Latest releases
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1,464 releases
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Communities Minister Lyons confirms Winter Fuel Payment for Northern…
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons confirms that all Northern Ireland pensioners will receive the Winter Fuel Payment after the UK government reversed eligibility restrictions, with legislation expected by end‑ July and warnings about scams.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Starmer announcement widening Winter Fuel Payment eligibility Original release: Communities Minister Lyons confirms Winter Fuel Payment for Northern… (opens in a new tab)
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Buchanan urges groups to apply for Ulster-Scots Music & Dance funding
Mid Ulster DUP MLA Keith Buchanan welcomes the Ulster-Scots Agency's new music and dance tuition funding scheme and urges eligible groups to apply, saying it will help pass these traditions on to younger generations.
Disability and equality Issue: Ulster-Scots Agency music and dance tuition funding programme launch Original release: Buchanan urges groups to apply for Ulster-Scots Music & Dance funding (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan welcomes confirmation of winter fuel payments
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan welcomes the Communities Minister's confirmation that older people in the North will get winter fuel payments after a UK Government U-turn. He urges clear rollout communication, warns of scams and calls for a stronger anti-poverty strategy.
Social security and welfare Issue: UK government Winter Fuel Payment U-turn for pensioners with incomes under £35,000 Original release: McCrossan welcomes confirmation of winter fuel payments (opens in a new tab)
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Wilson welcomes winter fuel u-turn
DUP MP Sammy Wilson welcomes the Government's reversal on winter fuel payments and says it will relieve poorer pensioners, but questions why the original decision was taken. He says the reversal's stated economic justification does not hold up.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: UK government Winter Fuel Payment U-turn for pensioners with incomes under £35,000 Original release: Wilson welcomes winter fuel u-turn (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister welcomes government u-turn on winter fuel…
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons welcomes the UK government's U-turn restoring Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners with incomes up to £35,000 and says he will press Executive colleagues to match the support in Northern Ireland. He says officials are working with the Department for Work and…
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: UK government Winter Fuel Payment U-turn for pensioners with incomes under £35,000 Original release: Communities Minister welcomes government u-turn on winter fuel… (opens in a new tab)
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Government must act now to better protect women and girls - Frew
DUP MLA for North Antrim Paul Frew calls on the Government to act urgently to protect women and girls, citing two recent serious sexual assaults on teenage girls in Ballymena. He urges the PSNI and statutory agencies to address challenges in Houses of Multiple Occupation and illegal immigration.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Ballymena sexual assaults on teenage girls Original release: Government must act now to better protect women and girls - Frew (opens in a new tab)
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NI pensioners mustn’t be left behind, says Mulholland, following UK Govt winter fuel payment U-turn
Alliance Communities spokesperson and North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland welcomes the UK Government's winter fuel payment U-turn and calls on the Communities Minister to explore a comparable uplift for Northern Ireland pensioners, having submitted a written question on his plans.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: UK government Winter Fuel Payment U-turn for pensioners with incomes under £35,000 Original release: NI pensioners mustn’t be left behind, says Mulholland, following UK Govt winter fuel payment U-turn (opens in a new tab)
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UK Gov must reverse damaging welfare cuts and deliver fairer funding for public services, says Tennyson
Alliance Finance spokesperson Eóin Tennyson MLA calls on the UK Government to reverse welfare cuts ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves's Spending Review, citing winter fuel payment restrictions and the two-child benefit cap. He also calls for guaranteed fair funding for Northern Ireland's public…
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: UK Spending Review announcement on welfare and public service funding Original release: UK Gov must reverse damaging welfare cuts and deliver fairer funding for public services, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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TUV question if Stonewall played a role in NICS attendance at Belfast Pride
TUV Equality Spokeswoman Ann McClure questions whether fear of falling in Stonewall's equality index influenced the Northern Ireland Civil Service's participation in Belfast Pride, and says TUV will table an Assembly question and submit a Freedom of Information request on the decision.
Disability and equality Issue: NICS participation in Belfast Pride 2025 and Stonewall links Original release: TUV question if Stonewall played a role in NICS attendance at Belfast Pride (opens in a new tab)
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Amanda Grehan officially installed as first female Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council
Alliance Alderman Amanda Grehan has been installed as Lisburn and Castlereagh's inaugural woman mayor, pledging inclusive leadership and naming Action Cancer as her mayoral charity, with an inclusivity-for-disabilities theme for her year.
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Amanda Grehan installed as Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Original release: Amanda Grehan officially installed as first female Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (opens in a new tab)
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Buchanan questions PSNI on impact of Supreme Court Ruling on gender
DUP Mid Ulster MLA Keith Buchanan says the PSNI must urgently review its policies and practices, including strip searching and stop and search, following the Supreme Court ruling on sex-based protections. He says it should not wait for Equality Commission advice before acting.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Supreme Court ruling on gender and PSNI policy implications Original release: Buchanan questions PSNI on impact of Supreme Court Ruling on gender (opens in a new tab)
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Catney welcomes approval for Frederick Douglass commemoration
SDLP Lisburn North councillor Pat Catney welcomes council backing for a commemoration to abolitionist Frederick Douglass, including a £25,000 stained-glass memorial window at Lisburn First Presbyterian Church. The window would also honour two other abolitionists who spoke locally in the mid-1800s…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Lisburn council approval of Frederick Douglass commemoration window Original release: Catney welcomes approval for Frederick Douglass commemoration (opens in a new tab)
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Finn proposes rainbow crossing to celebrate Newry’s LGBT+ community
SDLP Newry councillor Doire Finn calls on Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to add a rainbow crossing to planned repairs at the Sugar Island zebra crossing in Newry city centre, or consider another site, as a show of support for the local LGBT+ community.
Disability and equality Local government Original release: Finn proposes rainbow crossing to celebrate Newry’s LGBT+ community (opens in a new tab)
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Clarity needed on Labour’s winter fuel U-turn – Shannon
DUP MP for Strangford Jim Shannon welcomes the Government's U-turn reinstating winter fuel payments for some pensioners this winter, and calls on it to spell out who will qualify and when. He says the Government has not explained how eligibility will be decided.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Starmer announcement widening Winter Fuel Payment eligibility Original release: Clarity needed on Labour’s winter fuel U-turn – Shannon (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty: Rise in child poverty demands urgent Executive response
SDLP Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Paul Doherty says rising child poverty across the North demands an urgent Executive response after new data showed rates worse than a decade ago, with 32.9% of children in West Belfast living in poverty. He blames the Executive for not tackling it…
Social security and welfare Issue: New child poverty data showing rise across the North Original release: Doherty: Rise in child poverty demands urgent Executive response (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Political failure denying mothers and babies care they need
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin calls for urgent funding to create Northern Ireland’s first specialist Mother and Baby Unit, saying the continued reliance on general psychiatric wards separates mothers from infants and reflects a broader failure to prioritise women’s health.
Health Disability and equality Original release: McLaughlin: Political failure denying mothers and babies care they need (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party NI Slams Delay on Safe Leave for Domestic Abuse Victims
Green Party Councillor for Holywood & Clandeboye Lauren Kendall says the delay in bringing in Safe Leave for domestic abuse victims is unacceptable, noting regulations may not be in place until late 2026. She calls on the Economy Minister to act urgently on the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Act.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) regulations delay until late 2026 Original release: Green Party NI Slams Delay on Safe Leave for Domestic Abuse Victims (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Councillor, Leah Kirkpatrick, becomes first-ever female Antrim and Newtownabbey Mayor
The Ulster Unionist Party announces that councillor Leah Kirkpatrick will become Antrim and Newtownabbey's first woman mayor, succeeding a run of ten men since the 2015 super council was formed. Alderman Mark Cosgrove and South Antrim MLA Steve Aiken praise her record on accessibility and…
Local government Disability and equality Original release: Ulster Unionist Councillor, Leah Kirkpatrick, becomes first-ever female Antrim and Newtownabbey Mayor (opens in a new tab)
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Gillian McCollum and Vicky Moore selected as Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Ards and North Down
Alliance Councillors Gillian McCollum and Vicky Moore say they have been appointed Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Ards and North Down for 2025/26, pledging to promote belonging, support families with learning disabilities, tackle the mental‑health crisis, end violence against women and girls, fightpover
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Appointment of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Ards and North Down Original release: Gillian McCollum and Vicky Moore selected as Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Ards and North Down (opens in a new tab)
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Richard Stewart announced as Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
Alliance Causeway Councillor Richard Stewart says he will become Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, making him the first openly gay person to take that role in the Council's history. He says he hopes the appointment signals that everyone has a place in public life.
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Richard Stewart appointed Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Original release: Richard Stewart announced as Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council (opens in a new tab)