Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Environment and climate: remove filter
- Disability and equality: remove filter
- Education: remove filter
2,513 releases
-
Consultation on Nature Recovery Strategy a step in the right direction, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes the public consultation on the draft Nature Recovery Strategy announced by Minister Muir, calling it a timely step to reverse nature decline and urging public bodies, businesses, farmers and citizens to submit their ideas.
Environment and climate Issue: Draft Northern Ireland Nature Recovery Strategy consultation Original release: Consultation on Nature Recovery Strategy a step in the right direction, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
-
Tackling poverty central to any effort to raise wellbeing standards, says Bradshaw
Alliance TEO spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says Northern Ireland wellbeing figures are encouraging overall but show persistent gaps for disabled people and those in deprived circumstances. She calls for early investment in healthcare, housing, education and mental health, and for the Executive…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Individual Wellbeing in Northern Ireland 2024 to 2025 report publication Original release: Tackling poverty central to any effort to raise wellbeing standards, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
-
Mournes must be protected for future generations – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard says the Mourne Mountains must be protected as visitor numbers rise, urging the Stormont Executive to grant regional asset status to secure sustainable investment and safeguard fragile habitats.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Rising visitor numbers to the Mourne Mountains Original release: Mournes must be protected for future generations – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
-
Beattie Slams AI Deepfake Menace in Schools
UUP Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA warns of AI misuse in schools after police opened a criminal investigation into boys at The Armagh Royal Academy over fake sexualised AI images of female pupils. He urges pupils who received such images to inform police or school authorities and not…
Justice and policing Education Issue: Armagh Royal Academy police investigation into AI-generated sexualised images of pupils Original release: Beattie Slams AI Deepfake Menace in Schools (opens in a new tab)
-
Independent Environmental Protection Agency - NOW!
Alliance says the DUP has blocked its plan for an independent Environmental Protection Agency at the Executive, citing Lough Neagh and the Mobuoy illegal dump, and calls on the UK and Irish governments to reform the system via a petition.
Environment and climate Issue: DUP blocks independent Environmental Protection Agency at Executive Original release: Independent Environmental Protection Agency - NOW! (opens in a new tab)
-
Delargy welcomes £2 million energy support for low-income households
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes over £2 million in extra Department for the Economy funding, announced by Minister Caoimhe Archibald, to cut energy bills for low-income households through insulation and efficiency measures for over 1,000 homes.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Department for the Economy £2 million NISEP energy-efficiency funding allocation Original release: Delargy welcomes £2 million energy support for low-income households (opens in a new tab)
-
New Structures Must Support Not Undermine the Controlled Sector
UUP education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA welcomes progress on proposals for a new statutory body to support the controlled sector, but warns against any 'nationalisation' perception and wants clarity on Christian ethos after the Supreme Court RE ruling.
Education Issue: Controlled sector statutory organisation proposals following consultation Original release: New Structures Must Support Not Undermine the Controlled Sector (opens in a new tab)
-
Minister must stop cherry-picking on school management reform, says Mathison, calling for creation of single managing authority for schools
Alliance Education spokesperson and Education Committee Chair Nick Mathison MLA says the Education Minister must stop cherry-picking from the Independent Review of Education on school management reform. He calls for a single managing authority for all schools, arguing the minister's proposals add…
Education Issue: Education Minister's statement on school management reform proposals Original release: Minister must stop cherry-picking on school management reform, says Mathison, calling for creation of single managing authority for schools (opens in a new tab)
-
Sinn Féin committed to unlocking full economic potential of the North West – Delargy
Foyle MLA Pádraig Delargy says a 22 per cent rise in Magee campus enrolments shows Sinn Féin's commitment to the North West's economy, citing growth to 6,500 students since 2024. He welcomes Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald's pledge to keep prioritising Magee and set up a working group on…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Magee Taskforce One Year Progress Report publication Original release: Sinn Féin committed to unlocking full economic potential of the North West – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
-
Teachers’ Pay Deal Welcome, But Workload and Budget Certainty Must Be Addressed
UUP Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA welcomes the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council decision to accept a 4% pay offer as fair. He calls for action on teacher workload and for a multi-year budget that keeps pace with inflation to give certainty.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NITC acceptance of 4% teachers' pay offer Original release: Teachers’ Pay Deal Welcome, But Workload and Budget Certainty Must Be Addressed (opens in a new tab)
-
Failure to transform education system and address service duplication represents historic budget mismanagement, says Mathison
Alliance’s Education spokesperson and Education Committee Chair, MLA Nick Mathison, says the Department of Education has overspent by hundreds of millions, added bureaucracy through the Controlled Schools Unit and TransformEd, and failed to transform schools or address estate duplication, urging a
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Education budget overspend and school estate duplication Original release: Failure to transform education system and address service duplication represents historic budget mismanagement, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
-
Teachers deserve fair pay and recognition – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes the agreement by unions securing a 4% pay award for teachers. He says pay alone will not ease workload pressures and declining morale, and calls for meaningful action on workload and proper investment in education.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NITC acceptance of 4% teachers' pay offer Original release: Teachers deserve fair pay and recognition – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
-
Fairness in public appointments must be restored - Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell, after tabling a Commons motion, says public appointments must be fair to every community, citing Protestant under-representation in the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and alleged intimidation deterring Catholic recruits to the PSNI, and urges nationalist parties to…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Commons motion on public appointments and community representation in public bodies Original release: Fairness in public appointments must be restored - Campbell (opens in a new tab)
-
New mothers experiencing serious mental illness deserve specialist support – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn urges the Health Minister to keep prioritising a Mother and Baby Unit in the North, welcoming a £4 million cut in its estimated cost and calling for it to be set up without delay.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Mother and Baby Mental Health Unit £4 million cost reduction Original release: New mothers experiencing serious mental illness deserve specialist support – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
-
Givan welcomes agreement on teachers’ pay
The DUP says Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council's acceptance of a 4% teacher pay offer, matching England and Wales, with graduate starting salaries rising to £32,916. He also commits to responding to the teacher workload review within weeks.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NITC acceptance of 4% teachers' pay offer Original release: Givan welcomes agreement on teachers’ pay (opens in a new tab)
-
Teacher pay deal welcome but action still needed on working conditions, says Mathison
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA welcomes the acceptance of the 2025/26 teacher pay offer by the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council, but calls on the Education Minister to set out how he will manage pay pressures and to act on workload and working conditions.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NITC acceptance of 4% teachers' pay offer Original release: Teacher pay deal welcome but action still needed on working conditions, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
-
North Down TUV demands accountability from local council
TUV North Down chairman Peter Wilson accuses Ards and North Down Council of poor governance after it funded a first-time Fleadh Fringe event in Bangor alongside the Ulster Pipe Band Championships. He says a formal complaint has been lodged, demands an Equality Impact Assessment, and questions why…
Local government Public finance and taxation Issue: Fleadh Fringe event in Bangor clashing with Ulster Pipe Band Championships Original release: North Down TUV demands accountability from local council (opens in a new tab)
-
Hanna calls for recognition of TG4 in Northern Ireland
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP backs a campaign by Foras na Gaeilge for TG4 to gain formal status as a public broadcaster in the North and move to Freeview Channel 8. She welcomes Minister Ian Murray's pledge to examine the issue but says progress must come soon.
Disability and equality Issue: Foras na Gaeilge campaign for TG4 recognition and Freeview Channel 8 placement Original release: Hanna calls for recognition of TG4 in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
-
Farmers Need Action, Not Speeches, to Restore Confidence says Butler
UUP Deputy Leader Robbie Butler MLA says Minister Andrew Muir's Oxford Farming Conference address offered warm words but not the action needed to restore farmers' confidence. He calls for concrete progress on bovine TB, ammonia regulation and farm transfer, rather than pilots and timelines.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Minister Andrew Muir's Oxford Farming Conference address Original release: Farmers Need Action, Not Speeches, to Restore Confidence says Butler (opens in a new tab)
-
Action to deliver better outcomes for women’s health is urgently needed – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Health Minister to urgently set out a dedicated women's health plan, citing rising gynaecology waiting lists and long delays for women and girls with endometriosis. She urges specialist services with clear diagnosis and treatment targets.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Action to deliver better outcomes for women’s health is urgently needed – Dillon (opens in a new tab)