Latest releases
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4,181 releases
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Honeyford dismayed by failure to provide SEN pupils adequate school transport provision
Alliance Lagan Valley MLA David Honeyford says the failure to provide school transport for pupils with special educational needs is the latest in a series of failures, citing nearly 400 children awaiting special school placement and halved funding for mainstream SEN support staff. He looks forward…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special educational needs school transport provision failure, September 2023 Original release: Honeyford dismayed by failure to provide SEN pupils adequate school transport provision (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP calls for urgent response to Lough Neagh crisis
SDLP calls for an urgent response to the worsening Lough Neagh crisis after MLA Patsy McGlone pressed the NIEA for answers on blue-green algae and responsibility for managing the lough. Leader Matthew O'Toole calls for a taskforce and considers public ownership.
Environment and climate Issue: Lough Neagh blue-green algae crisis Original release: SDLP calls for urgent response to Lough Neagh crisis (opens in a new tab)
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Support Global Climate Strike On September 15Th
People Before Profit urges supporters to join the global climate strike on Friday 15 September, organised by Fridays for Future, with protests in Dublin and Belfast at 12pm. It says the aim is to phase out fossil fuels, accusing global leaders of greenwashing rather than acting.
Environment and climate Original release: Support Global Climate Strike On September 15Th (opens in a new tab)
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Improved Connectivity vital for Donegal – MacManus
Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus says better transport links are essential to tackle regional disadvantage in the Northwest. Following Donegal engagements with colleagues, he backs an Derry–Dublin air link, welcomes progress on TEN-T road schemes and calls for a Letterkenny–Derry rail link.
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Improved Connectivity vital for Donegal – MacManus (opens in a new tab)
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Mental Health spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA welcomes extended funding for the Protect Life 2 Strategy as World Suicide Prevention Day is marked
UUP mental health spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA welcomes the Department of Health's extension of funding for the Protect Life 2 Strategy on World Suicide Prevention Day. He calls for funding to be ringfenced for the Mental Health Strategy and urges a restored Executive to tackle high suicide rates.
Health Issue: Department of Health extension of Protect Life 2 Strategy funding Original release: Mental Health spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA welcomes extended funding for the Protect Life 2 Strategy as World Suicide Prevention Day is marked (opens in a new tab)
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UUP Highlight Lough Neagh Pollution concerns
UUP MLAs John Stewart and Tom Elliott say Lough Neagh pollution is worsening and that their party called for a unified Executive strategy back in 2012. Elliott is writing to the Office for Environmental Protection to investigate local Departments, while Stewart has asked NI Water how close the…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Lough Neagh pollution worsening and drinking water concerns Original release: UUP Highlight Lough Neagh Pollution concerns (opens in a new tab)
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Renewed Executive must act quickly for greater dignity in dying, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health spokesperson and South Belfast MLA Paula Bradshaw calls on an incoming Executive to act quickly on dignity in dying after a Centre for Research in Social Policy report. She proposes a Carers Allowance Supplement, a self-care welfare element and removing mortgage interest loan…
Health Social security and welfare Issue: Centre for Research in Social Policy dignity in dying report Original release: Renewed Executive must act quickly for greater dignity in dying, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Plastic pollution a serious concern for people in Northern Ireland and must be addressed urgently, says Nicholl
Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl, Chair of the All-Party Group on Climate Action, calls for urgent action on plastic pollution after a Tearfund poll found 75% of people in Northern Ireland concerned about global plastic waste. She says she will write to the Environment Secretary to press for a strong…
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: Tearfund poll on public concern about plastic waste Original release: Plastic pollution a serious concern for people in Northern Ireland and must be addressed urgently, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
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Blair calls meeting with DAERA and NIEA representatives on concerns around state of Lough Neagh
Alliance MLA John Blair says a meeting with DAERA officials over blue-green algae near Lough Neagh should include the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, citing rising public concern and calling for clear, evidence-based answers.
Environment and climate Issue: Lough Neagh blue-green algae meeting with DAERA and NIEA Original release: Blair calls meeting with DAERA and NIEA representatives on concerns around state of Lough Neagh (opens in a new tab)
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Poor satisfaction ratings reinforce need for improved staff conditions at SWAH and elsewhere
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw says Northern Ireland hospitals ranking near the bottom of a GMC trainee satisfaction survey, including the South West Acute Hospital, reinforces the need for safe staffing legislation and a functioning Assembly and Health Committee.
Health Issue: GMC trainee satisfaction survey ranking of Northern Ireland hospitals Original release: Poor satisfaction ratings reinforce need for improved staff conditions at SWAH and elsewhere (opens in a new tab)
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Denial of street lighting to Aylesbury and Blackrock residents is untenable
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for an immediate fix to street lighting failures in the Aylesbury and Blackrock developments in South Antrim, which he says a developer has not maintained. He is requesting a site meeting with senior Department for Infrastructure officials and assurances that…
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Denial of street lighting to Aylesbury and Blackrock residents is untenable (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers challenges Eastwood comments on NHS
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA responds to SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood's remark that Northern Ireland's health service would embarrass a third world country, calling it insulting to health staff. He calls for financial clarity and multi-year funding to tackle waiting lists and pay parity.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Colum Eastwood's Westminster remarks on Northern Ireland health service Original release: Chambers challenges Eastwood comments on NHS (opens in a new tab)
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Stewart voices concerns over MOT and driving test price hikes.
UUP Infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA voices concerns over announced rises in MOT fees and practical driving test costs, citing booking delays and pressure on struggling motorists. He says he will seek clarification on the reasoning behind the increases.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: MOT and practical driving test fee increases announced Original release: Stewart voices concerns over MOT and driving test price hikes. (opens in a new tab)
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Muir concerned about risk of for further pollution due to funding gaps in wastewater treatment
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA says funding for wastewater treatment remains uncertain after recent pollution incidents, citing a letter from the department's former permanent secretary warning of a £112m gap and that living within budget could mean halting treatment. He…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Department for Infrastructure wastewater treatment funding gap warning Original release: Muir concerned about risk of for further pollution due to funding gaps in wastewater treatment (opens in a new tab)
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Lack of budget for school crossing patrol at Holy Rosary Primary School highlights need for restoration of Executive, says Alliance representatives
Alliance South Belfast MLAs Kate Nicholl and Paula Bradshaw say the lack of budget to recruit a school crossing patrol at Holy Rosary Primary School, after the Education Authority confirmed a recruitment pause continues, shows the Executive must be restored, and they call on the DUP to rejoin…
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Education Authority school crossing patrol recruitment pause continues Original release: Lack of budget for school crossing patrol at Holy Rosary Primary School highlights need for restoration of Executive, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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Everyone has a part to play in tackling Violence Against Women and Girls in Northern Ireland, says Egan
Alliance MLA Connie Egan urges wider public response to the Executive Office's Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls, now out to consultation, after two research reports on violence against women and girls. She calls for improved Relationship and Sex Education as prevention.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: NI Executive Office violence against women and girls research reports launch Original release: Everyone has a part to play in tackling Violence Against Women and Girls in Northern Ireland, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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Molloy raises management of Lough Neagh with British Secretary of State
Sinn Féin MP Francie Molloy says he has raised with the British Secretary of State the case for public ownership of Lough Neagh, citing blue-green algae blooms harming wildlife and fishing stocks. He invited the minister to visit and calls for a community partnership to manage the lough.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Lough Neagh blue-green algae blooms and management responsibility Original release: Molloy raises management of Lough Neagh with British Secretary of State (opens in a new tab)
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No perinatal inpatient care for mothers and babies on the island of Ireland – Mark Ward TD & Órlaithí Flynn MLA
Sinn Féin's Mark Ward TD and Órlaithí Flynn MLA say there is a lack of urgency on an inpatient perinatal mental health unit on the island of Ireland, after Departments of Health gave no definitive date. Ward cites a planned 10-bed unit at St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin and calls on…
Health Issue: Departments of Health responses on inpatient perinatal unit timeframe Original release: No perinatal inpatient care for mothers and babies on the island of Ireland – Mark Ward TD & Órlaithí Flynn MLA (opens in a new tab)
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Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly Meets Commissioner for Children and Young People over Special Education Needs Shortfalls
Aontú deputy leader Gemma Brolly says she met NICCY's chief executive to discuss special educational needs (SEND) shortfalls, citing waiting lists, cuts to mental health funding and failure to implement earlier reports. NICCY reportedly agreed to pass the concerns on and arrange a meeting with the…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly Meets Commissioner for Children and Young People over Special Education Needs Shortfalls (opens in a new tab)
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Butler Praises Commitment of Classroom Assistants and Highlights Continued Stormont Failures
UUP education spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA marks the new school year by praising classroom assistants who support children with special educational needs. He blames the lack of an Executive for vacant posts and funding gaps, and says a returned Assembly will push for a review of their pay and…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Butler Praises Commitment of Classroom Assistants and Highlights Continued Stormont Failures (opens in a new tab)