Latest releases
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5,005 releases
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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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Skinner says it is unbelievable unionist Councillors vote to adjourn bonfire meeting until September
Alliance MEA Councillor Aaron Skinner says it is unbelievable unionist Councillors voted to adjourn a special meeting on adopting legal advice on bonfires on Council land until September. He calls for a strategy to deal with bonfires on Council land, citing public safety and legal risk.
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Mid and East Antrim Council adjournment of bonfire legal advice meeting Original release: Skinner says it is unbelievable unionist Councillors vote to adjourn bonfire meeting until September (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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Kelly welcomes decision by Parades Commission on contentious parade
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly welcomes a Parades Commission ruling that a proposed Orange Lodge parade on the Crumlin Road, applied for in the Ballysillan area, will not pass Ardoyne, Mountainview and the Dales. He says the parade breached a 2016 residents' agreement with Ligoniel lodges.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Parades Commission ruling on Ballysillan Orange Lodge Crumlin Road parade Original release: Kelly welcomes decision by Parades Commission on contentious parade (opens in a new tab)
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O’Neill welcomes €56m Irish government investment in Magee and Shared Island projects
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, First Minister Designate, welcomes Irish government funding of €45m for a new Magee campus building in Derry, part of €56m from the Shared Island fund for all-island projects, and calls for the Executive to be restored.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Irish government €56m Shared Island funding for Magee and all-island projects Original release: O’Neill welcomes €56m Irish government investment in Magee and Shared Island projects (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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Kearney calls on DfI to properly maintain rural road junction sight lines
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney has asked the Department for Infrastructure to review grass verge and hedgerow maintenance at road junctions and roundabouts in Randalstown and Antrim. He says overgrown verges are blocking sight lines and creating safety risks for drivers, and that DfI officials have…
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Kearney calls on DfI to properly maintain rural road junction sight lines (opens in a new tab)
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Homophobia never acceptable and needs to be challenged at every opportunity, says Tennyson, addressing tweets by DUP representative
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson calls on the DUP to address homophobic tweets directed at him from East Antrim MLA David Hilditch's account, noting they remain online. He urges party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to condemn them publicly and take disciplinary action.
Disability and equality Issue: Homophobic tweets from DUP MLA David Hilditch's account Original release: Homophobia never acceptable and needs to be challenged at every opportunity, says Tennyson, addressing tweets by DUP representative (opens in a new tab)
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Education Authority has duty to ensure every child has suitable school placement – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says he has written to the Education Authority asking for urgent school placements for children with special educational needs still waiting for an offer ahead of September entry to nursery or P1. He calls the situation outrageous, pointing to the statutory duty to place…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Education Authority has duty to ensure every child has suitable school placement – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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When will truth be told about human rights abuses of those on ‘active…
DUP legacy spokesperson Emma Little-Pengelly says Joe Clarke was given a full IRA funeral and asks when the truth will be told about human rights abuses committed during his active service. She argues legacy inquiries cannot assess IRA victims because the IRA keeps no records accessible to the…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Joe Clarke funeral with IRA honours Original release: When will truth be told about human rights abuses of those on ‘active… (opens in a new tab)
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Cuts to nursery hours for children with Special Needs ‘heartless’ – Brogan
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan says the Education Authority’s decision to halve nursery provision for children with special educational needs at Arvalee Special School in Omagh is heartless, and she has written to demand an urgent meeting to have the cuts reversed.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority cuts nursery hours at Arvalee Special School Original release: Cuts to nursery hours for children with Special Needs ‘heartless’ – Brogan (opens in a new tab)
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Egan expresses condolences to the family and loved ones of Chloe Mitchell following Ballymena vigil
Alliance spokesperson Connie Egan MLA expresses condolences to the family of Chloe Mitchell after attending a vigil in Ballymena, saying gender-based violence must be tackled and eliminated across society.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Murder of Chloe Mitchell in Ballymena Original release: Egan expresses condolences to the family and loved ones of Chloe Mitchell following Ballymena vigil (opens in a new tab)
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Omagh Pride a crucial platform for LGBTQ people in rural communities west of the Bann, says Donnelly, ahead of event
Alliance Omagh Councillor Stephen Donnelly praises the organisers of Omagh Pride and says the event matters for LGBTQ+ people in rural areas west of the Bann, ahead of Saturday's event. He argues more progress is needed across Northern Ireland and says isolation is felt in West Tyrone.
Disability and equality Issue: Omagh Pride event 2023 Original release: Omagh Pride a crucial platform for LGBTQ people in rural communities west of the Bann, says Donnelly, ahead of event (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to help tackle growing crisis within children’s mental health services – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls for the Executive to be restored to address rising waiting lists for children's mental health assessments, citing an increase of 1,255 children waiting and 1,086 waiting over nine weeks.
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Executive needs formed to address worsening crisis in health service – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls for an Executive to be formed to tackle the worsening health service crisis, citing the worst waiting times across these islands and poor communication from Trusts with patients. She says political leadership and investment are needed.
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McGrath: Patients on waiting lists deserve better than silence
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath calls for patients on waiting lists to receive regular updates, after a Public Service Ombudsman report found systematic maladministration in how waiting lists are handled. He says the Ombudsman's recommendations should be carried out together with long-term…
Health Issue: Public Services Ombudsman report on health waiting list maladministration Original release: McGrath: Patients on waiting lists deserve better than silence (opens in a new tab)
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Government must ensure addition of West and Northwest to TEN-T Core Network – MacManus
Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus calls on the Government to ensure the Atlantic Corridor is added to the TEN-T Core Network, after an European Parliament vote on a report on large EU transport infrastructure projects. He says the Irish Government has refused to endorse adding the Western Rail Corridor…
Infrastructure and transport International affairs Issue: European Parliament vote on TEN-T large transport infrastructure report Original release: Government must ensure addition of West and Northwest to TEN-T Core Network – MacManus (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes set up of five new cancer support centres
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the planned opening of five new regional cancer support centres by Cancer Focus NI and a rise to almost 400 patients receiving specialist radiotherapy by year end. She says the Cancer Strategy cannot progress without a functioning Executive, blaming the DUP for…
Health Issue: Cancer Focus NI five new regional support centres and radiotherapy expansion Original release: Dillon welcomes set up of five new cancer support centres (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes new Cancer Focus support centres
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes Cancer Focus's plan to open five regional cancer support centres over five years, aligned with the Northern Ireland Cancer Strategy. She says a Health Minister is needed to take the strategy forward swiftly.
Health Issue: Cancer Focus NI five new regional support centres and radiotherapy expansion Original release: Bradshaw welcomes new Cancer Focus support centres (opens in a new tab)