Latest releases
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1,464 releases
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Education Minister's attacks on SEN pupils and education staff a new low - Gerry Carroll MLA
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll accuses the Education Minister and Education Authority of shifting blame for a shortage of SEN school places onto schools. He calls for them to listen to families and education unions and reverse their decision.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority reports 160+ SEN children awaiting school places Original release: Education Minister's attacks on SEN pupils and education staff a new low - Gerry Carroll MLA (opens in a new tab)
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British government should scrap ‘shameful’ welfare cuts – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges the British government to scrap its proposed welfare reforms, which he says would remove support disabled people need to enter or stay in work and could affect carers allowance. He made the call after the party submitted its consultation response.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: British government welfare reform consultation Sinn Féin response Original release: British government should scrap ‘shameful’ welfare cuts – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Supreme Court ruling must be implemented - Lockhart
DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart says she is deeply disappointed by the Equality Commission's response to the Supreme Court judgment on what counts as a woman, arguing it casts doubt on implementing the ruling. She calls on the Government to make clear that EU law does not bind the decision.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Equality Commission response to Supreme Court sex-based protections judgment Original release: Supreme Court ruling must be implemented - Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Windsor Framework Used to Force Radical Gender Policies on Northern Ireland
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has abandoned its impartial role by publishing guidance on sex and gender reassignment under Article 2 of the Windsor Framework. He calls for the UK government to challenge Article 2 and says the Protocol must go.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Equality Commission guidance on sex and gender reassignment under Windsor Framework Article 2 Original release: Windsor Framework Used to Force Radical Gender Policies on Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Leader cautiously welcomes Equality Commission way forward following Supreme Court judgment
Green Party Leader Mal O'Hara welcomes the Equality Commission's announcement on its proposed pathway after the Supreme Court judgment, calling it a constructive step giving legal clarity. He says the Supreme Court failed to resolve Northern Ireland's distinct legal position and that the Green…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Equality Commission response to Supreme Court sex-based protections judgment Original release: Green Party Leader cautiously welcomes Equality Commission way forward following Supreme Court judgment (opens in a new tab)
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Lack of synchronisation threatens the future of people with disabilities, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong calls for a joint meeting of the Departments for Communities and the Economy to improve disability employment rates, citing a 38.7% disability employment rate against 54.4% in the UK. She highlights Supported Employment from the Mind the Gap report and warns that…
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: Mind the Gap Summit disability employment and Supported Employment report Original release: Lack of synchronisation threatens the future of people with disabilities, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Crisis at EA cannot continue
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA says the Education Authority's crisis cannot continue after it revealed around 164 pupils with special educational needs lack a school place for next year. She opposes instructing mainstream schools to take them, arguing some need dedicated…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority reports 160+ SEN children awaiting school places Original release: Hunter: Crisis at EA cannot continue (opens in a new tab)
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‘Education Minister must appear before Assembly to explain handling of SEN placements’ – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker seeks an Urgent Oral Question so the Education Minister must answer in the Assembly on the handling of school placements for children with special educational needs. He says up to 160 such children still lack a confirmed place for the 2025/26 year.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special educational needs school placement shortfall for 2025/26 academic year Original release: ‘Education Minister must appear before Assembly to explain handling of SEN placements’ – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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We’re standing up for the vulnerable as Sinn Fein stand outside -…
DUP MP Gregory Campbell criticises Sinn Féin MPs for not taking their Commons seats ahead of a vote on Labour welfare cuts, saying they will abstain and fail vulnerable constituents while DUP MPs will back an amendment to challenge the plans.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Commons vote on Labour welfare cuts amendment Original release: We’re standing up for the vulnerable as Sinn Fein stand outside -… (opens in a new tab)
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British government must reverse proposed welfare cuts – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges the UK government to halt its planned welfare cuts, following a joint letter from the Communities Committees in the North, Wales and Scotland raising concerns about the measures. He argues money for military spending should instead fund employment support and…
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Proposed UK welfare cuts for sick and disabled people Original release: British government must reverse proposed welfare cuts – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Women are being failed - data on sex is not being collected making ending violence against women and girls nothing more than a slogan – Beattie
UUP justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA says the failure to collect data on biological sex undermines efforts to end violence against women and girls. He says the PSNI and other departments are not recording victims' or perpetrators' sex for sexual offences, and calls for correct collection…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Independent Review of Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender Original release: Women are being failed - data on sex is not being collected making ending violence against women and girls nothing more than a slogan – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister should ensure all schools play their part in providing SEN placements – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to ensure all schools, including grammar schools, provide special educational needs placements. He says non-selective schools have carried most of the load and calls for a new approach, and has called for a committee inquiry into the issue.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Education Minister should ensure all schools play their part in providing SEN placements – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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British government’s warfare over welfare agenda harming workers and families – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard criticises the British government's plan to buy 12 new F-35A fighter jets, which he says are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, and argues the spending comes while welfare, frontline services and farms face cuts. He calls for a united Ireland.
International affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: British government purchase of 12 F-35A fighter jets Original release: British government’s warfare over welfare agenda harming workers and families – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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Crisis response from the Education Minister needed on SEN school placements, say Guy and Mathison
Alliance MLAs Michelle Guy and Nick Mathison say the Education Minister must explore all options to resolve the special educational needs placement crisis, after the Education Authority reported over 160 children still lack confirmed school places for next year.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority reports 160+ SEN children awaiting school places Original release: Crisis response from the Education Minister needed on SEN school placements, say Guy and Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin introduce bill to end RTÉ’s second-class treatment of audiences in north – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes welcomes a new Sinn Féin bill, introduced by TDs Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Joanna Byrne, to end RTÉ geo-blocking and the exclusion of northern audiences from its competitions. He says the bill would require broadcasters to make reasonable efforts and would ask Coimisiún na…
Disability and equality Issue: Broadcasting (All Ireland Service) Bill first-stage Dáil introduction Original release: Sinn Féin introduce bill to end RTÉ’s second-class treatment of audiences in north – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin to introduce bill to end second-class treatment of audiences in North by RTÉ – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD & Joanna Byrne TD
Sinn Féin TDs Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Joanna Byrne say they have been given leave to introduce a first-stage Dáil bill requiring RTÉ to end the exclusion of Six County audiences from its services, including geo-blocking and audience competitions.
Disability and equality Issue: Broadcasting (All Ireland Service) Bill first-stage Dáil introduction Original release: Sinn Féin to introduce bill to end second-class treatment of audiences in North by RTÉ – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD & Joanna Byrne TD (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP stands against Welfare Bill
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP backs two reasoned amendments, signed with Colum Eastwood, to block the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill at its Commons Second Reading. She warns the welfare reforms will push hundreds of thousands into poverty, hitting Northern Ireland hardest…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill Commons Second Reading Original release: SDLP stands against Welfare Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Education system continues to fail vulnerable young SEN people and their families, say Mathison and Guy
Alliance MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy say the education system is failing vulnerable SEN children, pointing to poor communication, delayed statements and over 150 pupils still without school places, and call for a radical overhaul and cross‑departmental legislation to secure post‑19 pathways.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Equity in Education event reveals SEN support failures Original release: Education system continues to fail vulnerable young SEN people and their families, say Mathison and Guy (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP condemns ‘appalling and disturbing’ attack on Belfast Islamic Centre
SDLP MPs and MLAs Claire Hanna and Matthew O'Toole condemn an attack on the Belfast Islamic Centre, where a device was thrown through a window during prayers. They call for consistent political leadership against hate and for the Executive to deliver its anti-racism and integration strategies.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Attack on Belfast Islamic Centre while people inside Original release: SDLP condemns ‘appalling and disturbing’ attack on Belfast Islamic Centre (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin welcomes new legislation on spiking but urges further action to protect women
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin welcomes the Justice Minister's move to bring forward a Legislative Consent Motion making drink spiking an offence in its own right, and calls for licensed venues to be required to supply testing kits.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Assembly approval of anti-spiking legislative consent motion Original release: McLaughlin welcomes new legislation on spiking but urges further action to protect women (opens in a new tab)