Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
3,442 releases
-
De Faoite secures commitment to recognise contribution of women to Belfast
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Séamas de Faoite says Council has agreed to honour women's contribution to the city with the Freedom of Belfast, after raising the gender imbalance among past recipients. Proposals will be developed with the women's sector to name four women for the honour…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast Freedom of the City honour for women proposal Original release: De Faoite secures commitment to recognise contribution of women to Belfast (opens in a new tab)
-
Lack of Executive-wide AI Strategy leaves a vacuum, says Nicholl, following news of AI roll out in schools
Alliance Economy spokesperson Kate Nicholl MLA welcomes the rollout of generative AI tools in education settings but calls for teacher guidance and training. She says the First and deputy First Minister must urgently publish the draft Executive-wide AI Strategy, unpublished since December, for…
Education Issue: Generative AI tools rollout in education settings Original release: Lack of Executive-wide AI Strategy leaves a vacuum, says Nicholl, following news of AI roll out in schools (opens in a new tab)
-
Gildernew praises Economy Minister for stepping in to save translation organisation
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew, chair of the Communities Committee, welcomes Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald's intervention to keep the Place-Name Project running. He accuses Communities Minister Gordon Lyons of trying to eradicate the organisation and of hostility to the Irish language.
Disability and equality Issue: Economy Minister intervention to save the Place-Name Project Original release: Gildernew praises Economy Minister for stepping in to save translation organisation (opens in a new tab)
-
Dodds welcomes confirmation of key cancer drug use in NI
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds welcomes Health Minister confirmation that Keytruda is already available in three Health Trusts, and urges swift rollout to the remaining two areas. She says the immunotherapy could save lives.
Health Issue: Keytruda cancer drug availability in Northern Ireland Health Trusts Original release: Dodds welcomes confirmation of key cancer drug use in NI (opens in a new tab)
-
New cancer drug must be available to patients here – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard writes to Health Minister Mike Nesbitt demanding the immediate rollout of Keytruda, a new injectable cancer immunotherapy being introduced in England and Wales, and asks for a clear timeline for its use in Northern Ireland.
Health Issue: Keytruda cancer drug rollout in England and Wales Original release: New cancer drug must be available to patients here – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
-
Serious lessons must be learned from Katie Simpson death – Sheerin
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin says lessons must be learned after the independent review into the killing of Katie Simpson by Jonathan Creswell found serious justice system failings, including institutional misogyny within the PSNI and poor investigation standards. She calls on the PSNI to respond…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Katie Simpson Review findings Original release: Serious lessons must be learned from Katie Simpson death – Sheerin (opens in a new tab)
-
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces changes to areas of childcare regulation
UUP's Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces he has approved changes to childcare regulation after consultation, limiting GP-countersigned health declarations to senior childcare roles and altering adult:child ratios for childminders and group day care from 1 June 2026.
Education Health Issue: Health Minister childcare regulation changes on GP declarations and adult:child ratios Original release: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces changes to areas of childcare regulation (opens in a new tab)
-
Sinn Féin will not accept DUP’s efforts to attack and undermine Irish identity – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew, chair of the Communities Committee, demands that Communities Minister Gordon Lyons appear before MLAs over his decision on funding for the Place-Name Project, which he calls a disgrace. He says Sinn Féin will work to ensure the project continues.
Disability and equality Issue: Place-Name Project funding decision by Communities Minister Original release: Sinn Féin will not accept DUP’s efforts to attack and undermine Irish identity – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
-
Facing Redundancy at QUB, Hospitality Workers at Clements Coffee Organise and Fight
People Before Profit says Clements Coffee at Queen's University Belfast is closing all operations on 15 May and directing staff to the Redundancy Payments Service, and that zero-hours workers have been labelled casual and not employees. It calls on Queen's to require any new operator to honour…
Economy and employment Education Issue: Clements Coffee Queen's University Belfast closure and redundancies Original release: Facing Redundancy at QUB, Hospitality Workers at Clements Coffee Organise and Fight (opens in a new tab)
-
TUV raises concerns about imbalance in community background of PPS staff
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says he is dismayed by the low number of Protestant-background legal staff in the PPS, citing figures showing 46 Protestant and 105 Catholic legal staff, and criticises the Justice Minister for not pursuing the issue.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: PPS legal staff community background figures Original release: TUV raises concerns about imbalance in community background of PPS staff (opens in a new tab)
-
Minister Nesbitt highlights critical role of primary care elective services
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt praises primary care elective services after a visit to Glengormley Practice, citing £2.9million funding, over 1,450 GP vasectomies and around 3,000 gynaecology procedures. He says the model is cutting hospital waiting lists and looks forward to more elective pathways…
-
Budget impasse a scandal which risks real term cuts to public services
UUP Finance Spokesperson Steve Aiken condemns the lack of an agreed Executive budget, saying departments face real-terms cuts under interim spending limits and health services, including staff pay awards and waiting list progress, are suffering.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Executive failure to pass multi-year budget Original release: Budget impasse a scandal which risks real term cuts to public services (opens in a new tab)
-
There must be no more delays to delivering a mother and baby unit – McGuigan
SF MLA Philip McGuigan, chair of the Health Committee, welcomes progress on a perinatal mental health unit for mothers and babies in Belfast following a Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announcement. He says interim support has not been agreed and urges the minister to avoid further delays, secure…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Health Minister Nesbitt announcement on Belfast mother and baby unit Original release: There must be no more delays to delivering a mother and baby unit – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
-
Sheerin welcomes Finance Minister’s commitment to Jade’s Law
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin welcomes Finance Minister John O'Dowd's announcement that he will introduce Jade's Law, which would automatically suspend parental responsibility for a parent convicted of killing the other parent. She also points to Sinn Féin TDs backing Valerie's Law in the south.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Finance Minister announces introduction of Jade's Law Original release: Sheerin welcomes Finance Minister’s commitment to Jade’s Law (opens in a new tab)
-
Whyte welcomes funding for North Belfast school enhancement
SDLP North Belfast Councillor Carl Whyte welcomes Department of Education money for a major expansion at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, saying the new facilities will transform the learning environment and urging the Minister to prevent further delays.
Education Local government Issue: Funding announced for Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School extension Original release: Whyte welcomes funding for North Belfast school enhancement (opens in a new tab)
-
Beattie hits out at Justice Minister over policing funding crisis
UUP Justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA hits back at Justice Minister Naomi Long after her Nolan Show appearance, saying the PSNI is underfunded and blaming the Justice Department and Alliance for failing to fight for policing funding.
Justice and policing Public finance and taxation Issue: Justice Minister Naomi Long's Nolan Show comments on policing funding Original release: Beattie hits out at Justice Minister over policing funding crisis (opens in a new tab)
-
Progress on Regional Mother and Baby Unit welcome but lack of interim measure disappointing, says McAllister
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA welcomes confirmation that the new Regional Mother and Baby Unit will be located at Belfast City Hospital, but says it is disappointing that no interim provision will be in place before the facility opens.
Health Issue: Health Minister Nesbitt announcement on Belfast mother and baby unit Original release: Progress on Regional Mother and Baby Unit welcome but lack of interim measure disappointing, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
-
Serious safeguarding questions as school allows return of pupil who made rape threats
TUV leader Jim Allister says he is shocked that City of Armagh High School will readmit a newcomer pupil after a prolonged suspension for rape threats against two 11-year-old girls, and calls on the Education Authority to change its committee investigation guidance so victims' voices are heard. He…
Education Justice and policing Issue: City of Armagh High School readmission of pupil who made rape threats Original release: Serious safeguarding questions as school allows return of pupil who made rape threats (opens in a new tab)
-
Ulster Unionist Party welcomes landmark public health reform as Tobacco and Vapes Act becomes law
UUP MP Robin Swann and Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcome Royal Assent for the Tobacco and Vapes Act, calling it a landmark for public health in Northern Ireland. Chambers says smoking causes over 2,000 deaths a year locally and credits the Assembly's Legislative Consent Motion request.
Health Issue: Tobacco and Vapes Act receives Royal Assent Original release: Ulster Unionist Party welcomes landmark public health reform as Tobacco and Vapes Act becomes law (opens in a new tab)
-
Lyons heralds historic day for Deaf community
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons says the passage of Northern Ireland’s inaugural Sign Language Bill is a historic day for Deaf people, welcoming the new law that recognises British and Irish Sign Language and imposes duties on public bodies to improve accessibility.
Disability and equality Issue: Assembly passage of Sign Language Bill Original release: Lyons heralds historic day for Deaf community (opens in a new tab)