Latest releases
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2,932 releases
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Gordon Lyons must get financial support out the door – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to move urgently to get the £17 million confirmed by the British government for households reliant on oil to those in need, and to bring forward his proposal without delay.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: British government £17 million home heating oil support package Original release: Gordon Lyons must get financial support out the door – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Minister must do more to support ‘rapid’ Irish-medium education growth – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges the Education Minister to invest properly in Irish-medium education after Department of Education figures showed a near 400% rise in pupils. He says the growth brings accommodation and curriculum resource shortfalls, and he is bringing forward a law on staffing.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Department of Education Irish-medium pupil numbers rise figures Original release: Minister must do more to support ‘rapid’ Irish-medium education growth – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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International School Meals Day
People Before Profit joins a Derry Trades Union Council rally at the Guildhall calling for free school meals for all children. It cites 41% of children in poverty lacking access and a 20% school meals price rise, and calls for universal free school meals now.
Social security and welfare Education Original release: International School Meals Day (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland Men Denied Life-Saving Prostate Cancer Drug Available Across Rest of UK
TUV MP Jim Allister calls on Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to make abiraterone available to Northern Ireland men with prostate cancer that has not spread, as it is already offered in England, Scotland and Wales. The Minister says NI lacks a NICE equivalent and cites budget pressures.
Health Issue: Abiraterone prostate cancer drug availability in Northern Ireland Original release: Northern Ireland Men Denied Life-Saving Prostate Cancer Drug Available Across Rest of UK (opens in a new tab)
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‘DUP detached from the realities of workers and families’ – Mallaghan
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan says the DUP is detached from reality for calling for higher military spending while cuts to welfare support are considered, as fuel prices rise. He accuses DUP leader Gavin Robinson of backing cuts to welfare to fund military spending abroad, and urges the deputy…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: ‘DUP detached from the realities of workers and families’ – Mallaghan (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Executive must act now to secure future of Childcare Subsidy Scheme
SDLP Opposition MLA Sinéad McLaughlin calls on the Executive to urgently allocate funding so the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme continues beyond March 2026. She says parents face uncertainty and that the scheme should not lapse without confirmed funding.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme funding beyond March 2026 Original release: McLaughlin: Executive must act now to secure future of Childcare Subsidy Scheme (opens in a new tab)
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DUP calls to gut welfare spending during energy crisis ‘catastrophically out of touch’, says Mulholland
Alliance Poverty Spokesperson Sian Mulholland MLA says calls from senior DUP figures, including Arlene Foster and Gavin Robinson, to move money from welfare budgets to defence are catastrophically out of touch during an energy crisis. She argues it would hit low-income households already…
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: DUP calls to move welfare spending to defence during energy crisis Original release: DUP calls to gut welfare spending during energy crisis ‘catastrophically out of touch’, says Mulholland (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Education Minister must value role of classroom assistants
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says Education Minister Paul Givan should give classroom assistants proper respect, ahead of an SDLP Opposition Day motion on Monday. He criticises proposed reforms, especially around special educational needs, and calls for scrutiny of the Executive.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Classroom assistant reforms proposed by Education Minister Paul Givan Original release: Durkan: Education Minister must value role of classroom assistants (opens in a new tab)
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Economy Minister needs to engage with UK Government to help local people during energy crisis, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA has written to Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald urging her to engage with the UK Government on support for households facing rising energy and fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict. He calls for help similar to the 2022 package after Russia's…
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Rising energy and fuel costs following Middle East conflict Original release: Economy Minister needs to engage with UK Government to help local people during energy crisis, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston challenges Executive Ministers after “neither” gender category exposed in violence against women funding scheme
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says funding for a violence against women scheme is allocated to groups using a third gender category, 'neither', and has submitted questions to all Executive Ministers on how departmental data is broken down by gender and defined.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Violence against women funding scheme gender category 'neither' questions to Executive Ministers Original release: Gaston challenges Executive Ministers after “neither” gender category exposed in violence against women funding scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister must listen to those on frontline tackling poverty – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to take on board concerns from local councils and community organisations about his plan to tackle poverty, and to bring forward a more ambitious plan. He says the minister ignored campaigners and councils during its…
Social security and welfare Local government Issue: Communities Committee hearing on Communities Minister's anti-poverty plan Original release: Communities Minister must listen to those on frontline tackling poverty – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Women Left Waiting Years in Pain – Urgent Investment Needed in Northern Ireland’s Gynaecology Services
TUV councillor Anna Henry, Mid and East Antrim, warns women face years of chronic pain awaiting first gynaecology specialist appointments, citing June 2025 figures showing over 14,000 waiting in the South Eastern Trust and wait times near two years, and calls for urgent investment.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Department of Health June 2025 gynaecology outpatient waiting list figures Original release: Women Left Waiting Years in Pain – Urgent Investment Needed in Northern Ireland’s Gynaecology Services (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister commends healthcare staff working to reduce waiting lists
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcomes the latest waiting list figures, citing a fall of over 15,000 patients awaiting first outpatient appointments and 7,316 fewer waiting for inpatient or day case admission. He commends healthcare staff and expects further improvement from the Elective Care…
Health Issue: Latest hospital waiting list figures for outpatient appointments Original release: Health Minister commends healthcare staff working to reduce waiting lists (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Language Commission links language to IRA campaign – he should go
TUV leader Jim Allister says Irish Language Commissioner Pol Deeds's claim that opposition to Irish is a blow for unification echoes a 1982 IRA-era remark and calls for his removal, urging Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to act.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish Language Commissioner Pol Deeds comments on opposition to Irish Original release: Irish Language Commission links language to IRA campaign – he should go (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Long health waiting lists leaving patients in limbo
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the latest hospital waiting list figures, showing over 542,000 people awaiting a first outpatient appointment and more than 174,000 waiting over two years, raise doubts about whether the Executive treats the backlog as a priority.
Health Issue: Latest hospital waiting list figures for outpatient appointments Original release: McGrath: Long health waiting lists leaving patients in limbo (opens in a new tab)
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Baker moves bill to tackle holiday hunger
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker has introduced his Bill to the Assembly to make payments to parents of around 90,000 children receiving free school meals during school holidays. He says the Bill passed its first stage and calls for cross-party work to progress it.
Social security and welfare Issue: Danny Baker bill on holiday payments for free school meal children Original release: Baker moves bill to tackle holiday hunger (opens in a new tab)
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Removal of two-child limit ‘long overdue’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Assembly's passing of a bill that will scrap the two-child benefit limit next month, calling the removal long overdue after a campaign pressed the British government to reverse it.
Social security and welfare Issue: Assembly passes bill scrapping two-child benefit limit Original release: Removal of two-child limit ‘long overdue’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds Calls for Urgent Action on Eating Disorder Services
DUP MLA Diane Dodds calls on the Health Minister to set a firm timetable for upgrading the regional eating disorder service, noting an outline business case awaits Finance review under Action 29d of the Mental Health Strategy.
Health Issue: Eating disorder service enhancement timetable ahead of Awareness Week debate Original release: Dodds Calls for Urgent Action on Eating Disorder Services (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: PSNI officers abusing position for sexual purposes reinforces need for cultural change
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath, a Policing Board member, says the high number of officers abusing their position for sexual purposes shows a need for cultural change in the PSNI, following the Police Ombudsman's report on the issue. He calls for the Justice Minister to confirm when legislation for faster…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Police Ombudsman report on sexual misconduct by PSNI officers Original release: McGrath: PSNI officers abusing position for sexual purposes reinforces need for cultural change (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan welcomes removal of two-child limit
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA welcomes the removal of the two-child limit on Universal Credit, following the Assembly's Legislative Consent Motion on the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill. He calls for clarity on transitional protections and a timely…
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly passes bill scrapping two-child benefit limit Original release: Durkan welcomes removal of two-child limit (opens in a new tab)