Latest releases
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1,463 releases
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Hargey condemns racist attack as ‘disgraceful and disgusting’
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey condemns an attack on a home in Donegall Avenue, south Belfast, in which residents were injured, calling it unacceptable and urging anyone with information to contact the PSNI.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Donegall Avenue home attack in south Belfast Original release: Hargey condemns racist attack as ‘disgraceful and disgusting’ (opens in a new tab)
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Translink Free Ride for Pride, High Price for the Twelfth
TUV Equality Spokeswoman Ann McClure accuses Translink of overcharging bands and Loyal Orders for Twelfth buses while providing a dedicated Pride bus for Belfast Pride, and says its £20,000 Pride-linked spending should go to services instead.
Community relations and legacy Infrastructure and transport Original release: Translink Free Ride for Pride, High Price for the Twelfth (opens in a new tab)
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SEN children unable to start full-time education in September unacceptable, says Guy
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA says many SEN children with school placements cannot start full-time education in September, citing an FOI response showing 48 children across 14 schools unable to start and around 100 more across 23 schools possibly not attending full-time.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority FOI response on SEN places crisis for September 2025 Original release: SEN children unable to start full-time education in September unacceptable, says Guy (opens in a new tab)
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Executive Office must take urgent action to address rising hate crimes in NI, says Dickson
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA calls on the First and deputy First Ministers to take urgent action on race hate crime after PSNI figures showed 1,329 race-motivated crimes in the year to June, the highest since 2004. He also calls for an update to the Race Relations…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: PSNI race hate crime figures for year to June 2025 Original release: Executive Office must take urgent action to address rising hate crimes in NI, says Dickson (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister asleep at the wheel during latest SEN placement crisis, says Mathison
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says the Education Minister is asleep at the wheel after an FOI response from the Education Authority showed the Minister was told in March about the emerging crisis in special educational needs (SEN) places for September 2025.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority FOI response on SEN places crisis for September 2025 Original release: Education Minister asleep at the wheel during latest SEN placement crisis, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Police must robustly investigate criminal damage to dual language signs – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on police to robustly investigate recent damage to bilingual road signs in Dungannon and Cookstown, which officers are treating as sectarian hate crimes.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Dungannon and Cookstown bilingual sign damage investigation Original release: Police must robustly investigate criminal damage to dual language signs – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Why are NIHE staff being paid to attend Londonderry Pride?
TUV leader Jim Allister MP writes to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive questioning why staff can claim flexi credit or TOIL for attending the Londonderry Pride parade. He calls it a misuse of public money and asks at what level the policy was approved.
Public finance and taxation Disability and equality Issue: NIHE staff flexi credit for Londonderry Pride attendance Original release: Why are NIHE staff being paid to attend Londonderry Pride? (opens in a new tab)
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Beidh ceapachán Choimisinéara Teanga ina chloch mhíle stairiúil eile – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín welcomes reports that Northern Ireland's first Irish Language Commissioner is about to be appointed, saying the post will be another historic step in building a rights-based society.
Disability and equality Issue: Appointment of Northern Ireland's first Irish Language Commissioner Original release: Beidh ceapachán Choimisinéara Teanga ina chloch mhíle stairiúil eile – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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TUV warns again of the powers of Irish Language Commissioner
TUV leader Jim Allister warns that the Irish Language Commissioner, reportedly due to be confirmed within weeks, will have statutory powers to set standards for every public authority and that DUP ministers cannot block them. He contrasts these with the weaker Ulster Scots and Ulster British…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Appointment of Northern Ireland's first Irish Language Commissioner Original release: TUV warns again of the powers of Irish Language Commissioner (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister failing people on Universal Credit, says Armstrong
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA says the Health Minister has not yet amended the 'Help with Health and Travel Costs' legislation so Universal Credit claimants receive automatic entitlement, as already applies elsewhere in the UK. She urges the Minister to make the change.
Health Social security and welfare Issue: Help with Health and Travel Costs Universal Credit automatic entitlement legislation Original release: Health Minister failing people on Universal Credit, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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TUV welcome legal challenge to stop Civil Service Pride activism
TUV Equality Spokeswoman Ann McClure welcomes a legal challenge by a Christian campaign group against Civil Service involvement in Pride events in Great Britain. She says civil servants should serve the public rather than political causes and hopes the case sets a precedent for Northern Ireland.
Disability and equality Issue: Legal challenge to Civil Service participation in Great Britain Pride events Original release: TUV welcome legal challenge to stop Civil Service Pride activism (opens in a new tab)
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No place for racism or hate in society – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deidre Hargey condemns racism, racist violence and intimidation as unacceptable and calls for it to stop immediately, after police probed an alleged attack on a migrant tied to vigilante groups. She says she has written to the Justice Minister offering joint work with her and police…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI probe into alleged attack on migrant linked to vigilante groups Original release: No place for racism or hate in society – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Kelly writes to Chief Constable over arrest of woman at Palestinian solidarity vigilv
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly says he has written to the Chief Constable asking for an explanation of why a woman was arrested at a Palestinian solidarity vigil after giving her details in Irish, when others were reportedly just cautioned.
Justice and policing International affairs Issue: Arrest of woman at Palestinian solidarity vigil after giving details in Irish Original release: Kelly writes to Chief Constable over arrest of woman at Palestinian solidarity vigilv (opens in a new tab)
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De Faoite calls for response to racist intimidation
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Séamas de Faoite urges a joint response to racist intimidation across East Belfast, citing social media posts, and wants an urgent East Belfast Policing and Community Safety Partnership meeting. He also presses the PSNI and Justice Minister to act and to…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: East Belfast racist intimidation social media posts Original release: De Faoite calls for response to racist intimidation (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon encourages the public to have their say on breastfeeding bill
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges the public to respond to a consultation on her Private Member's Bill that would create an offence for discouraging breastfeeding in public, require premises to be breastfeeding-friendly, and penalise discrimination. The consultation closes on 24 October 2025.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Linda Dillon Private Members Bill breastfeeding consultation launch Original release: Dillon encourages the public to have their say on breastfeeding bill (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty: Executive must tackle barriers to youth sport participation
SDLP Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty calls on the Northern Ireland Executive to act on inequality in young people's access to sport and physical activity, following a meeting with Ulster University about new research on cost and access barriers. He proposes community sports hub investment, a…
Disability and equality Issue: Ulster University research on youth sport participation barriers Original release: McNulty: Executive must tackle barriers to youth sport participation (opens in a new tab)
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Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Begins with Consistent Sentencing – Beattie
UUP justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA calls for a Sentencing Council for Northern Ireland, arguing inconsistent sentencing is undermining confidence in the courts. He cites a recent case where a man received a suspended sentence for striking a teenage girl, and urges the Justice Minister to…
Justice and policing Education Original release: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Begins with Consistent Sentencing – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston raises concerns with Minister Lyons following “drag queen story time” for children event
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston has written to Communities Minister Gordon Lyons over a drag story time event for children at Holywood Arches Library, asking whether Libraries NI approved it, for a review of criteria for child-targeted library events, and for confirmation that safeguarding checks on…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Holywood Arches Library drag story time event for children Original release: Gaston raises concerns with Minister Lyons following “drag queen story time” for children event (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly condemns racially motivated hate crimes in Larne
Alliance Larne Lough Councillor Maeve Donnelly condemns racially motivated criminal damage to two houses in Larne, where police are investigating graffiti and property damage in Hampton Crescent and Doric Way. She urges anyone with information to contact police immediately.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Larne racially motivated criminal damage to two houses investigation Original release: Donnelly condemns racially motivated hate crimes in Larne (opens in a new tab)
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TUV Challenges Irish Medium Sector on Lack of Newcomer Intake
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston calls for urgent scrutiny of the Irish medium sector after Assembly answer figures showed just 20 newcomer pupils in Irish medium primary schools and none in post-primary. He says the sector should take its fair share of newcomer children.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Assembly answer on newcomer pupil enrolment in Irish medium schools Original release: TUV Challenges Irish Medium Sector on Lack of Newcomer Intake (opens in a new tab)