Latest releases
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5,018 releases
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Beattie welcomes NI inclusion in ground-breaking smoking and vaping legislation
UUP leader Doug Beattie MC MLA welcomes Health Minister Robin Swann's confirmation that Northern Ireland will be covered by Westminster's Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which would ban tobacco sales to anyone born from 2009 onward. He encourages MLAs to back the measure when it reaches the Assembly.
Health Issue: Health Minister confirms Northern Ireland inclusion in Tobacco and Vapes Bill Original release: Beattie welcomes NI inclusion in ground-breaking smoking and vaping legislation (opens in a new tab)
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de Faoite urges Minister to fund nightbus services
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Séamas de Faoite urges Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to fund weekend nightbus services in Belfast, costing around £150,000 a year, after the Minister said the matter is for Translink. He argues the services would boost the night-time economy and help…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Belfast weekend nightbus funding request to Infrastructure Minister Original release: de Faoite urges Minister to fund nightbus services (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes extension of Nexus contract
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Department of Health confirmation that Nexus NI's counselling contract for victims of sexual abuse and violence will run for another year. She says she will keep working with the health minister and Nexus on a long-term plan for these services.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Department of Health extension of Nexus NI counselling contract Original release: Dillon welcomes extension of Nexus contract (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance dog whistle politics avoids the main issue
TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell accuses Alliance leader Naomi Long of using a sectarianism charge to deflect from Casement Park's cost, asking how the £300 million bill would be funded and whether the GAA funding deal bars chanting at the stadium.
Community relations and legacy Public finance and taxation Issue: Casement Park redevelopment funding and sectarianism accusation Original release: Alliance dog whistle politics avoids the main issue (opens in a new tab)
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Erskine raises concerns about latest cracks found in MOT centre lifts
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine, Chair of the Infrastructure Committee, raises serious concerns after 14 MOT lifts were found to have hairline cracks, asking the Minister to outline steps to address the situation. She says lessons from 2019 should have been learnt and will press DVA for updates at…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Hairline cracks found in MaHa MOT testing lifts Original release: Erskine raises concerns about latest cracks found in MOT centre lifts (opens in a new tab)
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Sheerin backs call for public enquiry into Sean Brown killing
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin welcomes the coroner's decision to ask the UK Secretary of State for a public inquiry into the 1991 killing of Sean Brown, after the inquest was halted over withheld state material. She urges swift action and says the Legacy Act blocks families' access to justice.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Coroner seeks public inquiry into Sean Brown killing Original release: Sheerin backs call for public enquiry into Sean Brown killing (opens in a new tab)
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We must be driven by making NI the best it can be
DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson MP, speaking at East Antrim DUP Association, urges supporters to focus on making Northern Ireland work and warns against a border poll. He also criticises legacy measures from the 1998 Belfast Agreement as corrupting justice and calls for unionism to unite…
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Original release: We must be driven by making NI the best it can be (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: Public inquiry must be held into murder of Sean Brown
SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone calls for a public inquiry into the murder of Sean Brown after a coroner halted the inquest because material was being withheld. He says the Northern Ireland Secretary should order one promptly, and that the family has waited nearly three decades for answers.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Coroner seeks public inquiry into Sean Brown killing Original release: McGlone: Public inquiry must be held into murder of Sean Brown (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter welcomes decision to extend Nexus counselling contract
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter welcomes the Health Minister's decision to extend the Nexus counselling contract for sexual abuse victims by a year after the department ended it without a replacement. She calls for a long-term approach ensuring free counselling access.
Health Issue: Department of Health extension of Nexus NI counselling contract Original release: Hunter welcomes decision to extend Nexus counselling contract (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Sinn Féin, DUP and TUV team up to block Assembly reform
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says Sinn Féin, the DUP and TUV have blocked Assembly reform to end the petition of concern, criticising the First Minister for opposing it and for not responding to a debate.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Assembly reform motion to end petition of concern blocked Original release: O’Toole: Sinn Féin, DUP and TUV team up to block Assembly reform (opens in a new tab)
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Grief must not become taboo as we mark our collective loss on Day of Reflection, says Bradshaw
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says the Day of Reflection on Sunday should honour pandemic dead while focusing on better support for bereaved people still struggling. She urges practical help and memorials for those still grieving.
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Deeply concerning Department of Health has ended Nexus NI contract – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says it is alarming that the Department of Health has ended Nexus NI's specialist counselling contract for victims of sexual abuse and violence. She calls on the Health Minister to review the decision, arguing GP referrals are not an adequate substitute.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Department of Health ends Nexus NI specialist counselling contract Original release: Deeply concerning Department of Health has ended Nexus NI contract – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister calls for urgent review of decision to stop providing specialist counselling for sexual abuse victims
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister calls for an urgent review of the Department of Health's decision to end Nexus NI's specialist counselling contract for sexual abuse victims, after the group confirmed no other provider had been contracted. She has asked the Health Minister to update MLAs.
Health Issue: Department of Health ends Nexus NI specialist counselling contract Original release: McAllister calls for urgent review of decision to stop providing specialist counselling for sexual abuse victims (opens in a new tab)
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Life should be valued: Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart, Chair of the All Party Pro-Life Group, says society should focus on protecting life and improving palliative care rather than advancing assisted dying, following a Health and Social Care Committee report.
Health Issue: Health and Social Care Committee report on assisted dying Original release: Life should be valued: Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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TUV receive vacuous reply when pressing DUP Minister over commemoration of terrorism at Casement
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Communities Minister's written reply on Casement Park is legally empty, arguing that equality duties under sections 75 and 76 bind only public authorities and so cannot reach the GAA. He asks how the minister could be so poorly advised.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Casement Park redevelopment use and commemoration of terrorism reply Original release: TUV receive vacuous reply when pressing DUP Minister over commemoration of terrorism at Casement (opens in a new tab)
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Innocent victims have paid the highest price: Robinson
DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson MP says justice for victims of terrorism has been denied for 25 years and calls the legacy legislation an amnesty that was wrong. He accuses Sinn Fein of hypocrisy over early prisoner releases and "on the run" letters, and urges Dublin to investigate atrocities…
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: High Court ruling on Legacy Act provisions under the Protocol Original release: Innocent victims have paid the highest price: Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan reaffirms his commitment to transform the Special Educational Needs system in Northern Ireland, following a visit to Fleming Fulton School. He says children with SEN do not always achieve the same outcomes as peers and will press Executive colleagues for…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan (opens in a new tab)
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Yet another wheel comes off the Donaldson Deal
TUV leader Jim Allister says a High Court ruling undermines the Donaldson Deal, which he claims had assured that EU fundamental rights no longer applied in Northern Ireland. He argues the court relied on Article 2 of the Protocol to disapply key parts of the Legacy Act, and says this confirms…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: High Court ruling on Legacy Act provisions under the Protocol Original release: Yet another wheel comes off the Donaldson Deal (opens in a new tab)
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Farry calls for Legacy Act suspension, pending a repeal
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MP calls for the UK Government to suspend the Legacy Act pending repeal after a Belfast High Court ruling that its conditional immunity for Troubles-era crimes breaches the ECHR. He also urges lifting the inquest deadline and halting ICRIR work.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: High Court ruling on Legacy Act provisions under the Protocol Original release: Farry calls for Legacy Act suspension, pending a repeal (opens in a new tab)
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Children and young people across the island deserve better access to mental services – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls for better children's mental health access across the island, citing a Dáil bill by Mark Ward TD on youth mental health services in the south. She urges north-south ministerial cooperation and calls on the Health Minister to bring forward a plan to increase…
Health Issue: Mark Ward TD youth mental health legislation in the Dáil Original release: Children and young people across the island deserve better access to mental services – Flynn (opens in a new tab)