Latest releases
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1,982 releases
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Gildernew welcomes Health Minister’s commitment to visit Dungannon respite facility
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Health Minister's commitment to visit Woodlawn House in Dungannon after an Assembly debate he tabled on respite care. He says families have reported planned respite cancelled at short notice and calls for timely, well-planned services.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Woodlawn House Dungannon respite facility Assembly debate Original release: Gildernew welcomes Health Minister’s commitment to visit Dungannon respite facility (opens in a new tab)
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‘Tackling child poverty must be a priority for all parties’ – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says parties must work together on child poverty and calls on the DUP Communities Minister to strengthen the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy after its consultation closed. He also promotes his planned legislation placing a legal duty on education bodies to make holiday…
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Assembly motion on child poverty and draft Anti-Poverty Strategy Original release: ‘Tackling child poverty must be a priority for all parties’ – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Finnegan raises concern over discovery of Asian hornet nest
Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan expresses concern after an Asian hornet nest was found, the first confirmed sighting of the species in the north. She welcomes the Environment Agency's response and urges the public to report suspected sightings or nests.
Environment and climate Issue: Asian hornet nest discovery in Northern Ireland Original release: Finnegan raises concern over discovery of Asian hornet nest (opens in a new tab)
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Job of Assembly to grasp opportunities to improve people’s lives – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the Executive's 2025–26 Legislation Programme, backing the Racial Equality Bill and the 'Good Jobs' Employment Rights Bill, which he says will protect vulnerable workers and be introduced by Minister Caoimhe Archibald next year.
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Executive 2025–26 Legislation Programme and 'Good Jobs' Employment Rights Bill Original release: Job of Assembly to grasp opportunities to improve people’s lives – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: DUP motion on Irish Language signage "deeply cynical and divisive"
SDLP Irish Language Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA says the DUP’s motion to scrap Belfast City Council’s bilingual street‑sign policy is a deeply cynical, divisive attempt to use the Irish language as a political football and stir up community tensions.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: McGlone: DUP motion on Irish Language signage "deeply cynical and divisive" (opens in a new tab)
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Abolish two child benefit cap once and for all, say Alliance representatives
Alliance MPs Sorcha Eastwood and MLA Sian Mulholland call for the UK Government and NI Communities Minister to abolish the two child benefit cap, ahead of an Assembly child poverty debate. Mulholland says she will ask Communities Minister Gordon Lyons about talks with the Department for Work and…
Social security and welfare Original release: Abolish two child benefit cap once and for all, say Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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‘We must continue working to deliver on the rights of Gaeilgeoirí’ – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says Belfast City Council's dual-language street sign policy protects minority languages and follows international best practice, after a DUP Assembly motion seeking its replacement was defeated. He cites new Conradh na Gaeilge figures showing broad public support.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: ‘We must continue working to deliver on the rights of Gaeilgeoirí’ – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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New figures prove Belfast’s bilingual signage policy enjoys widespread support – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes Conradh na Gaeilge survey data finding that only 2.9% of residents on 536 approved streets opposed bilingual signage in Belfast. He points to the DUP's Assembly motion seeking to condemn the policy.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: New figures prove Belfast’s bilingual signage policy enjoys widespread support – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance calls on DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approach to Irish language
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister questions why the DUP brought a Belfast City Council Irish language signage motion to the Assembly, which Alliance opposed. She says Stormont should focus on health and education, and calls on the DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approaches.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: Alliance calls on DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approach to Irish language (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister leaving parents in limbo following withdrawal of nursing support for special educational needs children, says Mathison
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says the Health Minister has left parents and special school staff in limbo after a review into nursing provision in special schools gave no clarity. He urges urgent answers and calls for full nursing provision to be reinstated.
Health Education Issue: Health Minister's review on nursing provision in special schools Original release: Health Minister leaving parents in limbo following withdrawal of nursing support for special educational needs children, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Wildfires framework a milestone for the Mournes, says McMurray
Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray welcomes DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's newly launched framework on wildfires, which follows this year's fires in the Mournes and Sperrins. He backs its focus on prevention, enforcement and peatland restoration, while saying more work remains.
Environment and climate Issue: DAERA wildfire strategic framework launch Original release: Wildfires framework a milestone for the Mournes, says McMurray (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan demands action on household heating costs and damp homes
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan calls for urgent action on fuel poverty, energy efficiency and damp in homes after an Assembly motion on household energy costs. He cites 40,000 damp reports to the Housing Executive and only 24% of Affordable Warmth Scheme applicants receiving support in 2023/24.
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Assembly motion on reducing household energy costs Original release: Durkan demands action on household heating costs and damp homes (opens in a new tab)
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Bower welcomes passing of motion encouraging more community orchards in Belfast
Alliance Belfast City Councillor Christine Bower welcomes council's passing of her motion urging Belfast to develop community orchards, citing food access, local resilience and green space, and calls for council to back their creation with local groups and families.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Belfast City Council motion on community orchards passed Original release: Bower welcomes passing of motion encouraging more community orchards in Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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Justice System Failing Victims of Violence Against Women says Beattie
UUP Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA says non-fatal strangulation cases are handled inadequately, citing 2023-24 figures showing 329 of 344 prosecutions heard in the Magistrates' Court and only 28 prison sentences, and calls for sentences that deter.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Non-fatal strangulation prosecutions and sentencing figures 2023-2024 Original release: Justice System Failing Victims of Violence Against Women says Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw demands clarity on Language Commissioner appointments
Alliance Executive Office Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw, also South Belfast MLA, demands urgent clarity from the First and deputy First Minister on Identity and Language Commissioner appointments, as publicised appointees have not received confirmation after resigning from their current jobs.
Disability and equality Issue: Identity and Language Act Commissioner appointments delay Original release: Bradshaw demands clarity on Language Commissioner appointments (opens in a new tab)
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Consultation on Disability and Work strategy launched by Minister…
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons outlines a Disability and Work Strategy aiming to bring 50,000 more people into the workforce over ten years, launching a 12-week public consultation running to 12 January 2026. The strategy proposes a Disability and Work Council and four themes including…
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: Disability and Work Strategy public consultation launch Original release: Consultation on Disability and Work strategy launched by Minister… (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan calls for joined-up approach between Ministers on Disability and Work Strategy
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA welcomes the draft Disability and Work Strategy but says it will only succeed with concrete commitments on community rehabilitation access. He calls for the Department of Health to publish its Community Rehabilitation Framework alongside the strategy…
Disability and equality Health Issue: Disability and Work Strategy public consultation launch Original release: Durkan calls for joined-up approach between Ministers on Disability and Work Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Minister must take action to reduce energy costs and tackle fuel poverty urgently, says Armstrong
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA urges the Communities Minister to set out plans for social housing built to higher energy efficiency and renewable integration standards, ahead of an Assembly motion on the issue tomorrow, to cut household energy costs and fuel poverty.
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Alliance Assembly motion on higher energy efficiency standards for social housing Original release: Minister must take action to reduce energy costs and tackle fuel poverty urgently, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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De Faoite condemns threats to council vehicles
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Councillor Séamas de Faoite condemns reported loyalist paramilitary plans to attack council vehicles bearing Irish language signage, saying paramilitaries should not exist. He defends the council's Irish language policy and pledges SDLP cooperation with…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Loyalist paramilitary threats to Belfast City Council facilities Original release: De Faoite condemns threats to council vehicles (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Minister faces uphill battle to establish independent EPA
SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan says the Environment Minister faces an uphill battle to set up an independent Environmental Protection Agency, and his party will table an Opposition Day motion next week urging parties to back it. He says delays have cut the time left before the mandate ends.
Environment and climate Issue: Minister's Executive push for independent Environmental Protection Agency Original release: McCrossan: Minister faces uphill battle to establish independent EPA (opens in a new tab)