Latest releases
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4,935 releases
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The Alliance Party and transgenderism
TUV's North Down branch president Patrick J. Roche accuses the Alliance Party of full commitment to transgenderism, citing Naomi Long's handling of a 'what is a woman?' question and a drag story reading, and MLA Connie Eagan's planned bill on relationship and sex education. He also attacks deputy…
Disability and equality Education Issue: Alliance Party stance on transgender issues and Gender Recognition Reform Bill Original release: The Alliance Party and transgenderism (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Rachel Woods slams changes to Affordable Warmth Scheme
Green Party NI councillor Rachel Woods, for Holywood and Clandeboye, criticises the decision to cut the Affordable Warmth Scheme without replacements and the removal of councils' eligibility assessment role from September. She calls for a fuel poverty strategy and tighter building regulations.
Housing Local government Issue: Affordable Warmth Scheme changes and removal of council eligibility role Original release: Cllr Rachel Woods slams changes to Affordable Warmth Scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Former Chair of Stormont Finance Committee calls for reduction in corporation tax
UUP MLA Steve Aiken calls on the UK Government to match Republic of Ireland corporation tax by cutting Northern Ireland's rate from 19% to 15%, arguing this would attract investment under the Windsor Framework. He wants UK-EU agreement that the reduction is not state aid and a 10-year block grant…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: Former Chair of Stormont Finance Committee calls for reduction in corporation tax (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Education Authority must find places for SEN children
SDLP Education Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan calls on the Education Authority to find school places for over 800 children with special educational needs still awaiting confirmation of a place for next year. He says families need immediate clarity and urges investment in resourcing schools and…
Education Disability and equality Original release: McCrossan: Education Authority must find places for SEN children (opens in a new tab)
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Protocol unreformable and must go
TUV Bannside Councillor Timothy Gaston says the Specialised Committee's announcement shows the Protocol is unreformable and must go, objecting that animal and plant health and medicines decisions are made in consultation with EU officials rather than in Northern Ireland.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Specialised Committee announcement on Windsor Framework animal and plant health and medicines Original release: Protocol unreformable and must go (opens in a new tab)
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Fundamental review of children’s services ‘long overdue’ – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins calls for a fundamental review of children's services, citing an independent review finding over 4,000 children waiting for assessments and support from social care, and pointing to rising demand, staffing pressures and budget strain.
Health Issue: Independent review finding over 4,000 children waiting for social care assessments Original release: Fundamental review of children’s services ‘long overdue’ – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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Confirmation Arvalee Special School will continue to have full-time ‘relief for parents and children’ – Brogan
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan welcomes confirmation that Arvalee Special School in Omagh will keep full-time hours for nursery pupils after an Education Authority cut to two and a half hours was reversed. She says discussions between the EA and the school must continue and blames Tory cuts and the…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority cuts nursery hours at Arvalee Special School Original release: Confirmation Arvalee Special School will continue to have full-time ‘relief for parents and children’ – Brogan (opens in a new tab)
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Long term plan needed to secure Daisy Hill – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins says new proposals to stabilise Daisy Hill Hospital services are a step forward but need much more work to restore staff and community confidence. She says the Southern Trust must move quickly on a long-term plan, and she will press its leadership at a meeting the next…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital services stabilisation proposals Original release: Long term plan needed to secure Daisy Hill – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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UUP calls on Government to cut NI corporation tax
UUP economy spokesperson Mike Nesbitt MLA calls for an urgent return to Stormont so ministers are in place before the Northern Ireland Investment Summit in September. He also urges the Government to consider Stormont setting its own Corporation Tax rate, questioning whether the Azores Ruling still…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Investment Summit and Stormont corporation tax call Original release: UUP calls on Government to cut NI corporation tax (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to support vulnerable children and young people – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says it is unacceptable that families of children with additional needs are anxiously waiting to learn whether they will secure a nursery place. He calls for an end to the DUP's boycott of the Executive so parties can work together to support vulnerable children and young…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special educational needs nursery placement uncertainty and Executive impasse Original release: Executive needed to support vulnerable children and young people – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to drive forward reform of children’s social care services, say Alliance representatives
Naomi Long, Alliance leader and MLA, and health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw, MLA, welcome the children’s social‑care review report and say an Executive is required to act on its 53 recommendations, warning that delays will worsen outcomes for thousands of waiting children.
Health Issue: Children’s social care services review report publication Original release: Executive needed to drive forward reform of children’s social care services, say Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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Communities budget will reduce support for most vulnerable, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says the Department for Communities budget allocations will reduce support for vulnerable people, including the homeless, people with disabilities, addiction service users and domestic abuse victims. She cites cuts to new homes and rising homelessness spending, and…
Public finance and taxation Housing Issue: Department for Communities budget allocations for the forthcoming financial year Original release: Communities budget will reduce support for most vulnerable, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Cuts to special education nursery places would disadvantage the most vulnerable, warns Egan, echoing calls for SEN reform
Alliance Education spokesperson Connie Egan MLA condemns reports that the Educational Authority is considering closing some special school nursery units to fund primary one places, calling it short-sighted and a failure of area planning. She urges the EA and Department of Education to commit to…
Education Disability and equality Issue: EA consideration of closing special school nursery units Original release: Cuts to special education nursery places would disadvantage the most vulnerable, warns Egan, echoing calls for SEN reform (opens in a new tab)
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Lough Neagh ecosystem facing significant new challenges – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, raises concern about new ecological challenges in Lough Neagh after blue-green algae was confirmed in the Toome Canal and spread to fishing waters. He says he and Cllr Henry Cushinan will seek a meeting with DAERA.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Blue-green algae confirmed in Toome Canal and Lough Neagh Original release: Lough Neagh ecosystem facing significant new challenges – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Maskey welcomes multi-million pound investment in West Belfast
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey says the multi‑million pound investment in West Belfast demonstrates confidence in local talent, delivering 169 new positions at the former Caterpillar site and offering apprenticeships, training and re‑skilling as part of a greener packaging venture.
Economy and employment Environment and climate Issue: Biopax investment creates jobs at former Caterpillar site Original release: Maskey welcomes multi-million pound investment in West Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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“As we enter a new phase of our cause, that of the endgame of partition” – MacManus
Sinn Féin MEP for Midlands-Northwest Chris MacManus, speaking at the Bodenstown commemoration of Theobald Wolfe Tone, says the party is entering the endgame of partition and calls on activists to prepare for leading government north and south.
Constitutional affairs Original release: “As we enter a new phase of our cause, that of the endgame of partition” – MacManus (opens in a new tab)
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HRB report on addiction must be a wake-up call for government – Thomas Gould TD
Sinn Féin's Thomas Gould TD urges the government to address funding gaps in addiction and community services after an HRB report recorded over 12,000 people seeking support in 2022. He says Taskforces still face a €3 million shortfall against their 2010 budgets and calls the report a wake-up call.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Research Board report on addiction services in 2022 Original release: HRB report on addiction must be a wake-up call for government – Thomas Gould TD (opens in a new tab)
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Essential people with learning disabilities are leaders of conversations around their lives, says Armstrong, marking Learning Disabilities Week
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA welcomes people with learning disabilities, families and support groups to Parliament Buildings to mark Learning Disability Week 2023. She says the event aims to challenge stigma and myths, and that people with learning disabilities should…
Disability and equality Original release: Essential people with learning disabilities are leaders of conversations around their lives, says Armstrong, marking Learning Disabilities Week (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein hypocrisy on Boris Johnson report exposed
TUV spokesperson Anna Henry accuses Sinn Féin of hypocrisy over the Westminster vote approving the report on Boris Johnson's breaches of lockdown rules, citing the 2020 Bobby Storey funeral and Sinn Féin MPs abstaining from the vote.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Westminster vote approving report on Boris Johnson lockdown breaches Original release: Sinn Fein hypocrisy on Boris Johnson report exposed (opens in a new tab)
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Unionism should focus on equal U.K. citizenship, not a Vichy Stormont
TUV leader Jim Allister says returning to Stormont under the Northern Ireland Protocol would mean accepting the Union’s dismantling and urges unionism to rally around equal UK citizenship instead of a ‘Vichy Stormont’.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Northern Ireland Protocol impact on Stormont Original release: Unionism should focus on equal U.K. citizenship, not a Vichy Stormont (opens in a new tab)