Latest releases
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1,373 releases
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Allister meets RNIB in Westminster
TUV MP Jim Allister thanks the RNIB after a Westminster meeting, praising its vision rehabilitation teams and guide dog work, and cites local figures of about 3,470 people in North Antrim with sight loss and roughly 130 new cases each year.
Disability and equality Health Original release: Allister meets RNIB in Westminster (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter criticises EA's handling of Sandelford School repairs
SDLP MLA Cara Hunter criticises the Education Authority over its handling of repairs at Sandelford School in Coleraine, where deteriorating classrooms and unsuitable mobile units have disrupted pupils with complex needs. She calls for faster repairs, clearer communication and a commitment that…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Sandelford School Coleraine classroom repairs and mobile unit closures Original release: Hunter criticises EA's handling of Sandelford School repairs (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter concerned at lack of Access NI checks in special needs schools
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA expresses concern that 353 special needs school support staff posts were filled without Access NI checks, according to an FOI response from Unite. She calls on the Education Minister to urgently set out plans to end temporary engagement forms…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Access NI checks for special needs school support staff Original release: Hunter concerned at lack of Access NI checks in special needs schools (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin Unites With DUP To Vote Down Trans Rights Solidarity Motion In Derry City and Strabane District Council
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says Sinn Féin joined the DUP to defeat his trans rights solidarity motion at Derry City and Strabane District Council, after Sinn Féin called the motion divisive. The motion opposed Stormont transgender policies including the puberty blocker ban and school…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Derry City and Strabane council vote on trans rights solidarity motion Original release: Sinn Féin Unites With DUP To Vote Down Trans Rights Solidarity Motion In Derry City and Strabane District Council (opens in a new tab)
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Training nurses to spot signs of violence and abuse will help save lives – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Queen's University Belfast's initiative training nursing students to identify warning signs of abuse affecting women and girls, arguing frontline staff help protect at-risk people. She says Sinn Féin will keep backing measures that strengthen protections.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Queen's University Belfast nursing students abuse-recognition training initiative Original release: Training nurses to spot signs of violence and abuse will help save lives – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey welcomes new homes for south Belfast
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey welcomes a council planning decision clearing 104 new social homes at Havelock House, the former UTV headquarters, in south Belfast. She says the £25 million scheme will help reduce housing waiting lists.
Housing Local government Issue: Havelock House social housing scheme approved in south Belfast Original release: Hargey welcomes new homes for south Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan urges progress ahead of Troubles payment scheme deadline
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan urges the Executive Office to speed up applications to the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme before its August 2026 closure to new applications. Citing figures he obtained, he says 2,476 applications have succeeded and 1,758 awards total nearly…
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Issue: Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme application figures Original release: McCrossan urges progress ahead of Troubles payment scheme deadline (opens in a new tab)
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Baker slams decision to cut education support for vulnerable children
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker criticises the Education Authority's cuts to Education Otherwise Than at School support for vulnerable children, and says he will raise it in the Assembly next week. He blames DUP Education Ministers for financial mismanagement, and says the Lagan Valley Education Project…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority cuts to Education Otherwise Than at School support Original release: Baker slams decision to cut education support for vulnerable children (opens in a new tab)
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We need a rules-based International Protection system where applications are processed in a timely manner – Matt Carthy TD
Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy TD calls for a rules-based International Protection system with timely processing of applications, condemning racist attacks while criticising government handling of asylum decisions, appeals, deportations and IPAS accommodation during Dáil statements. He also opposes the…
Immigration Housing Issue: Dáil statements on International Protection processing and enforcement Original release: We need a rules-based International Protection system where applications are processed in a timely manner – Matt Carthy TD (opens in a new tab)
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Timothy Gaston granted leave to intervene in legal challenge against DFI minister’s imposition of Irish signage at Grand Central Station
TUV welcomes a court decision granting MLA Timothy Gaston leave to intervene in the legal challenge to the infrastructure minister's imposition of Irish-language signage at Grand Central Station. The party says it looks forward to joining the case through his counsel, Emma McIlveen BL.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Grand Central Station Irish signage legal challenge leave to intervene Original release: Timothy Gaston granted leave to intervene in legal challenge against DFI minister’s imposition of Irish signage at Grand Central Station (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath presses Chief Constable on violence against women cases
SDLP Policing Board member and South Down MLA Colin McGrath presses Chief Constable Jon Boutcher on PSNI handling of violence against women and girls, criticising the decision that only one of four officers under Police Ombudsman investigation faces a full misconduct hearing. He calls for…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Police Ombudsman report on officers' conduct during December 2022 arrest Original release: McGrath presses Chief Constable on violence against women cases (opens in a new tab)
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Excuse for removing tri-lingual letterheads ‘bogus’ – McHugh
Sinn Féin MLA Maolíosa McHugh calls the Communities Minister's reason for dropping tri-lingual letterheads 'bogus', saying a written answer showed no savings could be quantified. He accuses the minister of failing to publish an Irish Language Strategy.
Disability and equality Issue: Removal of tri-lingual letterheads from Department for Communities Original release: Excuse for removing tri-lingual letterheads ‘bogus’ – McHugh (opens in a new tab)
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Brownlee welcomes progress on Sensory Room proposals for children’s…
East Antrim MLA Cheryl Brownlee welcomes the Health Minister's update on a sensory room for the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, following a DUP adjournment debate. She says the Minister asked officials to work with the Belfast Trust on the proposed facility.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Sensory room proposal at Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children Original release: Brownlee welcomes progress on Sensory Room proposals for children’s… (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister is failing women - Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says the Health Minister is failing women affected by the Southern Trust cervical screening scandal after his statement on three further reports. She calls for accountability for those responsible, including in the PHA and the Department, and full…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening reports statement by Health Minister Original release: Health Minister is failing women - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Young people are pivotal to building a new inclusive United Ireland – Rose Conway-Walsh TD & Dáire Hughes MP
Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh and MP Dáire Hughes praise young people from Cooperation Ireland projects who addressed the Good Friday Agreement Committee, and Conway-Walsh calls on the Irish government to legislate for votes at 16 following British proposals. Hughes says findings on disabled…
Constitutional affairs Education Original release: Young people are pivotal to building a new inclusive United Ireland – Rose Conway-Walsh TD & Dáire Hughes MP (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Executive must address impact of holiday homes and short-term lets
SDLP MLA Cara Hunter says the Executive must urgently intervene on holiday homes and short-term lets, which she claims are driving up house prices and rents in rural and coastal areas. She welcomes Assembly backing for a motion she tabled and calls for regulation of the sector.
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Assembly motion on short-term holiday let regulation Original release: Hunter: Executive must address impact of holiday homes and short-term lets (opens in a new tab)
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Allen welcomes long overdue action on pavement parking, but stressed enforcement and awareness are key
Ulster Unionist MLA Andy Allen MBE welcomes Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins' plans to bring in secondary legislation on pavement parking, but warns the measures will fall short without enforcement and awareness. He calls on the Minister to explain how the Department will tackle vehicles that…
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins pavement parking secondary legislation announcement Original release: Allen welcomes long overdue action on pavement parking, but stressed enforcement and awareness are key (opens in a new tab)
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Tighter rules needed for short-term holiday lets – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson calls for tighter regulation of short-term holiday lets ahead of an Assembly motion on the issue, arguing they can raise house prices and reduce suitable housing supply. She urges the Communities Minister to act without delay and deliver a long-term housing supply plan.
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Assembly motion on short-term holiday let regulation Original release: Tighter rules needed for short-term holiday lets – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart - Chancellor Must Cut Waste of Broken Asylum System Before…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart urges the Chancellor to cut asylum accommodation spending before raising taxes, citing Home Affairs Committee figures on rising costs, Northern Ireland's projected quadrupling to £400 million, and contractor Mears' profit margins.
Immigration Public finance and taxation Issue: Home Affairs Committee report on UK asylum accommodation costs Original release: Lockhart - Chancellor Must Cut Waste of Broken Asylum System Before… (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong calls for a NI Fuel Poverty Strategy now
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA urges the Communities Minister to publish a targeted fuel poverty strategy before the upcoming Budget, citing National Energy Action NI findings that many households went without heating and that fuel poverty worsens health and mental wellbeing.
Social security and welfare Housing Issue: National Energy Action NI fuel poverty briefing Original release: Armstrong calls for a NI Fuel Poverty Strategy now (opens in a new tab)