Latest releases
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2,513 releases
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Allister blasts RE judgement and calls on Education Minister to protect the Christian ethos in schools
TUV MP Jim Allister criticises a recent judgement on Religious Education, rejecting the term 'indoctrination' for Christian teaching in schools and claiming it favours non-Christian parents' rights over Christian parents'. He calls on the Education Minister to set out immediately how Christian…
Education Issue: Judgement on Religious Education and Christian teaching in schools Original release: Allister blasts RE judgement and calls on Education Minister to protect the Christian ethos in schools (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna welcomes partnership between QUB and DkIT
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes a new partnership between Queen's University Belfast and Dundalk Institute of Technology, set to start next year, which she says will boost cross-border research and create student opportunities across the island.
Education Issue: Queen’s‑Dundalk all‑island university college partnership Original release: Hanna welcomes partnership between QUB and DkIT (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Clarity not culture war needed following Supreme Court ruling on religious education
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter calls for the Education Minister to issue legally sound guidance to schools, staff, pupils and families on what the Supreme Court ruling on Religious Education means. She says religion is not being removed from schools and criticises some for…
Education Issue: Supreme Court ruling on mandatory Christian worship in NI schools Original release: Hunter: Clarity not culture war needed following Supreme Court ruling on religious education (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party Comments on Supreme Court Ruling on Religious Education
UUP education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA urges the Department of Education to quickly issue interim guidance to schools and parents on the scope of the Supreme Court decision on religious instruction and collective worship. He says the judgment is lengthy and complex, and warns it could…
Education Issue: Supreme Court ruling on mandatory Christian worship in NI schools Original release: Ulster Unionist Party Comments on Supreme Court Ruling on Religious Education (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must provide guidance for schools following Supreme Court judgement, says Mathison
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA urges the Education Minister to issue guidance for schools on religious education following the Supreme Court ruling that current RE provision is not critical, objective or pluralistic. He says the aim is inclusive schools that respect both…
Education Issue: Judgement on Religious Education and Christian teaching in schools Original release: Education Minister must provide guidance for schools following Supreme Court judgement, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Allister meets RNIB in Westminster
TUV MP Jim Allister thanks the RNIB after a Westminster meeting, praising its vision rehabilitation teams and guide dog work, and cites local figures of about 3,470 people in North Antrim with sight loss and roughly 130 new cases each year.
Disability and equality Health Original release: Allister meets RNIB in Westminster (opens in a new tab)
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Reilly writes to Translink after Coláiste Feirste pupils refused entry to bus
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly asks Translink to investigate after three Coláiste Feirste pupils were reportedly turned away from the 106 Ulsterbus service from Crumlin to Belfast. She says the reason given was false and warns the incident could endanger pupils.
Infrastructure and transport Education Issue: Coláiste Feirste pupils refused entry to 106 Ulsterbus from Crumlin Original release: Reilly writes to Translink after Coláiste Feirste pupils refused entry to bus (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter criticises EA's handling of Sandelford School repairs
SDLP MLA Cara Hunter criticises the Education Authority over its handling of repairs at Sandelford School in Coleraine, where deteriorating classrooms and unsuitable mobile units have disrupted pupils with complex needs. She calls for faster repairs, clearer communication and a commitment that…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Sandelford School Coleraine classroom repairs and mobile unit closures Original release: Hunter criticises EA's handling of Sandelford School repairs (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter concerned at lack of Access NI checks in special needs schools
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA expresses concern that 353 special needs school support staff posts were filled without Access NI checks, according to an FOI response from Unite. She calls on the Education Minister to urgently set out plans to end temporary engagement forms…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Access NI checks for special needs school support staff Original release: Hunter concerned at lack of Access NI checks in special needs schools (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin Unites With DUP To Vote Down Trans Rights Solidarity Motion In Derry City and Strabane District Council
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says Sinn Féin joined the DUP to defeat his trans rights solidarity motion at Derry City and Strabane District Council, after Sinn Féin called the motion divisive. The motion opposed Stormont transgender policies including the puberty blocker ban and school…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Derry City and Strabane council vote on trans rights solidarity motion Original release: Sinn Féin Unites With DUP To Vote Down Trans Rights Solidarity Motion In Derry City and Strabane District Council (opens in a new tab)
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School uniform guidelines are another attempt to pull the wool over parents’ eyes – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan calls the DUP Education Minister's new school uniform guidance a 'sham' that will leave families paying too much. He says Sinn Féin's proposals to cap branded items, allow generic alternatives and allow girls to wear trousers were squandered.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Education Minister Paul Givan's new school uniform guidance Original release: School uniform guidelines are another attempt to pull the wool over parents’ eyes – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Training nurses to spot signs of violence and abuse will help save lives – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Queen's University Belfast's initiative training nursing students to identify warning signs of abuse affecting women and girls, arguing frontline staff help protect at-risk people. She says Sinn Féin will keep backing measures that strengthen protections.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Queen's University Belfast nursing students abuse-recognition training initiative Original release: Training nurses to spot signs of violence and abuse will help save lives – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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We must all do better to reduce plastic waste on our beaches, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA says everyone must do better to reduce plastic waste on beaches after the Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Marine Litter Report found 84% of beach litter is plastic. He commends DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's work on producer responsibility and a…
Environment and climate Issue: Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Marine Litter Report beach plastic findings Original release: We must all do better to reduce plastic waste on our beaches, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must refuse invite to Israel – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges Education Minister Paul Givan to turn down a fresh invitation to travel to Israel, criticising his earlier trip and the use of departmental resources for a school visit there. He says Israel is committing genocide and calls for the minister to focus on school crises…
International affairs Education Issue: Education Minister Paul Givan's new invitation to visit Israel Original release: Education Minister must refuse invite to Israel – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Middleton welcomes delivery of DUP manifesto commitment on school…
DUP MLA Gary Middleton welcomes Education Minister Paul Givan's issuing of new school uniform guidance, which he says delivers a DUP manifesto commitment. He says the guidance aims to ease cost pressures on families by favouring affordable, generic items and consultation with parents.
Education Issue: Education Minister Paul Givan's new school uniform guidance Original release: Middleton welcomes delivery of DUP manifesto commitment on school… (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan urges progress ahead of Troubles payment scheme deadline
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan urges the Executive Office to speed up applications to the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme before its August 2026 closure to new applications. Citing figures he obtained, he says 2,476 applications have succeeded and 1,758 awards total nearly…
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Issue: Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme application figures Original release: McCrossan urges progress ahead of Troubles payment scheme deadline (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong Slams Hypocrisy Over Londonderry-Dublin Flight And Climate Commitments
UUP economy spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA accuses Sinn Féin and the SDLP, including the First Minister, of hypocrisy for welcoming the Londonderry to Dublin air route while backing the 2050 net-zero target. She cites environment minister Andrew Muir's confirmation that international aviation…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Londonderry to Dublin air route resumption Original release: Armstrong Slams Hypocrisy Over Londonderry-Dublin Flight And Climate Commitments (opens in a new tab)
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Action needed now on environmental and biodiversity crisis – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for urgent North-South intergovernmental action on Northern Ireland's environmental and biodiversity crisis, citing Lough Neagh pollution and only 63 fines from 4,202 NIEA-recorded water pollution incidents between 2020 and 2024, and demands an independent…
Environment and climate Original release: Action needed now on environmental and biodiversity crisis – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance’s latest quango proposal an attempt to pass the buck -…
DUP Deputy Leader Michelle McIlveen MLA says the SDLP's motion for a new independent environmental body is a costly distraction that will not improve Lough Neagh water quality or accountability. She argues DAERA cannot fund existing structures and places blame on the Minister.
Environment and climate Issue: Assembly motion on Independent Environmental Protection Agency Original release: Alliance’s latest quango proposal an attempt to pass the buck -… (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: 3,000 drop in free school meal approvals deepens pressure on families
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says a drop of over 3,000 free school meal and uniform grant approvals in two years, linked to Universal Credit eligibility thresholds, deepens hardship for families. He calls on Ministers to communicate clearly so parents can reapply.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Free school meal and uniform grant approvals fall by 3,000 Original release: Durkan: 3,000 drop in free school meal approvals deepens pressure on families (opens in a new tab)