Latest releases
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1,464 releases
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Departments must work together to support children with SEN – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges the Education and Health departments to coordinate more closely on support for children with special educational needs, citing rising identification and a shortage of allied health professionals. He says neither the Education Department nor the Education Authority…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Departments must work together to support children with SEN – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein department cites lack of support for petition in aid of their case to impose Irish signage on Grand Central
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the Department for Infrastructure cited the lack of signatures on his petition against dual-language signage at Grand Central as justification for claiming the decision was not controversial. He calls on every Unionist MLA to explain why they did not support the…
Disability and equality Infrastructure and transport Issue: Grand Central Irish signage court hearing and petition signatures Original release: Sinn Fein department cites lack of support for petition in aid of their case to impose Irish signage on Grand Central (opens in a new tab)
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Statement from Councillor Debbie Coyle
Sinn Féin councillor Debbie Coyle says statements issued by Fermanagh and Omagh council officials on the UK Supreme Court ruling were not authorised by elected councillors. She says the party will raise it at the next council meeting and urges public bodies to await Equality and Human Rights…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Fermanagh and Omagh council officials' comments on UK Supreme Court ruling Original release: Statement from Councillor Debbie Coyle (opens in a new tab)
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People Before Profit support the Counter Demo
People Before Profit says it will join UNITED AGAINST RACISM's counter-demonstrations against far-right groups marching on Remigration in Dublin, Belfast and Derry this weekend, arguing that housing and public service failures are a government problem, not a migration one.
Disability and equality Housing Issue: United Against Racism counter-demonstrations against far-right Remigration march Original release: People Before Profit support the Counter Demo (opens in a new tab)
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Young condemns racist attack in Newry
Alliance Councillor Helena Young condemns a racist attack in Newry on international doctors and their families at a park on 12 April, saying those responsible should be ashamed and the abuse must stop immediately.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Racist attack on international doctors in Newry park Original release: Young condemns racist attack in Newry (opens in a new tab)
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Deeply concerning so many SEN children remain without a school place ahead of new academic year, says Guy
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA says it is deeply concerning that around 400 children with SEN statements still lack a school place before September, citing Education Minister Paul Givan's confirmation. She calls for delivery of the SEN reform plan's high-level actions and…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Around 400 SEN pupils without school places ahead of September Original release: Deeply concerning so many SEN children remain without a school place ahead of new academic year, says Guy (opens in a new tab)
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DUP - “A victory for commonsense and biological reality”
DUP MP Carla Lockhart welcomes the UK Supreme Court judgment, brought by For Women Scotland, holding that legal womanhood rests on biological sex. She says it restores clarity in law and criticises the Alliance Party for avoiding the question.
Disability and equality Issue: UK Supreme Court ruling on biological sex definition in law Original release: DUP - “A victory for commonsense and biological reality” (opens in a new tab)
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TUV welcome victory for women in Supreme Court judgement
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston welcomes the UK Supreme Court ruling on the meaning of sex in equality law, and calls on Stormont to withdraw the Finance Department's Inclusive Language Guide, end Stonewall funding and revisit prison housing policy for men.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: UK Supreme Court ruling on biological sex definition in law Original release: TUV welcome victory for women in Supreme Court judgement (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland cannot be the outlier in Equality Legislation – Beattie
UUP Justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA says the Supreme Court ruling on biological sex has major implications for Northern Ireland equality law. He asks the Justice Minister whether women prisoners could sue over transgender prisoner placements, and calls on the Equality Commission to advise…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: UK Supreme Court ruling on biological sex definition in law Original release: Northern Ireland cannot be the outlier in Equality Legislation – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Need for intense and ongoing scrutiny of DUP ministers – Gildernew
Colm Gildernew MLA, Sinn Féin’s communities spokesperson, says DUP ministers must be subject to intense, ongoing scrutiny and urged to prioritise equality, inclusion and respect over personal projects. Sinn Féin will examine public‑fund allocations and robustly challenge any breaches.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Original release: Need for intense and ongoing scrutiny of DUP ministers – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney welcomes additional funding for Foras na Gaeilge
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the Irish Government’s €630,000 allocation to Foras na Gaeilge, saying it eases pressure and will boost language promotion, and urges a fair, sustainable funding model while condemning the DUP’s blockage of further Irish‑government support.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: €630,000 funding for Foras na Gaeilge Original release: Kearney welcomes additional funding for Foras na Gaeilge (opens in a new tab)
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Fáilte roimh an maoiniú do pinsin, ach cur chuige nua ag teastáil don Fhoras – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD
Sinn Féin's Gaeilge, Gaeltachta and Ealaíon spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD welcomes the Dublin government's decision to cover Bord na Gaeilge's historic pension costs, which lets Foras na Gaeilge avoid threatened cuts, but calls for a new funding approach.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Foras na Gaeilge pension costs funding decision and threatened cuts Original release: Fáilte roimh an maoiniú do pinsin, ach cur chuige nua ag teastáil don Fhoras – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty: No surprise at high deprivation levels
SDLP West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty says Queen's University research showing 25% deprivation across the North is unsurprising, blaming underinvestment in public services, jobs and housing. He calls for the Executive to produce an anti-poverty strategy.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Queen's University research on deprivation levels across the North Original release: Doherty: No surprise at high deprivation levels (opens in a new tab)
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TUV hits out on Central Station controversy
TUV leader Jim Allister attacks Infrastructure Minister Kimmins over Irish signage at Grand Central Station, arguing she lacks authority over operational Translink decisions. He backs a legal challenge led by Mr Bryson and says the DUP has weakened its position by seeking an Irish Language…
Disability and equality Infrastructure and transport Issue: Irish language signage at Grand Central Station announcement Original release: TUV hits out on Central Station controversy (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison expresses concern at staffing levels in EA SEN Transitions Service
Alliance Education spokesperson and Education Committee Chair Nick Mathison MLA expresses concern that the EA Transitions Service, which supports around 9,000 students with special educational needs across Northern Ireland, has only 10 staff.
Education Disability and equality Issue: EA SEN Transitions Service staffing levels revealed Original release: Mathison expresses concern at staffing levels in EA SEN Transitions Service (opens in a new tab)
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Every child deserves accessible park facilities, says Kemp, welcoming communication board installations
Alliance Killultagh Councillor Claire Kemp welcomes the installation of communication boards in Lisburn and Castlereagh Council parks, saying the facilities make play spaces accessible for children with speech, language and communication needs and praising the timing during World Autism Acceptance
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Communication boards installed in Lisburn & Castlereagh parks Original release: Every child deserves accessible park facilities, says Kemp, welcoming communication board installations (opens in a new tab)
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Enough talk on Irish at Grand Central – what’s the DUP action?
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the DUP has talked about the Infrastructure Minister's unilateral move to impose Irish signage at Grand Central but must act, urging it to sign his petition, have ministers call in the decision or take legal action.
Disability and equality Infrastructure and transport Issue: Irish language signage at Grand Central Station announcement Original release: Enough talk on Irish at Grand Central – what’s the DUP action? (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan calls for improved autism services and greater inclusion of people with autism
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan calls for better autism services and wider inclusion of autistic people in daily life as World Autism Month begins. He credits Autism NI and Caleb's Cause for advocacy, and says cross-departmental action is needed, pledging work with the Health, Education and Economy…
Disability and equality Health Original release: Boylan calls for improved autism services and greater inclusion of people with autism (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Link between poverty and suicide crisis can’t be ignored
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan urges the Executive to recognise the link between poverty and rising suicide rates and calls for an effective anti-poverty strategy, following a Samaritans report on inequality and suicidality. He says suicide rates are three times higher in deprived areas and calls…
Health Social security and welfare Issue: Samaritans 'Lost Futures' report on poverty and suicide in Northern Ireland Original release: Durkan: Link between poverty and suicide crisis can’t be ignored (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly unites to reject British government cuts – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes cross-party Assembly support for a motion calling on the British government to reconsider its cuts to disability benefits, which followed the Chancellor's recent announcement of further welfare and public service cuts.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: UK Government disability benefit cuts and employability support plans Original release: Assembly unites to reject British government cuts – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)