Latest releases
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5,790 releases
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Neglect and underfunding of water infrastructure is impacting economic growth, house building and our environment, says McMurray
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew McMurray MLA says chronic underfunding of NI's water and wastewater infrastructure is harming health, growth, housing and the environment, and launches the In Deep Water policy paper with proposed alternative funding and governance for NI Water.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Alliance 'In Deep Water' water infrastructure policy paper launch Original release: Neglect and underfunding of water infrastructure is impacting economic growth, house building and our environment, says McMurray (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister welcomes announcement from Health Minister outlining plans to improve services for children with disabilities, stating it shouldn’t have taken this long.
Alliance Health spokesperson and North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister welcomes the Health Minister's plan to invest in children's disability services, including more short breaks and community family and behavioural supports. She says the funding is long overdue and asks for clarity on multi-use…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Additional investment in services for children with disabilities Original release: McAllister welcomes announcement from Health Minister outlining plans to improve services for children with disabilities, stating it shouldn’t have taken this long. (opens in a new tab)
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Guy pays tribute to those campaigning for Harry’s Law.
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA pays tribute to Deirdre Shakespeare and campaigners after a Public Services Ombudsman report on restraint of her autistic, non-verbal son. She calls for statutory restraint guidance timelines, repeal of Article 4(1)(c) of the Education (NI) Order…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Public Services Ombudsman report on restraint of Harry Shakespeare Original release: Guy pays tribute to those campaigning for Harry’s Law. (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath welcomes funding to support respite for children with disabilities
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath welcomes £13m multi-year funding from Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to increase short break respite for children with disabilities. He says he will seek urgent clarity on the impact on other health services.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Additional investment in services for children with disabilities Original release: McGrath welcomes funding to support respite for children with disabilities (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna raises violence against women and girls in Commons
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP highlighted the surge in violence against women and girls during a Commons debate, citing a femicide rate twice that of Britain and urging immediate, cross‑government action, clear funding for the Executive strategy and societal behavioural change.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Violence against women and girls debate in Commons Original release: Hanna raises violence against women and girls in Commons (opens in a new tab)
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‘Time for action to cut vaping in schools’ – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes an Assembly motion urging the education and health ministers to draw up a plan against vaping among pupils, citing principals asking for help and harm to young people.
Education Health Issue: Assembly motion on tackling vaping in schools Original release: ‘Time for action to cut vaping in schools’ – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Action must be taken on Daisy Hill and Craigavon maternity units:…
DUP Health Spokesperson and Upper Bann MLA Diane Dodds welcomes the Department of Health's independent review of midwifery services, but presses the Health Minister to ensure Daisy Hill and Craigavon maternity units are fully staffed and can operate effectively, and questions Southern Trust…
Health Issue: Independent review of midwifery services and Daisy Hill maternity staffing Original release: Action must be taken on Daisy Hill and Craigavon maternity units:… (opens in a new tab)
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A Sinn Féin government would prioritise planning for Irish unity – Matt Carthy TD
Sinn Féin's foreign affairs spokesperson Matt Carthy TD says the next government must prioritise preparing for Irish unity, proposing a green paper, a Citizens' Assembly and a Minister for Reunification in the Department of An Taoiseach, citing an Irish News poll showing rising support for unity.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish News poll on Irish unity and constitutional change Original release: A Sinn Féin government would prioritise planning for Irish unity – Matt Carthy TD (opens in a new tab)
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‘Incoming Irish government must make planning for Irish unity a priority’ – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes says a poll in the Irish News shows growing demand for decisions on the island of Ireland to be taken at home. He calls on the incoming Irish government to prioritise planning for constitutional change, including a green paper on Irish unity and a Minister for…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish News poll on Irish unity and constitutional change Original release: ‘Incoming Irish government must make planning for Irish unity a priority’ – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Interim report on drugs "positive to see progress on saving lives and reducing harm" - Senator O'Hara
Green Party Senator Mal O'Hara welcomes an Oireachtas joint committee interim report on drugs, which recommends a health-led approach, repealing Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1997 and decriminalising possession of all substances for personal use. He urges the Executive parties in Northern…
Health Justice and policing Issue: Oireachtas joint committee interim report on drugs policy Original release: Interim report on drugs "positive to see progress on saving lives and reducing harm" - Senator O'Hara (opens in a new tab)
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Vital that work starts now towards meaningful action, says Alliance Education representatives, following IRE report.
Alliance MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy welcome the Education Minister’s response to the Independent Review of Education but say essential recommendations lack ambition, urging immediate action on raising participation age, SEN, academic selection, integrated schooling and an Early Childhood
Education Disability and equality Issue: Independent Review of Education recommendations response Original release: Vital that work starts now towards meaningful action, says Alliance Education representatives, following IRE report. (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed in terms of approach to HIV and ending stigma, says Harpur, proposing motion.
Alliance Castlereagh South Councillor Jamie Harpur calls on Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council to back a motion recognising the urgent need to end HIV and its stigma, including joining the HIV Fast Track Cities initiative to end the epidemic by 2030.
Health Local government Issue: Lisburn and Castlereagh council HIV motion on ending stigma and epidemic Original release: Urgent action needed in terms of approach to HIV and ending stigma, says Harpur, proposing motion. (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath welcomes recognition of need for increased respite provision
SDLP Health Spokesperson and South Down MLA Colin McGrath welcomes the Assembly's backing for more respite care for children and adults with complex needs and severe behavioural challenges. He says the SDLP amended a motion on adult provision to cover children, and he calls on the Health Minister…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on respite services for learning disability carers Original release: McGrath welcomes recognition of need for increased respite provision (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Workforce key to addressing maternity issues
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says workforce shortages must be tackled now, urging more midwife training places and recruitment before next September. He responds to Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's Assembly statement on the independent maternity and neonatal review, calling for regional…
Health Issue: Independent review of midwifery services and Daisy Hill maternity staffing Original release: McGrath: Workforce key to addressing maternity issues (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Minister of Health must rethink refusal of Women's Health Strategy
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin urges the Health Minister to rethink his decision not to develop a dedicated Women's Health Strategy, after he cited budget constraints in an Assembly answer. She calls the refusal a backwards step for women's health.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Health Minister decision not to develop Women's Health Strategy Original release: McLaughlin: Minister of Health must rethink refusal of Women's Health Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin motion supporting improved respite services passes in Assembly – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the Assembly's passage of a party motion urging the health minister to swiftly produce a plan to expand respite care for adults and children with learning disabilities and their carers.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on respite services for learning disability carers Original release: Sinn Féin motion supporting improved respite services passes in Assembly – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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PIRA and Army Council still raising questions for Sinn Fein coalition partners
TUV leader Jim Allister says a 2015 assessment still stands, that PIRA kept an Army Council overseeing Sinn Fein, retained departments and held undecommissioned weapons, and accuses unionist parties sustaining Sinn Fein in government of tolerating this.
Justice and policing Constitutional affairs Original release: PIRA and Army Council still raising questions for Sinn Fein coalition partners (opens in a new tab)
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TUV seek to raise status of PIRA in Stormont
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the PSNI’s unchanged assessment of the PIRA and its Army Council conflicts with the Ministerial Pledge’s non‑violence commitment, and argues it is undemocratic for a party influenced by the PIRA to lead Stormont. He condemns the DUP’s partnership with Sinn Fein and says a
Justice and policing Constitutional affairs Issue: PSNI assessment of PIRA status unchanged Original release: TUV seek to raise status of PIRA in Stormont (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister welcomes Language Launchpad
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan announces the launch of Language Launchpad, a project funded under the £25m Early Learning and Childcare package to support speech, language and communication development in early years, running until March 2025.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Language Launchpad early years speech and language project launch Original release: Education Minister welcomes Language Launchpad (opens in a new tab)
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RHI report findings “damning” for unreformed Stormont: O’Toole
SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole says a NI Audit Office finding that just over half of the RHI inquiry recommendations have been implemented is damning for Stormont's failure to reform itself. He says the Executive sub-committee has not met since 2020 and calls the Executive parties and civil service…
Constitutional affairs Issue: NI Audit Office report on implementing RHI inquiry recommendations Original release: RHI report findings “damning” for unreformed Stormont: O’Toole (opens in a new tab)