Latest releases
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5,660 releases
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SEN children must be placed suitably and on time – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to ensure pupils with special educational needs are placed in suitable schools on time this September, after the Department warned schools of a shortfall in SEN places.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Department of Education warning on SEN places for September Original release: SEN children must be placed suitably and on time – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Time to deliver on potential of Maze Long Kesh site, says Alliance representatives
Alliance MLAs Sorcha Eastwood and David Honeyford call for no further delay on the Maze Long Kesh site, saying the development corporation has existed for over a decade without agreed plans. Eastwood welcomes groups using parts of the site and cross-party backing to act, and Honeyford says…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Stormont debate on the future of the Maze Long Kesh site Original release: Time to deliver on potential of Maze Long Kesh site, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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Support for NI foster carers lagging behind: Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds calls on Health Minister Robin Swann to urgently increase foster carer allowances, ahead of an Assembly debate on a DUP motion on recruiting more foster carers. She says allowances lag behind other UK regions and the Republic, and do not cover the full cost of caring for a child.
Health Social security and welfare Issue: Assembly debate on DUP motion on foster carer recruitment Original release: Support for NI foster carers lagging behind: Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Disappointment for health staff and patients as Assembly backs free parking delay
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says health staff and patients will be very disappointed after the Assembly approved a two‑year delay to free hospital parking, and urges the Health Minister to introduce the scheme as soon as possible.
Health Issue: Assembly legislation delaying abolition of hospital parking charges Original release: McGrath: Disappointment for health staff and patients as Assembly backs free parking delay (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition proposes amendment to expedite free hospital car parking
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath has tabled an amendment to cut the Executive's proposed two-year delay to free hospital car parking to one year. He says the system could be in place by autumn and urges the Health Minister to commit to free staff parking without delay.
Health Issue: Assembly legislation delaying abolition of hospital parking charges Original release: SDLP Opposition proposes amendment to expedite free hospital car parking (opens in a new tab)
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This must be decision week for the Budget – Beattie
UUP Leader Doug Beattie says the Executive must make decisions this week on a new 2024/25 Budget, warning that continued delay is destabilising and damaging core services such as health. He urges the Finance Minister's paper to move to the Executive table and money to be allocated urgently.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Executive 2024/25 Budget agreement delay Original release: This must be decision week for the Budget – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Minister Lyons commits to policies to deliver meaningful impacts and…
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons says he aims to deliver policies with a real and meaningful impact at his first Communities Committee appearance, despite a very challenging budget. He outlines priorities including social housing, anti-poverty measures, sports, culture and the voluntary sector.
Housing Public finance and taxation Original release: Minister Lyons commits to policies to deliver meaningful impacts and… (opens in a new tab)
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Parties need to be clear on “gender-affirming healthcare”
DUP MP Carla Lockhart calls on parties to state their position on gender-affirming healthcare and asks the Health Minister to clarify the Department of Health's approach following the Cass Report. She accuses Alliance and Sinn Féin of silence since its publication.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Cass Report publication on gender-affirming healthcare Original release: Parties need to be clear on “gender-affirming healthcare” (opens in a new tab)
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TUV councillors welcome Freedom of Causeway Coast and Glens to health and care workers
TUV councillors Allister Kyle and Jonathan McCauley welcome Causeway Coast and Glens Council's decision to award its Freedom to the NHS and health and care workers in recognition of their work during the COVID pandemic.
Health Local government Issue: Causeway Coast and Glens Council Freedom award to NHS health and care workers Original release: TUV councillors welcome Freedom of Causeway Coast and Glens to health and care workers (opens in a new tab)
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Lagan Valley TUV looking forward to Dromore rally
Lagan Valley TUV branch chairman Stewart Ferris previews a public rally in Dromore on Friday 26 April, featuring Ann Widdecombe, Ben Habib, Kate Hoey and Jim Allister, which he says is the first major TUV and Reform UK event since their Memorandum of Understanding. He says it will press the…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Reform UK and TUV anti-Protocol rally in Dromore Original release: Lagan Valley TUV looking forward to Dromore rally (opens in a new tab)
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Lackadaisical approach to public appointments must end, says Alliance TEO spokespeople
Alliance Party spokespeople Paula Bradshaw MLA and Connie Egan MLA demand that the First Minister and deputy First Minister promptly name a Commissioner for Public Appointments, condemning the current lax attitude to urgent Executive Office vacancies and urging swift action on other stalled posts.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Delay in appointing Commissioner for Public Appointments Original release: Lackadaisical approach to public appointments must end, says Alliance TEO spokespeople (opens in a new tab)
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Allister backs reunification
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Protocol is pushing Northern Ireland towards Irish unity by aligning its goods and agri-food rules with EU law, and criticises the DUP and UUP for implementing it and the DUP leader for dismissing the 'Red Lane' concerns.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Allister backs reunification (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland’s colonial masters in the EU impose two new laws – without any oversight from Stormont
TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell says Stormont's supposed oversight of two new EU laws imposed on Northern Ireland is absent, citing a DUP vice-chair who called MLAs "impotent" and a partly private Windsor Framework Committee meeting.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Two new EU laws and Stormont oversight under the Windsor Framework Committee Original release: Northern Ireland’s colonial masters in the EU impose two new laws – without any oversight from Stormont (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed to ensure victims and survivors not left behind
Alliance MLA Connie Egan, Executive Office Committee Deputy Chair, says urgent action is needed so victims are not left behind, calling for a trauma-focused Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme process, a backdated payments deadline extension, and a bereavement payment scheme.
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Original release: Urgent action needed to ensure victims and survivors not left behind (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Surgeons ‘SOS’ warning deeply concerning
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says he is disturbed by surgeons' "SOS" warning on surgical waiting lists, raised at a Royal College of Surgeons briefing to the Health Committee. He calls for action from the Health Minister and department on waiting lists.
Health Issue: Royal College of Surgeons SOS warning on surgical waiting lists Original release: McGrath: Surgeons ‘SOS’ warning deeply concerning (opens in a new tab)
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Mason calls for action on costs of transport for schools
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says rising school transport costs, including bus hire hikes, are forcing schools to cut services and leaving children unable to attend activities such as swimming. She says she challenged the Education Authority and will follow up for an explanation and resolution.
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Rising school bus hire costs and Education Authority transport communication breakdown Original release: Mason calls for action on costs of transport for schools (opens in a new tab)
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Speech and language therapy must be fully resourced – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says urgent action is needed after a Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists report found children in Northern Ireland wait longer than anywhere else on these islands for speech and language therapy. He says he will work with parties and executive ministers on…
Health Issue: Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists report on children's therapy waiting times Original release: Speech and language therapy must be fully resourced – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Legislation on British Citizenship rights reaches another milestone
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP says his Private Members Bill, which passed a Committee stage today, would let Irish citizens with UK residency hold British citizenship and passports without naturalisation, and he calls for it to cover the whole UK. He cites 2021 Census figures for people born in the…
Immigration Constitutional affairs Issue: Private Members Bill on British citizenship for Irish citizens committee stage Original release: Legislation on British Citizenship rights reaches another milestone (opens in a new tab)
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Lagan Valley deserves better than absentee MP
TUV leader Jim Allister calls on Jeffrey Donaldson to resign as Lagan Valley MP and allow a by-election, arguing the constituency currently has no representation in the Commons. He also points to Donaldson's refusal to take up his Stormont seat as an MLA.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Jeffrey Donaldson absence from Commons and call for Lagan Valley by-election Original release: Lagan Valley deserves better than absentee MP (opens in a new tab)
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Welcome for Cookstown bypass plan
TUV Mid Ulster spokesman Glenn Moore welcomes the announcement of plans for a Cookstown bypass, saying local residents and traders have long called for it and that main street delays have worsened.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Cookstown bypass plans announcement Original release: Welcome for Cookstown bypass plan (opens in a new tab)