Latest releases
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5,227 releases
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Baker calls on education minister to explore ‘SEN first’ approach
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker urges the education minister to make children with special educational needs a priority in school admissions, proposing a system that incorporates SEN pupils into schools’ planned enrolment figures so they receive support from the start of term.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Baker calls on education minister to explore ‘SEN first’ approach (opens in a new tab)
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Conor Murphy advised to rest pending medical tests – O’Neill
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, Leas-Uachtarán, says Conor Murphy has been told by his doctor to rest ahead of scheduled medical tests, and wishes him a swift recovery. She notes he has withdrawn from an Assembly economy motion and a Covid Inquiry hearing this week.
Health Issue: Conor Murphy medical rest advice and absences from Assembly and Covid Inquiry Original release: Conor Murphy advised to rest pending medical tests – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister welcomes progress on GP contracts
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA welcomes a new GP contract agreement that includes indemnity charge costs, and calls on the Health Minister to progress outstanding negotiations with junior doctors, consultants and dentists to avoid further industrial action.
Health Issue: New GP contract agreement including indemnity charges Original release: McAllister welcomes progress on GP contracts (opens in a new tab)
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Every child deserves access to literature, says Bower, as motion passes on reading materials for refugee children
Alliance Ormiston Councillor Christine Bower says her motion, passed at the People & Communities Committee, asks the Council to examine free native-language reading materials and literacy tools for refugee children. A report on costings and delivery will return to committee for a final vote.
Education Local government Issue: Council motion on free native-language reading materials for refugee children Original release: Every child deserves access to literature, says Bower, as motion passes on reading materials for refugee children (opens in a new tab)
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Agriculture Minister confirms Stormont has surrendered scrutiny of Sea Border
TUV leader Jim Allister says two Agriculture Minister answers show the DUP deal has removed MLAs' ability to scrutinise the Irish Sea Border, as charging for port checks on Great Britain goods is now controlled by the Secretary of State. He calls this a reduction in Stormont's role.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Agriculture Minister's answers on Sea Border port inspection charging Original release: Agriculture Minister confirms Stormont has surrendered scrutiny of Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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Where Stormont never fails – dysfunctionalism
TUV leader Jim Allister says Covid Inquiry revelations show the flaws of mandatory coalition, citing rivalry, blame-avoidance and destroyed WhatsApp records, and calls for a police investigation into possible misconduct in public office.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Covid Inquiry findings on Executive decision-making during the pandemic Original release: Where Stormont never fails – dysfunctionalism (opens in a new tab)
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Covid inquiry raising more questions than just the dysfunctionality of the Executive - Beattie
UUP MLA Doug Beattie says COVID inquiry revelations suggest an attempt to isolate the Health Minister and that DUP and Sinn Féin ministers resisted unpopular regulations. He says he will write to Head of the Civil Service Jayne Brady over a senior civil servant's suggestion that the Health…
Health Issue: Covid Inquiry findings on Executive decision-making during the pandemic Original release: Covid inquiry raising more questions than just the dysfunctionality of the Executive - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Inadequate pay and conditions risk patient safety, says Donnelly, calling for urgent dialogue between DoH and junior doctors
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA urges the Health Minister to engage urgently with the BMA before planned junior doctor strikes on 22-24 May and 6-8 June. He warns that inadequate pay and conditions threaten recruitment, retention and patient safety in Northern Ireland.
Health Economy and employment Issue: BMA junior doctors strike action announced for May and June 2024 Original release: Inadequate pay and conditions risk patient safety, says Donnelly, calling for urgent dialogue between DoH and junior doctors (opens in a new tab)
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Building climate-resilient society offers significant opportunity, says Muir, after meeting with Climate Change Committee
Alliance Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir MLA says building a climate-resilient society would bring major economic and environmental gains, following a meeting in Belfast with leaders of the UK Climate Change Committee.
Environment and climate Issue: UK Climate Change Committee visit to Belfast Original release: Building climate-resilient society offers significant opportunity, says Muir, after meeting with Climate Change Committee (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong welcomes housing associations’ commitment to tackling carbon emissions
Alliance's Housing spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA welcomes the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations' plan to upgrade the energy ratings of over 13,000 social homes this autumn, saying it will meet climate targets, support construction jobs and lower running costs.
Housing Environment and climate Original release: Armstrong welcomes housing associations’ commitment to tackling carbon emissions (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Government’s ‘hard border’ hypocrisy must be called out:…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says the Irish Government's stance on a 'hard border' is hypocritical after Gardaí were tasked with policing immigration. She calls on the UK Government to challenge this and to ask Dublin for evidence supporting its claim that 80% of asylum seekers enter the Republic via…
Immigration Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish Government tasking Gardaí with immigration policing at the border Original release: Irish Government’s ‘hard border’ hypocrisy must be called out:… (opens in a new tab)
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Autism reviewer must be appointed: Erskine
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine calls for an autism reviewer to be appointed without further delay, arguing the post costs under £40,000 of the Health budget and that the Minister's deferral over funding pressures is unjustified.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Delay in appointing autism reviewer under Autism Act Original release: Autism reviewer must be appointed: Erskine (opens in a new tab)
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DUP director of policy and research spells out the truth about the Sea Border
TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell says a News Letter opinion piece by former DUP director of policy and research Dan Boucher exposes the Stormont restoration deal as a con, and urges DUP members to change course over the Windsor Framework and Sea Border.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Dan Boucher News Letter opinion piece on Windsor Framework green lane Original release: DUP director of policy and research spells out the truth about the Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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Number of cervical cancer serious adverse incidents extends well into…
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says Health Minister Robin Swann has confirmed by letter that 13 to 19 cervical cancer cases from 2019 to 2022 are being investigated as serious adverse incidents, mostly in the Western Trust. She questions whether differing review approaches explain the variation and calls for…
Health Issue: Cervical cancer serious adverse incidents investigation numbers in Western Trust Original release: Number of cervical cancer serious adverse incidents extends well into… (opens in a new tab)
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Action required now on veterinary medicines and negotiations - Empey
UUP leader Doug Beatty... no, the release is from Lord Empey, UUP, who says the Government must start negotiations with the EU on veterinary medicines before June's EU elections, after a Lords committee report warned of supply risks when the grace period ends in December 2025.
Agriculture and rural affairs International affairs Issue: Lords Windsor Framework Committee report on veterinary medicines supply Original release: Action required now on veterinary medicines and negotiations - Empey (opens in a new tab)
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Westminster must step-up for Health - Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie MLA says he met a senior NIO official to warn that the Assembly budget will further damage Health services. He calls for urgent talks with the Prime Minister and Chancellor to find extra Westminster funding to cover a £300 million Health shortfall.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly budget Health funding shortfall Original release: Westminster must step-up for Health - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Honeyford calls for a comprehensive strategy to speed up transition to renewable energy
Alliance Economy spokesperson David Honeyford MLA calls for a comprehensive renewables strategy to speed up the move away from fossil fuels, and urges the Infrastructure Minister to address planning delays holding back renewable development.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Original release: Honeyford calls for a comprehensive strategy to speed up transition to renewable energy (opens in a new tab)
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More must be done to tackle inequalities facing people with disabilities, following report, says Donnelly
Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly says more must be done at Westminster and Stormont to tackle inequalities facing disabled people after a UN committee report on UK compliance with the UNCRPD. He calls on the Executive Office and Department for Communities to act and urges Assembly action on…
Disability and equality Social security and welfare Issue: UN UNCRPD committee report on rights of persons with disabilities in the UK Original release: More must be done to tackle inequalities facing people with disabilities, following report, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Covid Inquiry reinforces need to end government by silos and vetoes, says Bradshaw
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson and Committee Chair Paula Bradshaw MLA says the Covid Inquiry shows the Executive stalled in autumn 2020 because cross-community voting acted as a sectarian veto. She calls for proposals to remove vetoes and departmental silos from the First and deputy First…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Covid Inquiry findings on Executive decision-making during the pandemic Original release: Covid Inquiry reinforces need to end government by silos and vetoes, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Sheehan welcomes half of one billion plan for special schools
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes the education minister's announcement of £500 million to prioritise building special educational needs facilities. He says children with additional needs deserve first-class facilities and calls for every child with special educational needs to have a school…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister announces SEN Capital Investment Programme Original release: Sheehan welcomes half of one billion plan for special schools (opens in a new tab)