Latest releases
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2,358 releases
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McGrath: Autism report exposes failure to turn promises into reality
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the Independent Autism Reviewer's report shows autism services in Northern Ireland are failing in practice despite years of commitments. He calls on the Health Minister to take ownership and drive cross-government coordination, clear…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Independent Autism Reviewer first report launch Original release: McGrath: Autism report exposes failure to turn promises into reality (opens in a new tab)
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SEN school staff workloads are unmanageable and unsustainable, says Mathison, ahead of Assembly motion
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says SENCO workload pressures are unfair and unsustainable, and calls on the Education Minister for urgent interventions, properly resourced EA Local Impact Teams and a thorough review of the role ahead of an Assembly motion.
Education Disability and equality Issue: SENCO workload pressures ahead of Assembly motion on special educational needs Original release: SEN school staff workloads are unmanageable and unsustainable, says Mathison, ahead of Assembly motion (opens in a new tab)
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Autism Reviewer’s report must be catalyst for real change, says Donnelly
Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly welcomes the first Annual Report of the Independent Autism Reviewer, Ema Cubitt, saying it must set a benchmark for services. He cites a finding that 90% of respondents felt unheard when seeking help and calls for findings to drive real improvements.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Independent Autism Reviewer first report launch Original release: Autism Reviewer’s report must be catalyst for real change, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Lynch expresses condolences following tragic collision
Sinn Féin councillor Declan Lynch expresses condolences after two people died in a road accident in Lisburn, praising emergency services at the scene and urging anyone with information or footage to contact police.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Lisburn road collision that killed two people Original release: Lynch expresses condolences following tragic collision (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald Ard Fheis address
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, in her Ard Fheis address, calls for an emergency budget with a substantial fuel excise cut, €400 electricity credits, a €500 disability payment and a permanent USC cut. She accuses Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of failing working families and says the British…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: Mary Lou McDonald Ard Fheis address (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin will continue to address regional imbalance and stand up for our rural communities – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins says the party will keep pressing the British Government for funding to address regional imbalance and support rural communities. She highlights an extra £40m for roads resurfacing, fully funded community transport and frozen public transport fares, and calls for support…
Infrastructure and transport Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: Sinn Féin will continue to address regional imbalance and stand up for our rural communities – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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Legal and Financial Issues Highlight Level of Executive Dysfunction says Brolly
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly says Executive dysfunction is evident after only 4% of £230 million allocated for key services was spent, and raises concerns that Education Department and Education Authority reform proposals are not fully legally compliant.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Only 4% of £230 million allocated for key services spent Original release: Legal and Financial Issues Highlight Level of Executive Dysfunction says Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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Paul Givan must heed ‘significant intervention’ from education bodies over flawed SEN reforms – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes the Children's Law Centre and other bodies' opposition to Education Minister Paul Givan's special educational needs reforms, and calls on him to pause the process and engage with them, unions and frontline staff on a rights-based plan.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Children's Law Centre opposition to SEN reform proposals Original release: Paul Givan must heed ‘significant intervention’ from education bodies over flawed SEN reforms – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Minister must halt SEN reform
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA calls on the Education Minister to halt proposed special educational needs (SEN) reforms, citing an open letter from 14 organisations including teaching unions and warnings from the Children's Law Centre. She says the Minister has ignored…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Children's Law Centre opposition to SEN reform proposals Original release: Hunter: Minister must halt SEN reform (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Government intervention required to protect and develop island wide economy – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Senator Conor Murphy urges the Irish Government to take the lead with the British Government on cross-border business problems raised by border county Chambers of Commerce, including pensions, insurance, transport and wastewater infrastructure.
Economy and employment Constitutional affairs Issue: Good Friday Agreement Committee hearing from border county Chambers of Commerce Original release: Irish Government intervention required to protect and develop island wide economy – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Efforts to stymie growth of the Irish language will fail – McLaughlin
Sinn Féin councillor Ronan McLaughlin welcomes the court’s favourable decision on Belfast City Council’s call‑in case concerning its Irish language policy, saying efforts to block the language’s growth will fail and urging Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to advance an Irish Language Strategy while
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Court ruling on Belfast City Council Irish language policy Original release: Efforts to stymie growth of the Irish language will fail – McLaughlin (opens in a new tab)
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Lynch calls for site meeting at dangerous road in Lisburn ‘to prevent a tragedy’
Sinn Féin councillor Declan Lynch says a serious crash risk on Prince William Road, Lisburn, makes a fatality likely unless action is taken, and calls for traffic calming measures. He is also seeking a site meeting with the PSNI and the Department for Infrastructure after a child was hurt there.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Prince William Road Lisburn child injury and traffic calming call Original release: Lynch calls for site meeting at dangerous road in Lisburn ‘to prevent a tragedy’ (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan questions Sinn Féin commitment to A5
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan questions Sinn Féin's dedication to the A5 road scheme after Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said construction would not begin until 2027. He calls the delay self-imposed, blames Sinn Féin Ministers for mishandling the project, and challenges them to start…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins A5 construction delay until 2027 Original release: McCrossan questions Sinn Féin commitment to A5 (opens in a new tab)
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Léiríonn Gildernew imní faoi thodhchaí mhaoiniú Thionscadal Logainmneacha
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew, Chair of the Communities Committee, calls on the Department for Communities to keep funding the Place-Name Project after a ministerial answer showed translation service funding runs only until Summer 2026.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Place-Name Project translation service funding ending Summer 2026 Original release: Léiríonn Gildernew imní faoi thodhchaí mhaoiniú Thionscadal Logainmneacha (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Absence of no fault divorce in Marriage Bill a missed opportunity
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill's omission of no-fault divorce is a missed opportunity to modernise marriage law. He asks the Finance Minister to explain why it was left out, arguing it could help tackle abuse.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill omission of no-fault divorce Original release: O'Toole: Absence of no fault divorce in Marriage Bill a missed opportunity (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood welcomes sign off on first phase of investment package for Derry
SDLP MP Colum Eastwood welcomes British Government sign-off on the first phase of a £20m Pride in Place investment package for Derry, which he says he secured in talks with the previous government. He says projects including Austin's regeneration and a play park at Curryneirin will benefit.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Derry £20m Pride in Place investment package first phase sign-off Original release: Eastwood welcomes sign off on first phase of investment package for Derry (opens in a new tab)
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Harpur calls out delays as collision and speeding data raises fresh safety concerns in Carryduff
Alliance Councillor Jamie Harpur calls on the Department for Infrastructure to act urgently on road safety in Carryduff, citing new PSNI figures showing 25 people injured in collisions from 2023 to 2025 and over 1,700 speeding offences.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: PSNI Carryduff road traffic collision and speeding figures 2023-2025 Original release: Harpur calls out delays as collision and speeding data raises fresh safety concerns in Carryduff (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty: Minister must act on scramblers and e-scooters
SDLP West Belfast Councillor Paul Doherty urges the Justice Minister to act on misuse of scramblers and e-scooters, backing an upcoming Opposition Day motion and calling for expanded youth programmes and greater police seizure authority.
Justice and policing Local government Original release: Doherty: Minister must act on scramblers and e-scooters (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan calls for urgent action to tackle failures in autism services
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan urges urgent action to tackle persistent shortcomings in autism support, citing evidence heard by the All-Party Group for Autism from the Independent Autism Reviewer. He calls on the Department of Health to work closely with the reviewer and to prioritise the Autism…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Independent Autism Reviewer evidence to All-Party Group for Autism Original release: Boylan calls for urgent action to tackle failures in autism services (opens in a new tab)
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Hazzard welcomes Council support for Strangford Lough Bridge Study
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard welcomes a unanimous vote by Newry, Mourne and Down Council backing a feasibility study for a fixed link bridge across Strangford Lough. He has contacted Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins about commissioning a full study of a Portaferry-to-Strangford crossing, citing…
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Newry, Mourne and Down Council motion on Strangford Lough bridge study Original release: Hazzard welcomes Council support for Strangford Lough Bridge Study (opens in a new tab)