and Bradshaw hold "useful and helpful" meeting with hospital group
Alliance MLAs Naomi Long and Paula Bradshaw describe their Enniskillen meeting with campaign group SOAH as useful, saying they will follow up its concerns with the Western Trust and Department of Health over South West Acute Hospital services. Bradshaw calls for a locally accountable health…
Health Issue: Alliance meeting with SOAH group on South West Acute Hospital Original release: Long and Bradshaw hold "useful and helpful" meeting with hospital group (opens in a new tab)
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Ireland can be a European leader of prosperity, peace and hope – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD urges Ireland to position itself as a European leader in prosperity, peace and hope, in an address in Brussels. She argues EU membership should be driven by solidarity, affordable housing, public healthcare and education, and rejects calls to abandon…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Ireland can be a European leader of prosperity, peace and hope – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Patients will come to harm following budget allocations - Chambers
UUP Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA warns that the flat cash budget allocation to the Department of Health will harm patients, citing cuts to waiting list, cancer and mental health funding and the £300m overspend. He calls for the health service to be treated as a priority.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Department of Health flat cash budget allocation 2023 Original release: Patients will come to harm following budget allocations - Chambers (opens in a new tab)
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Stormont Budget: Carroll Urges Grassroots Resistance To Cuts
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll calls the Stormont budget an outright attack on schoolchildren, the sick, vulnerable and workers, and says the party will organise grassroots resistance to the cuts set out by the Secretary of State.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Stormont budget cuts outlined by the Secretary of State Original release: Stormont Budget: Carroll Urges Grassroots Resistance To Cuts (opens in a new tab)
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Department and Trust must work to protect Kilkeel GP services
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe calls on the Department of Health and the Southern Trust to act quickly to protect GP services in Kilkeel after a decision to hand back the surgery's primary care contract. She says the 9,000 affected patients need new contract holders appointed and services maintained.
Health Issue: Kilkeel Primary Care Centre GP contract handback Original release: Department and Trust must work to protect Kilkeel GP services (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey - "Time for Treasury Rethink on Public Sector Pay"
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP calls for a Treasury rethink on public sector pay, arguing the Barnett funding model needs re-examining so public services can recruit and retain staff lost to agencies or other countries.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: Sir Jeffrey - "Time for Treasury Rethink on Public Sector Pay" (opens in a new tab)
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Autism and other services should be provided as standard in council facilities, says Kane
Alliance candidate Lee Kane, standing in Ballymoney for Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, urges that autism, ADHD and learning disability-friendly services be standard across council facilities. He also backs Changing Places toilets in council buildings and carer-friendly workplace…
Disability and equality Local government Original release: Autism and other services should be provided as standard in council facilities, says Kane (opens in a new tab)
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£40m per year in negligence payouts cannot remain the norm - Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw says annual payouts of over £40m for medical negligence cannot remain the norm and calls for fundamental change to patient safety, citing a lack of improvement from Serious Adverse Incident reviews since 2009.
Health Issue: Northern Ireland medical negligence payouts exceed £40m last year Original release: £40m per year in negligence payouts cannot remain the norm - Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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PSNI enforcement of stalking legislation welcome, says Egan, marking one year since its introduction
Alliance spokesperson Connie Egan MLA welcomes PSNI enforcement of the Protection from Stalking Act, citing 88 arrests and 47 charges since April 2022, and calls for the Violence Against Women and Girls strategy to be unblocked by restoring the institutions.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI figures on arrests and charges under the Protection from Stalking Act Original release: PSNI enforcement of stalking legislation welcome, says Egan, marking one year since its introduction (opens in a new tab)
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Largest ever team of Sinn Féin candidates to stand in 18 May council election – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney says the party is fielding its largest ever team of candidates for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council in the 18 May election, contesting every District Electoral Area and aiming to elect more councillors.
Local government Disability and equality Original release: Largest ever team of Sinn Féin candidates to stand in 18 May council election – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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DUP boycott of institutions delaying introduction of paid miscarriage leave – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says the DUP's boycott of the institutions is delaying paid miscarriage leave, now deferred until at least 2025 because the regulations needed to commence it cannot be introduced. She calls for the Executive to be restored.
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Deferral of paid miscarriage leave commencement until at least 2025 Original release: DUP boycott of institutions delaying introduction of paid miscarriage leave – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
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No health worker should be discriminated against due to age or disability – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew commends midwives in the Southern Trust area for resisting attempts to move them onto contracts with worse terms and conditions. He says the Trust has now abandoned the move and that no health worker should face discrimination due to age or disability.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Southern Trust midwives contract changes abandoned Original release: No health worker should be discriminated against due to age or disability – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland misses out on decarbonisation funding
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA says she is appalled Northern Ireland is missing out on Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and Home Upgrade Grant money, blaming the lack of a functioning Executive after Treasury confirmed no Barnett consequentials can be identified for…
Environment and climate Housing Issue: Northern Ireland excluded from Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and Home Upgrade Grant Original release: Northern Ireland misses out on decarbonisation funding (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP: Everyone has a part to play in fighting climate emergency
SDLP climate spokesperson Gary McKeown says everyone, from governments and large firms to households, must share responsibility ahead of Earth Day 2023, urging councils to use recycling, pollution controls and planning for biodiversity. SDLP active travel spokesperson Simon Lee calls for…
Environment and climate Local government Original release: SDLP: Everyone has a part to play in fighting climate emergency (opens in a new tab)