Latest releases
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2,876 releases
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Our carers must be visible & valued: Erskine
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine says carers must be more visible and valued in society, marking Carers Week 2022. She commits to taking forward Private Members Legislation on carers' rights, initiated earlier by colleague Mervyn Storey, to bring Northern Ireland level with England, Scotland and Wales.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Our carers must be visible & valued: Erskine (opens in a new tab)
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Whyte welcomes extension of Union Street pedestrianisation
SDLP councillor Carl Whyte welcomes a six-month extension of the Union Street pedestrianisation in Belfast city centre from June 11, with a later decision on making it permanent. He says the scheme boosts businesses and public safety, and calls for other city centre areas to be considered.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Union Street pedestrianisation six-month extension confirmed by Department for Infrastructure Original release: Whyte welcomes extension of Union Street pedestrianisation (opens in a new tab)
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Chris MacManus MEP To Hold Western Rail Corridor Online Public Meeting - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus is hosting an online public meeting on 20 June about reopening the Western Rail Corridor, with speakers including Conor Feighan and Rose Conway-Walsh TD. He urges the public to attend to show support for the line, and says the all-island rail review must commit to…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Western Rail Corridor online public meeting and all-island rail review Original release: Chris MacManus MEP To Hold Western Rail Corridor Online Public Meeting - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
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'Minister reaffirms commitment to A5 upgrade' – Begley - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley welcomes Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd's stated intention to push ahead with the A5 upgrade, and calls for construction to start straight after the autumn public inquiry without further holdups. She also points to interim safety measures, including new signage…
Infrastructure and transport Original release: 'Minister reaffirms commitment to A5 upgrade' – Begley - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
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‘Start-stop’ provision of Abortion Services should not be allowed to occur again, says Bradshaw
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes the Western Trust's plan to restart early abortion services in July after their April 2021 suspension, but says the service should never have been suspended. She blames the Health Minister's inaction on commissioning and calls for a fully…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Western Trust early abortion services resumption announcement Original release: ‘Start-stop’ provision of Abortion Services should not be allowed to occur again, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Get out on Bike Week, but we need serious investment – Cllr Stephen Dunlop
Green Party Cllr Stephen Dunlop calls for serious investment in active travel across Northern Ireland at the start of Bike Week, citing the absence of a Cycling Strategy or Active Travel Strategy and spending of £2 per person a year. He urges ambitious targets and joined-up working between the…
Infrastructure and transport Local government Original release: Get out on Bike Week, but we need serious investment – Cllr Stephen Dunlop (opens in a new tab)
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Long way to go on emissions – Cllr Mal O'Hara
Green Party NI Deputy Leader Cllr Mal O'Hara says Northern Ireland still has a long way to go to cut greenhouse gas emissions, citing 2020 statistics showing a 23.9% fall since 1990 that lags behind England, Scotland and Wales. He calls for implementation of the Climate Change Act and changes to…
Environment and climate Issue: Northern Ireland greenhouse gas emissions statistics 2020 publication Original release: Long way to go on emissions – Cllr Mal O'Hara (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes exploration of reissuing existing birth certificates in Irish
South Belfast Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw welcomes the Department of Finance considering reissuing existing birth certificates in Irish or bilingual English and Irish, following a written question. She urges the Finance Minister to make new certificates available as soon as possible.
Disability and equality Issue: Department of Finance consideration of reissuing birth certificates in Irish Original release: Bradshaw welcomes exploration of reissuing existing birth certificates in Irish (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance secures steps towards inclusive play parks across Belfast
Alliance Councillor Ross McMullan welcomes Belfast City Council's agreement to begin work on inclusive play, with officers tasked to produce a full report, while saying the delay is disappointing. He cites PlayBoard NI and Mae Murray Foundation research on families excluded from play parks and…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council motion on inclusive play parks Original release: Alliance secures steps towards inclusive play parks across Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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Free school meal payments over summer holidays welcome- Sheehan - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes confirmation that summer holiday payments will continue for around 100,000 children and their families. He urges the DUP to end its boycott of the Executive and Assembly so a permanent scheme can be delivered.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Education Minister's summer school holiday food grant announcement Original release: Free school meal payments over summer holidays welcome- Sheehan - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
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Others should follow Education Minister's positive example
Upper Bann MLA Diane Dodds welcomes Education Minister Michelle McIlveen's announcement of a £12.6million holiday food grant for families of children entitled to free school meals this summer. She urges other parties and ministers to follow that example, criticising them for blaming others.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Education Minister's summer school holiday food grant announcement Original release: Others should follow Education Minister's positive example (opens in a new tab)
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Summer Food Payment Clarity Welcomed
Green Party councillor Brian Smyth welcomes the Education Minister's announcement of a £12.6million summer school holiday food grant, paying £13.50 per week for each eligible child from 1 July to 31 August. He calls for long-term action on child poverty, low wages and social security reform.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Education Minister's summer school holiday food grant announcement Original release: Summer Food Payment Clarity Welcomed (opens in a new tab)
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Ards and North Down Sustainability Policy welcomed
Green Party councillors in North Down welcome Ards and North Down Borough Council's approval of a new Sustainability Policy, with Cllr Barry McKee calling it a first step and urging immediate action on fuel poverty, insulation and retrofitting. Cllr Stephen Dunlop and Cllr Lauren Kendall back a…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Ards and North Down Borough Council Sustainability Policy approval Original release: Ards and North Down Sustainability Policy welcomed (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong uses Carers Week to call again for respite and day centre provision to reopen
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong repeats her call for all respite and day care services for disabled people and older people to reopen during Carers Week. She says carers are exhausted, notes the Health Minister has asked for a review of each Trust's reopening pathway, and says carers now need support.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Armstrong uses Carers Week to call again for respite and day centre provision to reopen (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan welcomes summer free school meals payment
SDLP Education Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan welcomes £12.6m for summer holiday payments to families of children receiving free school meals, but says support must continue for the rest of the year. He calls on the DUP to return to Stormont to secure longer-term funding.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Education Minister's summer school holiday food grant announcement Original release: McCrossan welcomes summer free school meals payment (opens in a new tab)
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‘Sinn Féin propose £70k boost to hardship fund’ - Jackson - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin Council Group Leader Christopher Jackson proposes adding about £68,000 in unused Covid-era funding to Derry City and Strabane District Council's hardship fund to help people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. He urges councillors across parties to back the proposal at Tuesday's…
Local government Public finance and taxation Issue: Derry City and Strabane council hardship fund £68,000 proposal Original release: ‘Sinn Féin propose £70k boost to hardship fund’ - Jackson - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Leader urges parties to back emergency legislation
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP urges Stormont party leaders to support emergency legislation that would let a group of Ministers allocate hundreds of millions of unspent cash to a new energy‑costs scheme for struggling households, and calls for the nomination of a Speaker to get the bill onto the DÃ?
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Emergency legislation to allocate unspent Stormont funds for energy costs Original release: SDLP Leader urges parties to back emergency legislation (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Brian Smyth - Latest energy price rises will plunge yet more into poverty
Green Party councillor Brian Smyth calls for urgent intervention after SSE Airtricity announced electricity price rises affecting nearly 160,000 households from next week. He says the Executive can mitigate fuel price increases without Westminster and criticises its failure to publish a fuel…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: SSE Airtricity electricity price increase announcement June 2022 Original release: Cllr Brian Smyth - Latest energy price rises will plunge yet more into poverty (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionists welcome launch of Child Funeral Fund
UUP Councillor Julie Flaherty welcomes the Communities Minister's confirmation that the Child Funeral Fund is now running in Northern Ireland, from 1 June 2022, after years of campaigning. She credits her council's early backing for pushing other councils to follow.
Social security and welfare Local government Issue: Child Funeral Fund launch in Northern Ireland Original release: Ulster Unionists welcome launch of Child Funeral Fund (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan welcomes establishment of Child Funeral Fund
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan welcomes the launch of the Child Funeral Fund, a one-off £3,056 payment to help bereaved families meet funeral expenses for children and stillbirths after 24 weeks. He urges that families be made aware of it and that applications be simple.
Social security and welfare Issue: Child Funeral Fund launch in Northern Ireland Original release: Durkan welcomes establishment of Child Funeral Fund (opens in a new tab)