Latest releases
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11,735 releases
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Bradshaw welcomes Executive commitment to combatting forced marriage.
Alliance TEO spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes the Finance Minister's assurance that Executive agreement has been secured to extend the forced marriage offence to arranging marriages of under-18s. She calls for the related legislation to be brought before the Assembly in coming months.
Disability and equality Issue: Finance Minister's assurance on forced marriage offence extension in Assembly Original release: Bradshaw welcomes Executive commitment to combatting forced marriage. (opens in a new tab)
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Education Department can do more to prevent bullying and support those experiencing it, says Guy.
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA says the Department of Education lacks data on bullying, including how many schools lack anti-bullying policies, and calls for anonymous incident reporting to inform tailored support. Her remarks follow reports that a Belfast school failed to…
Education Issue: Belfast school trip safeguarding failure reports and bullying oversight Original release: Education Department can do more to prevent bullying and support those experiencing it, says Guy. (opens in a new tab)
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Blair welcomes progress to help tackle Bovine TB
Alliance spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes progress on Bovine TB, including the Chief Veterinary Officer's review with nearly 40 proposals and a new bTB Partnership Steering Group due to publish a delivery plan by end March. He says Alliance's position favours better use of test, vaccinate and…
Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Chief Veterinary Officer's bovine TB review and new steering group Original release: Blair welcomes progress to help tackle Bovine TB (opens in a new tab)
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Cultural shift needed to end gender-based violence, says Egan, welcoming launch of Power to Change campaign.
Alliance Justice spokesperson Connie Egan MLA welcomes the PSNI, Department of Justice and Executive Office 'Power to Change' campaign, saying society must change its culture to end gender-based violence. She says men and boys have a crucial role in challenging harmful attitudes and intervening…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI 'Power to Change' gender-based violence campaign launch Original release: Cultural shift needed to end gender-based violence, says Egan, welcoming launch of Power to Change campaign. (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Disgraceful that winter fuel support won’t be paid until the end of March
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan criticises the delay in paying the £100 one-off winter fuel support to pensioner households who missed out on the Winter Fuel Payment, now not expected until late March. He says the Communities Minister's timeline contradicts earlier assurances and calls for long-term fuel…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Winter fuel payment delay for pensioner households missing out Original release: Durkan: Disgraceful that winter fuel support won’t be paid until the end of March (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Executive parties saying one thing and doing another on gambling
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA accuses Executive parties of contradicting themselves on gambling harm, citing a regulation raising betting stakes and prizes in registered clubs passed the same day as a motion on tackling gambling harm. He calls for a commitment to legislation…
Health Issue: Gaming (Variation of Monetary Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 approval Original release: O’Toole: Executive parties saying one thing and doing another on gambling (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan offers support to Omagh bombing families
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan pledges full support for the Omagh bombing families, saying he attended the opening day of the public inquiry on Tuesday to stand with them ahead of the 30th anniversary of the attack.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Omagh Bombing Inquiry opening of initial stage Original release: McCrossan offers support to Omagh bombing families (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna welcomes Chancellor’s commitment to reset relations with EU
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes Chancellor Rachel Reeves's commitment to reset UK-EU relations and her announced review of the Green Book. She says a closer UK-Europe relationship would end the Windsor Framework debate, and calls on the Executive to direct growth strategy funding to health…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Chancellor Rachel Reeves economic growth speech on EU reset Original release: Hanna welcomes Chancellor’s commitment to reset relations with EU (opens in a new tab)
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BT must protect as many jobs as possible – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane urges BT to safeguard as many Belfast headquarters roles as it can, after reports that up to 90 positions may face redundancy, and says he will write to the company asking it to work with unions and offer retraining for any staff let go.
Economy and employment Issue: Potential redundancy of 90 BT Belfast headquarters jobs Original release: BT must protect as many jobs as possible – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Simon Harris’ comments on Irish Unity deeply disappointing – Matt Carthy TD
Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy says Simon Harris’s remarks that Irish Unity is not a priority are deeply disappointing and warns Sinn Féin will strongly challenge any move to delay the issue, urging a referendum by the end of the decade.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Simon Harris says Irish Unity not a priority Original release: Simon Harris’ comments on Irish Unity deeply disappointing – Matt Carthy TD (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan welcomes passing of motion calling for gambling addiction services
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan welcomes a cross-party Assembly motion on a health-led approach to gambling harm and urges the health department to draw up a plan for gambling support services, integrated into mental health and suicide prevention strategies.
Health Issue: Assembly motion calling for health-led approach to gambling harm Original release: McGuigan welcomes passing of motion calling for gambling addiction services (opens in a new tab)
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Rose Conway-Walsh appointed Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh, newly appointed spokesperson on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, says she will hold the Government to account and calls for immediate examination of business losses from Storm Éowyn and supports for affected firms.
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Issue: Rose Conway-Walsh appointed Sinn Féin enterprise spokesperson Original release: Rose Conway-Walsh appointed Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister levels the playing field in housing allocation
DUP MLA Cheryl Brownlee welcomes the Communities Minister Gordon Lyons' decision to scrap intimidation points in the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's Housing Selection Scheme, arguing victims of domestic abuse have been unfairly scored lower.
Housing Disability and equality Issue: Removal of Housing Executive intimidation points Original release: Communities Minister levels the playing field in housing allocation (opens in a new tab)
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Finance Minister must explain rise in agency worker cost - Forsythe
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe says the Finance Minister must explain a £127.5 million rise in the NICS agency worker framework cost, now over £552.5 million, and why substantive posts, with some 3,500 vacancies reported, have not been prioritised.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: NICS agency worker framework cost rise to £552.5 million Original release: Finance Minister must explain rise in agency worker cost - Forsythe (opens in a new tab)
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Removal of Housing Executive Intimidation Points will put lives at risk
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says the Communities Minister's decision to remove Housing Executive intimidation points will put lives at risk, arguing it leaves victims of threats and sectarian, racist or homophobic attacks without priority for permanent homes. He instead calls for…
Housing Disability and equality Issue: Removal of Housing Executive intimidation points Original release: Removal of Housing Executive Intimidation Points will put lives at risk (opens in a new tab)
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‘Omagh families deserve full transparency and disclosure’ – Brogan
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan offers continued support and solidarity to victims and families of the Omagh bomb as the Omagh Bombing Inquiry opens its initial stage. She calls for full transparency and disclosure for grieving families and says she hopes the inquiry will deliver truth.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Omagh Bombing Inquiry opening of initial stage Original release: ‘Omagh families deserve full transparency and disclosure’ – Brogan (opens in a new tab)
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‘£45 million regional balance funding will help to build a fairer economy’ – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes Economy Minister Conor Murphy's £45 million allocation to boost regional balance, saying it will support local councils and jobs in Derry, which he claims was neglected in past investment.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: £45 million Regional Balance Fund allocation by Economy Minister Original release: ‘£45 million regional balance funding will help to build a fairer economy’ – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins welcomes pay deal for resident doctors
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins welcomes the pay deal reached between the health department and the British Medical Association for resident doctors, calling it recognition of their work and urging joint effort on wider health service pressures.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Resident doctors pay deal with BMA welcomed by Sinn Féin Original release: Kimmins welcomes pay deal for resident doctors (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds calls for further details on tens of millions for professional…
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA calls for further details after revealing over £29 million has been paid in professional fees for the Children's Hospital before construction has begun, noting this is over three times the fees for the completed Maternity Hospital.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Children's Hospital professional fees spending figures Original release: Dodds calls for further details on tens of millions for professional… (opens in a new tab)
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Nesbitt calls on Irish Government to address legacy failings.
UUP leader Mike Nesbitt MLA says he told the Irish Tánaiste the Government of Ireland must step up on legacy and that political agreement is needed on the meaning of reconciliation. He also calls for full disclosure of information to the Omagh bomb inquiry, which he says the Tánaiste assured him…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Omagh bomb inquiry victims' stories hearings and Irish Government cooperation Original release: Nesbitt calls on Irish Government to address legacy failings. (opens in a new tab)