Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
2,544 releases
-
Aontú slams British government legacy amendments
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín says he has asked the Taoiseach to reflect on British Secretary Hilary Benn's comments that Legacy Bill amendments would protect British veterans, opposing any hierarchy in the framework. Deputy leader Gemma Brolly calls the move unacceptable, citing the Sean Brown case.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: Aontú slams British government legacy amendments (opens in a new tab)
-
TUV blast O’Neill hypocrisy after “weapons of war” comments
TUV business spokesman Councillor Keith Ratcliffe accuses Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill of hypocrisy over her remarks on weapons of war, pointing to Kingsmill and the MoD funding dispute, and says she is unfit for office.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: TUV blast O’Neill hypocrisy after “weapons of war” comments (opens in a new tab)
-
Victims and families’ confidence will be further eroded by the cynical actions of the British government – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane accuses the British government of political cynicism after Hilary Benn delayed the legacy bill until October to add protections for British military personnel. He says victims and families face further erosion of confidence and calls on the Taoiseach and Irish government…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: Victims and families’ confidence will be further eroded by the cynical actions of the British government – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
-
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 Original release: Paul Givan must heed ‘significant intervention’ from education bodies over flawed SEN reforms – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
-
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 Original release: Hunter: Minister must halt SEN reform (opens in a new tab)
-
Burrows presses case for Northern Ireland at Westminster
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA says his Westminster visit was to make the case for Northern Ireland, urging a VAT reduction for hospitality and tourism, restoration of the Irish Sea border settlement, fairness for veterans and former RUC officers, and answers on the former Police Ombudsman's security‑v
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Original release: Burrows presses case for Northern Ireland at Westminster (opens in a new tab)
-
Issue of using flags to mark territory can only be resolved through legislation, says Bradshaw
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Paula Bradshaw, South Belfast MLA, says Tricolour flags at a mixed South Belfast housing development show the need for legislation. She will bring a bill to the Assembly to oblige authorities to remove disrespectful or antagonistic flags and emblems.
Community relations and legacy Original release: Issue of using flags to mark territory can only be resolved through legislation, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
-
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 Original release: Efforts to stymie growth of the Irish language will fail – McLaughlin (opens in a new tab)
-
Belfast Flag Decision “Procedurally Unlawful” as Battle Moves to Appeal
TUV says a court ruling shows Belfast City Council's decision to fly the Palestinian flag was procedurally unlawful, and that standing orders letting a legal opinion decide minority safeguards will go to the Court of Appeal. Deputy leader Ron McDowell will write to the council seeking confirmation…
Community relations and legacy Local government Original release: Belfast Flag Decision “Procedurally Unlawful” as Battle Moves to Appeal (opens in a new tab)
-
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 Original release: Léiríonn Gildernew imní faoi thodhchaí mhaoiniú Thionscadal Logainmneacha (opens in a new tab)
-
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 Original release: O'Toole: Absence of no fault divorce in Marriage Bill a missed opportunity (opens in a new tab)
-
Political and economic status quo no longer working – Pearse Doherty TD
Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty says rising living costs and strained public services show the current political and economic order is failing, and that an alternative is urgently needed. Speaking at a 50th anniversary commemoration in Belleeks for IRA Volunteer Peter Cleary, he also calls for Irish…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: Political and economic status quo no longer working – Pearse Doherty TD (opens in a new tab)
-
Boylan calls for urgent action to tackle failures in autism services
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan urges urgent action to tackle persistent shortcomings in autism support, citing evidence heard by the All-Party Group for Autism from the Independent Autism Reviewer. He calls on the Department of Health to work closely with the reviewer and to prioritise the Autism…
Health Disability and equality Original release: Boylan calls for urgent action to tackle failures in autism services (opens in a new tab)
-
Lyons launches photography exhibition exploring identity, belonging,…
Community relations and legacy Original release: Lyons launches photography exhibition exploring identity, belonging,… (opens in a new tab)
-
Brownlee welcomes installation of sensory unit at Children’s Hospital
DUP MLA Cheryl Brownlee welcomes the installation of a new sensory unit at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, a multisensory 'Cubbie' purchased with Little Heroes NI funding, which she says will officially open this week.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Brownlee welcomes installation of sensory unit at Children’s Hospital (opens in a new tab)
-
Givan: Pre-School Inclusion Fund is delivering targeted support for…
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan says a visit to Holywood Nursery School shows the Pre-School Inclusion Fund is delivering targeted support for children with special educational needs. He cites a new sensory room, extra classroom assistant hours and £4.5million invested in 2025/26 across…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Givan: Pre-School Inclusion Fund is delivering targeted support for… (opens in a new tab)
-
Justice Minister refuses to confirm violence against women funding is spent on women
TUV Bannside councillor Anna Henry says Justice Minister Naomi Long refused to confirm that funding to tackle violence against women is spent on women, and calls for serious questions to be asked about how the money is allocated.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Justice Minister refuses to confirm violence against women funding is spent on women (opens in a new tab)
-
One year on, women still waiting for law to be enforced - Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart urges the UK Government to act quickly on the Supreme Court's For Women Scotland ruling, saying women's rights remain unclear a year on. She calls for the EHRC Code of Practice and NHS guidance to be published without delay and for the law to be enforced in full across the…
Disability and equality Original release: One year on, women still waiting for law to be enforced - Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
-
Reilly welcomes verdict date for Springhill Massacre inquest
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes the news that families have been told the date for the verdict in the Springhill Massacre inquest, praising their 54-year campaign and pledging ongoing support for the Springhill and Westrock families.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: Reilly welcomes verdict date for Springhill Massacre inquest (opens in a new tab)
-
Retaining PEACEPLUS funding from EU is vital – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for central EU funding for the PEACEPLUS programme to be retained, warning that no proposed EU funding from 2028 would seriously affect community services, victims and survivors, and young people.
Community relations and legacy International affairs Original release: Retaining PEACEPLUS funding from EU is vital – Kearney (opens in a new tab)