Latest releases
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5,775 releases
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Children and young people with special educational needs deserve best start to life – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to overhaul special educational needs provision, saying young people and families are being failed by the current system and urging the minister to act on his commitment following a Education Committee meeting.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Children and young people with special educational needs deserve best start to life – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Second Von der Leyen term would be bad for Ireland & EU
Sinn Féin calls on the Irish government and Irish MEPs to oppose Ursula von der Leyen's bid for a further Commission presidency, citing Article 16 vaccine export controls, her COVID vaccine contract handling and her Gaza response, and urges all MEP candidates to state their position.
International affairs Constitutional affairs Original release: Second Von der Leyen term would be bad for Ireland & EU (opens in a new tab)
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‘Community heartbroken at tragic death of Caolán Devlin’ – O’Neill
Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán Michelle O'Neill expresses shock and sorrow at the fatal A5 collision that killed Caolán Devlin on Tuesday night, and urges the public to help police with dash cam footage. She also calls for the opponents of the A5 upgrade to drop their objections without further delay.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road fatal collision Omagh to Ballygawley March 2024 Original release: ‘Community heartbroken at tragic death of Caolán Devlin’ – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Irish remains preserve of one community
TUV leader Jim Allister challenges DUP MLA Paul Givan's claim that Irish belongs to everyone, arguing the Irish language is not supported by facts such as its absence from controlled school curricula. He says Irish language legislation aims to promote Gaelicisation as part of a nationalist…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Paul Givan's comments that Irish belongs to all of us Original release: Irish remains preserve of one community (opens in a new tab)
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A5 road death another ‘absolute tragedy’ – Begley
Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley offers condolences to the family of a man killed in a crash on the A5 near Omagh, pays tribute to emergency services, and calls for the A5 to be built without further delays.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road fatal collision Omagh to Ballygawley March 2024 Original release: A5 road death another ‘absolute tragedy’ – Begley (opens in a new tab)
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Junior Doctors Are Right To Strike
People Before Profit backs Northern Ireland's Junior Doctors on their first 24-hour strike over pay, and calls for a consolidated 10% pay increase for health and social care workers. It lists picket locations at Craigavon, the Royal Victoria and Altnagelvin hospitals.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland junior doctors 24‑hour pay strike Original release: Junior Doctors Are Right To Strike (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath shows support for junior doctors
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath pledges full support for junior doctors taking strike action at the Ulster Hospital picket line, saying their pay and working conditions must be addressed. He urges the Health Minister to reach a fair settlement with them.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland junior doctors 24‑hour pay strike Original release: McGrath shows support for junior doctors (opens in a new tab)
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Smear test review must be concluded urgently – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins urges the Southern Health Trust to finish its review of around 11,000 cervical screening smear tests still awaiting re-checking as soon as possible. She says women's health services are not fit for purpose and calls on the Health Minister to act on a Women's Health…
Health Issue: Southern Health Trust smear test review backlog of around 11,000 tests Original release: Smear test review must be concluded urgently – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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Brett thanks public for Hospice Petition support
DUP MLA Phillip Brett thanks those who signed his petition after handing it to the Speaker, which calls on the Department of Health for extra funding for the Children's Hospice to restore bed capacity. He urges the Health Minister to bring forward a funding bid.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Children's Hospice bed capacity reduction petition Original release: Brett thanks public for Hospice Petition support (opens in a new tab)
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Dunne presses for clarity on concessionary fares scheme
DUP MLA Stephen Dunne presses the Infrastructure Minister for clarity on the future of the Concessionary Fares Scheme, noting no decision has followed the consultation that closed in August 2023. He welcomes the Minister's stated intention to keep the scheme in its current form and calls for…
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: Concessionary Fares Scheme consultation outcome and future of fare concessions Original release: Dunne presses for clarity on concessionary fares scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister decision more ideological than practical
Green Party councillor Anthony Flynn criticises the Communities Minister's decision to end remote council meetings from 6 March, calling it short-sighted and ideological. He says remote attendance improves accessibility for councillors with caring or health needs and urges the minister to extend…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Communities Minister ending remote council meetings from 6 March Original release: Communities Minister decision more ideological than practical (opens in a new tab)
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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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Change in livestock tags another manifestation of Sea Border
TUV Braid Councillor Christopher Jamieson says the Department's planned change of livestock tag prefix in Northern Ireland from 'UK' to 'XI' is another example of the Sea Border. He says TUV raised the issue through a question to the Agriculture Minister, which was answered after the Department…
Constitutional affairs Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Northern Ireland livestock tag prefix change from UK to XI Original release: Change in livestock tags another manifestation of Sea Border (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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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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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)