Latest releases
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4,033 releases
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Acute Transport Crisis Affecting Children with Special Needs - Brolly
Aontú's education spokesperson Gemma Brolly has asked the Infrastructure Minister to urgently review school transport arrangements, especially for children with special educational needs, citing a shortage of licensed taxi drivers and operators. She urges reinstating earlier support measures that…
Education Infrastructure and transport Original release: Acute Transport Crisis Affecting Children with Special Needs - Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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PIRA killing could never be justified – Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell rejects a Lucid Talk poll finding that nearly 70% of nationalists agree with Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill that paramilitary violence was unavoidable. He says peaceful alternatives always existed and that killings cannot be justified.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Lucid Talk poll on nationalist views of IRA violence Original release: PIRA killing could never be justified – Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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Arts Council’s £600,000 to West Belfast Festival challenged
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Arts Council cannot distance itself from sectarian chanting and a mural at the West Belfast Festival, after disclosing £685,850 in public funding over five years. He calls on all funders to make clear that public money will dry up unless the festival changes.
Community relations and legacy Public finance and taxation Issue: Arts Council funding of West Belfast Festival after sectarian chanting and mural Original release: Arts Council’s £600,000 to West Belfast Festival challenged (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong calls for clarification around the end of free lateral flow tests
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong calls for health Trusts to clarify how ending free lateral flow COVID tests from Monday will affect respite and day‑care provision, urging assurances that these services are restored to pre‑pandemic levels.
Health Disability and equality Issue: End of free lateral flow COVID tests Original release: Armstrong calls for clarification around the end of free lateral flow tests (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to address GP pressures- Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says an Executive must be restored to tackle pressures on GP services, after reports that up to 100 practices are seeking emergency support over staffing. He calls for £1 billion of extra health investment to recruit doctors and cut waiting lists, and blames the DUP's…
Health Issue: Reports of up to 100 GP practices seeking emergency support Original release: Executive needed to address GP pressures- Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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PSNI must be transparent about CRJI investigation
DUP lead Policing Board representative Trevor Clarke says the suspension of public funding for Community Restorative Justice Ireland raises fresh questions about the PSNI’s relationship with the group and calls for a robust, transparent investigation into governance, influence and potential conflict
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Suspension of funding to Community Restorative Justice Ireland Original release: PSNI must be transparent about CRJI investigation (opens in a new tab)
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‘Executive needed now to tackle problems in health’ – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins urges the DUP to end its boycott of the Executive, saying one is needed to address pressures at Daisy Hill Hospital, including extra funding of £1 billion for staffing and waiting lists.
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital pressures and Executive boycott Original release: ‘Executive needed now to tackle problems in health’ – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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British Secretary of State ‘ducking and diving’ to avoid Bill of Shame opposition – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson accuses Secretary of State Shailesh Vara of avoiding victims and families in Derry who oppose the British government's legacy Bill. She calls for the legislation to be scrapped and the Stormont House Agreement implemented.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Derry visit by Secretary of State amid legacy Bill opposition Original release: British Secretary of State ‘ducking and diving’ to avoid Bill of Shame opposition – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew seeking urgent meeting with Southern Trust on concerns of midwives
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew expresses alarm at reports that the Southern Trust may move up to 52 experienced midwives onto zero-hour contracts, and says he will meet the Trust and the affected midwives urgently.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Southern Trust plans to move 52 midwives onto zero-hour contracts Original release: Gildernew seeking urgent meeting with Southern Trust on concerns of midwives (opens in a new tab)
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“Newtownhamilton Sectarian Graffiti is Antithetical to Republicanism” – Connolly
Aontú Armagh Representative Daniel Connolly condemns sectarian graffiti in Newtownhamilton, calling it abhorrent to true republicanism and urging a Republicanism that unites rather than divides across Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter communities.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Newtownhamilton "All Prods are targets" graffiti Original release: “Newtownhamilton Sectarian Graffiti is Antithetical to Republicanism” – Connolly (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew welcomes compensation for victims of contaminated blood scandal
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes interim payments for contaminated blood scandal survivors and urges the Department of Health to progress them without further delay, saying families have waited too long for redress.
Health Issue: Interim compensation for contaminated blood scandal victims Original release: Gildernew welcomes compensation for victims of contaminated blood scandal (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed to address the crisis in GP services across the north – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges immediate action on strained GP services after meeting GP representatives, citing Belfast practices closing their lists to new patients. He calls for an Executive to be restored to fund an extra £1 billion for health recruitment, and tells the DUP to end its…
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Statement by West Belfast Festival addresses none of the key issues
TUV North Belfast representative Ron McDowell says the West Belfast Festival's statement fails to apologise for pro-terrorist and racist chanting at its event and ignores a mural glorifying an attack on police. He calls for funders and public figures to withdraw, and says the festival's charity…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Wolfe Tones concert pro‑IRA chanting at Féile an Phobail Original release: Statement by West Belfast Festival addresses none of the key issues (opens in a new tab)
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‘Hate displays not representative of people of Derry’ – Mayor Duffy
Sinn Féin Mayor of Derry and Strabane Sandra Duffy condemns the burning of memorial wreaths and election posters on Derry bonfires, saying those responsible do not represent the city's people and that recent incidents set back a positive summer.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Meenan Square bonfire in Bogside displays of flags and poppy wreaths Original release: ‘Hate displays not representative of people of Derry’ – Mayor Duffy (opens in a new tab)
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West Belfast Festival partners must speak out – Little-Pengelly
DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly calls on all funders and partner organisations of the West Belfast Festival to publicly condemn pro-IRA "up the Ra" chants heard at its concerts and to set out what action they have taken. She says public money should not fund events glorifying PIRA terrorism and asks…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Wolfe Tones concert pro‑IRA chanting at Féile an Phobail Original release: West Belfast Festival partners must speak out – Little-Pengelly (opens in a new tab)
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Butler calls on Feile organisers to address issues of sectarian hatred
UUP Deputy Assembly Group Leader Robbie Butler MLA warns that Belfast Feile organisers must act against sectarian hatred or the party will review its participation in future Feile events, citing songs sung by young people and bonfire material.
Community relations and legacy Original release: Butler calls on Feile organisers to address issues of sectarian hatred (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance team meets mental health champion to discuss strategy implementation
Alliance MLAs say they back the full roll‑out of the Mental Health Strategy, warning that funding is not assured and highlighting the pandemic, sectarianism and the cost‑of‑living crisis as reasons the plan must be delivered without delay.
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Kelly slams displays of hatred at Derry bonfires
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly condemns scenes from Derry bonfires on 15 August as disgraceful and calls for displays of hatred to stop now. He describes burning flags, wreaths and posters of politicians as offensive and a hate crime, contrasting them with community festivals across the city.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Meenan Square bonfire in Bogside displays of flags and poppy wreaths Original release: Kelly slams displays of hatred at Derry bonfires (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to improve access to GPs – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says people need greater GP access and calls for the Executive to be restored to invest an extra £1 billion in health. He is worried by a temporary freeze on patients moving GP practices in North Down, Ards and East Belfast, which he calls a short-term fix, and blames…
Health Issue: Temporary freeze on GP patient registrations in North Down, Ards and East Belfast Original release: Executive needed to improve access to GPs – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Welcome action by Larne FC
TUV East Antrim spokesperson Norman Boyd welcomes Larne FC's decision to suspend John Herron from representing the club after a photo surfaced of him in a top bearing a pro-IRA slogan. Boyd says the behaviour is intolerable and calls it a poor example for young people.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Larne FC suspension of John Herron over pro-IRA top Original release: Welcome action by Larne FC (opens in a new tab)