Latest releases
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3,430 releases
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SEN school staff workloads are unmanageable and unsustainable, says Mathison, ahead of Assembly motion
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says SENCO workload pressures are unfair and unsustainable, and calls on the Education Minister for urgent interventions, properly resourced EA Local Impact Teams and a thorough review of the role ahead of an Assembly motion.
Education Disability and equality Issue: SENCO workload pressures ahead of Assembly motion on special educational needs Original release: SEN school staff workloads are unmanageable and unsustainable, says Mathison, ahead of Assembly motion (opens in a new tab)
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Autism Reviewer’s report must be catalyst for real change, says Donnelly
Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly welcomes the first Annual Report of the Independent Autism Reviewer, Ema Cubitt, saying it must set a benchmark for services. He cites a finding that 90% of respondents felt unheard when seeking help and calls for findings to drive real improvements.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Independent Autism Reviewer first report launch Original release: Autism Reviewer’s report must be catalyst for real change, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Hazzard praises fire crews tackling Mournes fires and urges public caution
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard thanks emergency services tackling two wildfires overnight in the Mournes at Slievenaman Road and Bloody Bridge, and urges the public to stay away from affected areas and heed the yellow wildfire warning.
Environment and climate Issue: Mournes wildfires at Slievenaman Road and Bloody Bridge Original release: Hazzard praises fire crews tackling Mournes fires and urges public caution (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald Ard Fheis address
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, in her Ard Fheis address, calls for an emergency budget with a substantial fuel excise cut, €400 electricity credits, a €500 disability payment and a permanent USC cut. She accuses Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of failing working families and says the British…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: Mary Lou McDonald Ard Fheis address (opens in a new tab)
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Legal and Financial Issues Highlight Level of Executive Dysfunction says Brolly
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly says Executive dysfunction is evident after only 4% of £230 million allocated for key services was spent, and raises concerns that Education Department and Education Authority reform proposals are not fully legally compliant.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Only 4% of £230 million allocated for key services spent Original release: Legal and Financial Issues Highlight Level of Executive Dysfunction says Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland cancer waiting times worst in UK
TUV leader Jim Allister says a Cancer Research UK report showing Northern Ireland has the worst cancer waits in the UK is further evidence Stormont must act now. He cites only about 31% of patients starting treatment within 62 days in 2025 and calls for more investment, lung screening and a lower…
Health Issue: Cancer Research UK Northern Ireland Overview 2026 cancer waiting times report Original release: Northern Ireland cancer waiting times worst in UK (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan comments on latest emergency care waiting time statistics
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan says recent emergency care waiting figures point to sustained strain in emergency departments, citing only 40.2% of patients seen within four hours and a sharp rise in 12-hour waits. He urges the Health Minister to tackle hospital flow, delayed discharges and…
Health Issue: Emergency care waiting time statistics for the last three months Original release: McGuigan comments on latest emergency care waiting time statistics (opens in a new tab)
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Healthcare transformation essential to tackle alarming ED wait times, says Donnelly
Alliance spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA calls on the Health Minister to prioritise healthcare transformation after new Department of Health figures showed a rise of over 14 per cent in patients waiting more than 12 hours in Emergency Departments.
Health Issue: Emergency care waiting time statistics for the last three months Original release: Healthcare transformation essential to tackle alarming ED wait times, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Lough Neagh fishermen must not become economic casualties of ongoing crisis – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, says Lough Neagh fishermen must not become casualties of the ecological crisis after meeting DAERA Minister Andrew Muir ahead of the eel season. He calls for a comprehensive strategy to support fishermen and secure commercial fishing's future on the…
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: Lough Neagh eel fishing season 2026 uncertainty and DAERA engagement Original release: Lough Neagh fishermen must not become economic casualties of ongoing crisis – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Paul Givan must heed ‘significant intervention’ from education bodies over flawed SEN reforms – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes the Children's Law Centre and other bodies' opposition to Education Minister Paul Givan's special educational needs reforms, and calls on him to pause the process and engage with them, unions and frontline staff on a rights-based plan.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Children's Law Centre opposition to SEN reform proposals Original release: Paul Givan must heed ‘significant intervention’ from education bodies over flawed SEN reforms – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Minister must halt SEN reform
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA calls on the Education Minister to halt proposed special educational needs (SEN) reforms, citing an open letter from 14 organisations including teaching unions and warnings from the Children's Law Centre. She says the Minister has ignored…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Children's Law Centre opposition to SEN reform proposals Original release: Hunter: Minister must halt SEN reform (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must engage with British Medical Association – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan calls on the Health Minister to engage in meaningful dialogue with the British Medical Association to resolve a pay dispute and prevent strike action, after the BMA announced a ballot of members on industrial action.
Health Economy and employment Issue: BMA ballot of members on industrial action over pay Original release: Health Minister must engage with British Medical Association – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Efforts to stymie growth of the Irish language will fail – McLaughlin
Sinn Féin councillor Ronan McLaughlin welcomes the court’s favourable decision on Belfast City Council’s call‑in case concerning its Irish language policy, saying efforts to block the language’s growth will fail and urging Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to advance an Irish Language Strategy while
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Court ruling on Belfast City Council Irish language policy Original release: Efforts to stymie growth of the Irish language will fail – McLaughlin (opens in a new tab)
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Biomethane strategy must be based on treating waste and by-products, not distorting the agricultural system – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Áine Murphy says a biomethane strategy should focus on treating waste and by‑products rather than altering the agricultural system, urging local consultation, strong planning, robust regulation and direct benefits for rural communities.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Biomethane strategy must be based on treating waste and by-products, not distorting the agricultural system – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Minister must listen to doctors and avert strike action
SDLP Opposition Health spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA calls on the Health Minister to urgently engage with the BMA and present a credible plan on pay and workforce, after the BMA announced a ballot of hospital doctors over a 3.5% pay uplift.
Health Economy and employment Issue: BMA ballot of members on industrial action over pay Original release: McGrath: Minister must listen to doctors and avert strike action (opens in a new tab)
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Royal College of Emergency Medicine report ‘deeply alarming’ – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan calls on the Health Minister to state whether he accepts the Royal College of Emergency Medicine report on emergency departments, its recommendations and its finding that overcrowding stems from system failure, and to set out specific actions and timescales for…
Health Issue: Royal College of Emergency Medicine report on excess deaths linked to ED waiting times Original release: Royal College of Emergency Medicine report ‘deeply alarming’ – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Minister must rethink stance as fuel costs hit care workers - Forsythe
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe urges the Health Minister to revisit his refusal to cover travel costs for domiciliary care workers, saying rising fuel prices leave low-paid staff out of pocket and that his Assembly answer appeared to dismiss their concerns.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health Minister's Assembly answer on domiciliary care workers' travel costs Original release: Minister must rethink stance as fuel costs hit care workers - Forsythe (opens in a new tab)
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Léiríonn Gildernew imní faoi thodhchaí mhaoiniú Thionscadal Logainmneacha
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew, Chair of the Communities Committee, calls on the Department for Communities to keep funding the Place-Name Project after a ministerial answer showed translation service funding runs only until Summer 2026.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Place-Name Project translation service funding ending Summer 2026 Original release: Léiríonn Gildernew imní faoi thodhchaí mhaoiniú Thionscadal Logainmneacha (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Death dealers must face harsher sentences
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan calls for harsher sentences for drug dealers who supply vulnerable people, ahead of an SDLP Opposition Day motion asking the Justice Minister to review sentencing frameworks. He backs the Jasmine's Law campaign on vulnerability as an aggravating factor.
Justice and policing Health Original release: Durkan: Death dealers must face harsher sentences (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Absence of no fault divorce in Marriage Bill a missed opportunity
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill's omission of no-fault divorce is a missed opportunity to modernise marriage law. He asks the Finance Minister to explain why it was left out, arguing it could help tackle abuse.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill omission of no-fault divorce Original release: O'Toole: Absence of no fault divorce in Marriage Bill a missed opportunity (opens in a new tab)