Latest releases
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3,953 releases
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Privatisation of post-primary transfer tests has led to significant concern for parents, says Mathison
Alliance Education Spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says the privatised post-primary transfer system, now run by SEAG, has caused significant parental worry over poor communication and no consideration of exceptional circumstances for missed deadlines. He also questions schools paying SEAG…
Education Issue: SEAG management of post-primary transfer tests and parental concerns Original release: Privatisation of post-primary transfer tests has led to significant concern for parents, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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UUP Councillors raise concerns on Lough Neagh debate
UUP councillors on Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council, led by Alderman Ian Burns, raise concerns with the Deputy Chief Executive over the process during a Lough Neagh motion, citing a amendment shared with only one party and a vote forced without winding-up speeches. They ask for a full…
Local government Environment and climate Issue: Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council Lough Neagh motion process concerns Original release: UUP Councillors raise concerns on Lough Neagh debate (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance Party endorses smoke-free Northern Ireland plans
Alliance's health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw backs a vision to cut smoking prevalence below 5% by 2035, urging swift Executive action on a new Tobacco Control Strategy, vape sales rules, retailer licensing and wider smoke-free spaces. She also warns against cutting quit-smoking programmes during…
Health Issue: Action on Smoking and Health smoke-free vision launch in Belfast Original release: Alliance Party endorses smoke-free Northern Ireland plans (opens in a new tab)
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People Before Profit Holds Successful Conference
People Before Profit says its convention agreed priorities on the cost of living and housing, calling for a three percent mortgage cap, new rent controls and a major social housing increase, with demonstrations planned for 7 October and 4 November on neutrality.
Economy and employment Housing Original release: People Before Profit Holds Successful Conference (opens in a new tab)
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School Crossing Patrol recruitment to re-start: Dodds
DUP Education Spokesperson Diane Dodds says she understands recruitment of school crossing patrol staff is to restart after a earlier pause linked to tight finances. She says schools with unfilled vacancies, including Clounagh Junior High School, will be told hiring can proceed.
Education Issue: School crossing patrol recruitment resumption by Education Authority Original release: School Crossing Patrol recruitment to re-start: Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Cllr Áine Groogan welcomes Safe Access Zones
Green Party Councillor for Botanic Áine Groogan welcomes the establishment of Safe Access Zones across all Northern Ireland trust areas from 29 September, crediting Green enabling legislation from the previous Assembly. She calls on the department to establish abortion healthcare services across…
Health Issue: Safe access zones outside Northern Ireland health clinics introduced Original release: Green Party Cllr Áine Groogan welcomes Safe Access Zones (opens in a new tab)
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Further Education is key to our skills agenda and needs to be protected says Eastwood
Alliance Economy Spokesperson Sorcha Eastwood warns that short-term thinking could undermine the Further Education sector after meeting FE lecturers. She calls on the Department for Economy to avoid further FE provision cuts, and urges reform talks to conclude before any redundancies are discussed.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Further Education sector budget pressures and potential redundancies Original release: Further Education is key to our skills agenda and needs to be protected says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw delighted by introduction of safe access zones
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says she is delighted that safe access zones outside health clinics in Northern Ireland take effect from Friday, blocking anti-abortion protests and making it illegal to record, impede or harass people within them.
Health Issue: Safe access zones outside Northern Ireland health clinics introduced Original release: Bradshaw delighted by introduction of safe access zones (opens in a new tab)
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Striving to improve indoor air quality a ‘no-brainer’, says Maghie, following progression of clean indoor air motion
Alliance councillor Jenna Maghie welcomes the unanimous passing of her motion urging Belfast City Council to adopt indoor air quality measures in City Hall and other council buildings, and to sign a COVID safety pledge.
Health Local government Issue: Belfast City Council clean indoor air motion passed unanimously Original release: Striving to improve indoor air quality a ‘no-brainer’, says Maghie, following progression of clean indoor air motion (opens in a new tab)
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Restoration of the Executive essential to urgently address Lough Neagh emergency – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, says an inter-departmental task force is urgently needed to act on Lough Neagh's badly damaged ecosystem after an all-party briefing with scientists and officials. He calls for restoring the Executive and for the Lough to be placed into public ownership.
Environment and climate Issue: Lough Neagh ecological emergency all-party briefing with scientists Original release: Restoration of the Executive essential to urgently address Lough Neagh emergency – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Safety of children in NI just as important as those in rest of UK, says Mathison, amid Raac funding uncertainty
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says children's safety in Northern Ireland is as important as elsewhere in the UK, after reports suggested it is unclear whether NI will receive extra UK Government funding to fix schools and other public buildings affected by Raac concrete.
Education Issue: Raac funding uncertainty for Northern Ireland public buildings and schools Original release: Safety of children in NI just as important as those in rest of UK, says Mathison, amid Raac funding uncertainty (opens in a new tab)
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Special Olympians congratulated following summer success
North Down DUP MLA Stephen Dunne congratulates Special Olympics Ulster athletes on 31 medals won at the World Summer Games in Berlin and says he hosted a recognition reception for them at Parliament Buildings.
Other Disability and equality Issue: Special Olympics Ulster athletes World Summer Games Berlin success Original release: Special Olympians congratulated following summer success (opens in a new tab)
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Executive must be restored urgently to resolve health pay issues and deliver safe staffing, say Alliance MLAs
Alliance MLAs Paula Bradshaw and Danny Donnelly call for the Executive to be restored urgently to address health sector pay and conditions, which they say affect patient safety. They also urge the UK Government to reform the system so that parties unwilling to govern can enter opposition.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health sector strike over pay and conditions amid Executive collapse Original release: Executive must be restored urgently to resolve health pay issues and deliver safe staffing, say Alliance MLAs (opens in a new tab)
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Tens Of Thousands Strike
People Before Profit says a one-day strike by NIPSA and Royal College of Midwives members, joined by Unison and Unite healthcare workers, was among the largest coordinated strike days of the cost of living crisis. It calls for longer, escalating action until proper pay rises are offered.
Economy and employment Health Issue: Coordinated one-day NHS and public sector strike across Northern Ireland, September 2023 Original release: Tens Of Thousands Strike (opens in a new tab)
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British government must end delays in delivering fair pay deal – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges the British government to promptly provide a fair pay agreement for health and social care staff in the north, matching the England NHS offer, as workers strike over severe understaffing and burnout.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Coordinated one-day NHS and public sector strike across Northern Ireland, September 2023 Original release: British government must end delays in delivering fair pay deal – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Further Education lecturers should be offered fair pay, not redundancy – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy calls for Further Education lecturers to receive fair pay and conditions instead of redundancy offers, after colleges offered voluntary redundancy in response to British government funding cuts. He urges the British government to fund the sector properly and asks…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Further Education colleges voluntary redundancy offers amid funding cuts Original release: Further Education lecturers should be offered fair pay, not redundancy – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party in Northern Ireland stands in solidarity with UCU members
The Green Party in Northern Ireland, through Deputy Leader Lesley Veronica at the Millfield picket line, backs UCU members on a six-day strike across Northern Ireland's FE colleges. She says lecturers' pay lags behind counterparts in England, Scotland and Wales and calls for transparency over how…
Education Economy and employment Issue: NWRC and further education colleges UCU strike September 2023 Original release: Green Party in Northern Ireland stands in solidarity with UCU members (opens in a new tab)
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Elliott emphasises need for multi-agency response to Lough Neagh crisis.
UUP Environment spokesperson Tom Elliott MLA calls for a multi-agency management task force for Lough Neagh, with input from all stakeholders, after a multi-agency meeting. He says water quality initiatives are welcome but urges wider measures such as improved anaerobic digestion and woodland…
Environment and climate Issue: Lough Neagh multi-agency meeting on water quality Original release: Elliott emphasises need for multi-agency response to Lough Neagh crisis. (opens in a new tab)
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Honeyford congratulates Ulster Special Olympians on success in Berlin at Stormont ceremony
Alliance MLA David Honeyford, sport and community development spokesperson, congratulated Special Olympics Ulster athletes for securing 22 medals at the 2023 Berlin summer games, praised their dedication and the vital role of families and volunteers, and stressed sport’s inclusive benefits for all.
Disability and equality Issue: Special Olympics Ulster success at 2023 Berlin summer games Original release: Honeyford congratulates Ulster Special Olympians on success in Berlin at Stormont ceremony (opens in a new tab)
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Blair: Cross-departmental response now needed on Lough Neagh
Alliance spokesperson John Blair MLA calls for an intensely focused, cross-departmental response to the Lough Neagh crisis following a meeting with DAERA officials. He urges politicians to reform Stormont and to ensure the announced action plan is implemented and monitored.
Environment and climate Issue: DAERA Lough Neagh action plan briefing to parties Original release: Blair: Cross-departmental response now needed on Lough Neagh (opens in a new tab)