Latest releases
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5,395 releases
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Finn urges progress on conversion therapy ban
SDLP councillor Doire Finn urges progress on banning conversion therapy in Northern Ireland, proposing a Newry, Mourne and Down council motion reaffirming opposition and asking Stormont departments to outline preparations for a ban once the Executive returns.
Disability and equality Local government Original release: Finn urges progress on conversion therapy ban (opens in a new tab)
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Patients on lists for life-saving cancer treatment cannot wait – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says cancer patients on waiting lists cannot wait, responding to Department of Health figures on cancer treatment waiting times. She calls for urgent action and the restoration of the Executive, and criticises the delay in the cancer strategy.
Health Issue: Department of Health cancer treatment waiting times figures June 2023 Original release: Patients on lists for life-saving cancer treatment cannot wait – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Backwards move to bring abortion into classrooms – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says the Westminster vote on NIO proposals to bring abortion-promoting relationships and sex education into schools is a backward step for Northern Ireland. She argues the region's abortion laws should not be taught to children and calls for more life-affirming laws.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Westminster vote on NIO proposals for RSE in schools Original release: Backwards move to bring abortion into classrooms – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Murray disappointed and frustrated by risk posed to potential cycling infrastructure
Alliance Balmoral Councillor Micky Murray says he is disappointed and frustrated that planned Belfast cycling infrastructure, including Lisburn Road and Malone Road routes, may be displaced by the Department for Infrastructure's new Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan. He questions the…
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Belfast Cycle Network Plan displacement by Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan Original release: Murray disappointed and frustrated by risk posed to potential cycling infrastructure (opens in a new tab)
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Time for DUP delays and excuses over – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy says the DUP's delay in restoring the Executive has gone on too long and urges party leader Jeffrey Donaldson to end the boycott of power-sharing, citing rising household costs and health service problems.
Constitutional affairs Issue: DUP leader's Westminster committee remarks on collapsing the Executive Original release: Time for DUP delays and excuses over – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds meets EA about annual SEN chaos
DUP Education spokesperson Diane Dodds, Upper Bann MLA, says a meeting with the Education Authority exposed the yearly chaos in Special Educational Needs placements, blaming education cuts and under‑funding and urging Treasury funding, transformational reform and immediate placement of vulnerable p‑
Education Disability and equality Issue: Annual chaos in Special Educational Needs allocations Original release: Dodds meets EA about annual SEN chaos (opens in a new tab)
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DUP refusal to rejoin Executive reckless and irresponsible – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney accuses the DUP of reckless and irresponsible conduct over its refusal to rejoin the Executive, saying its stance on the Windsor Framework is distracting from public service cuts and urging it to return to the Assembly.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: DUP refusal to rejoin Executive reckless and irresponsible – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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DUP should end blockade of Executive and get back to work – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy calls on the DUP to end its blockade of the Executive and Assembly now, responding to Jeffrey Donaldson's remarks at the Centre for Brexit Policy on the Windsor Framework and trade opportunities.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Jeffrey Donaldson remarks at Centre for Brexit Policy on Windsor Framework Original release: DUP should end blockade of Executive and get back to work – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Mutual enforcement worthy of serious consideration: Donaldson
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, speaking at the Centre for Brexit Policy as it launched a report, says mutual enforcement deserves serious, sustained consideration as a longer-term solution. He argues a court ruling curtailing part of the Act of Union raises questions about unionists'…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Jeffrey Donaldson remarks at Centre for Brexit Policy on Windsor Framework Original release: Mutual enforcement worthy of serious consideration: Donaldson (opens in a new tab)
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NI’s subjugation as EU colony confirmed
TUV leader Jim Allister says an Explanatory Memorandum signed by the Foreign Secretary shows the Windsor Framework hands EU sovereignty over internal UK goods movement in Northern Ireland, placing it under EU law and EU Court oversight. He claims Stormont is irrelevant to this and calls on those…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Explanatory Memorandum on the Windsor Framework signed by Foreign Secretary Original release: NI’s subjugation as EU colony confirmed (opens in a new tab)
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Lord Empey: We need politics that work instead of polemics
UUP leader Lord Empey argues that collapsing Stormont helps Sinn Féin's claim that Northern Ireland is a failed entity, and calls for Westminster to act on Protocol/Windsor Framework confidence concerns, including barring GB businesses from refusing sales to Northern Ireland and requiring…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: Lord Empey: We need politics that work instead of polemics (opens in a new tab)
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Robbie Butler Urges Secretary of State to Act Now to Address Underinvestment in Special Education Needs
UUP education spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA urges the Secretary of State to act now on underinvestment in Special Educational Needs provision, saying shortfalls in SEN places in special and mainstream schools are failing children and families, with no Executive or Assembly in place.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Robbie Butler Urges Secretary of State to Act Now to Address Underinvestment in Special Education Needs (opens in a new tab)
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DUP playing pathetic games with Tory hardliners while NI public services face collapse: O’Toole
SDLP Stormont leader Matthew O'Toole accuses the DUP of stalling and playing games after Jeffrey Donaldson endorsed mutual enforcement, a post-Brexit trade idea he says is unworkable and damaging to business. He calls on the DUP to return to Stormont and restore basic governance.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Jeffrey Donaldson remarks at Centre for Brexit Policy on Windsor Framework Original release: DUP playing pathetic games with Tory hardliners while NI public services face collapse: O’Toole (opens in a new tab)
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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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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)