Latest releases
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1,464 releases
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Payment date for £100 fuel support payment announced by Minister Lyons
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces that the £100 Pension Age Fuel Support Payment, funded by £17million of Executive money, will start arriving automatically in pensioners' accounts from Friday 21 March. He says it will partly offset changes to Winter Fuel Payment eligibility.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Pension Age Fuel Support Payment date announced after Winter Fuel Payment changes Original release: Payment date for £100 fuel support payment announced by Minister Lyons (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna to co-sponsor Bill to support Mother and Baby Home survivors
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says she will co‑sponsor Philomena’s Law, a draft bill introduced by Labour MP Liam Conlon on 12 March, to protect Mother and Baby Home survivors in Britain from losing benefits when they accept compensation and to raise awareness of the scheme.
Social security and welfare Issue: Introduction of Philomena’s Law draft legislation Original release: Hanna to co-sponsor Bill to support Mother and Baby Home survivors (opens in a new tab)
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Women in agriculture must be supported – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Áine Murphy welcomes cross-party Assembly backing for a motion on women's contribution to agriculture, saying it urges the Agriculture Minister to boost female participation and leadership in the industry. She calls for help for women inheriting farms, owning land and running…
Agriculture and rural affairs Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on women's role in agriculture Original release: Women in agriculture must be supported – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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£6.5m paid out in childcare support a boost for working families –…
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe welcomes the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme, saying £6.5m has been allocated and 15,375 children enrolled in its first six months. She credits Education Minister Paul Givan and points to the scheme's extension with a 10% higher subsidy cap.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme first six months figures Original release: £6.5m paid out in childcare support a boost for working families –… (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna pushes for increase in maternity pay
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says she has tabled an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill proposing that statutory maternity pay be raised to the real living wage. The party also calls on the UK government to support small firms adapting to the reforms and urges the Executive to match the…
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Employment Rights Bill returns to the Commons Original release: Hanna pushes for increase in maternity pay (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Disability cuts ‘immoral and unethical’
SDLP MP Colum Eastwood says proposed British Government plans to freeze personal independence payments and tighten criteria are immoral and unethical, will leave vulnerable families worse off, and pledges to oppose any legislation cutting disability support.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: UK government proposal to freeze PIP payments Original release: Eastwood: Disability cuts ‘immoral and unethical’ (opens in a new tab)
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Amplification of women’s voices crucial in constitutional discussion – Rose Conway-Walsh TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson Rose Conway-Walsh TD says a feminist analysis is crucial to the constitutional debate, welcoming the National Women's Council's Women's Assembly report and urging the Irish government to begin planning a referendum on Irish Unity.
Constitutional affairs Disability and equality Issue: National Women's Council Women's Assembly report launch Original release: Amplification of women’s voices crucial in constitutional discussion – Rose Conway-Walsh TD (opens in a new tab)
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‘Time for British government to move beyond austerity’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on the British government to move beyond austerity towards investment in public services, after reports suggested a £5 billion welfare cut. He has written to the Communities Minister seeking clarity on the impact on disability benefit recipients in the north.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Reported £5 billion welfare budget cuts by British Labour government Original release: ‘Time for British government to move beyond austerity’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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DUP delivering on yet another Republican demand
TUV vice chairman Causeway Councillor Allister Kyle says the Executive Office's start of recruitment for an Irish language commissioner gives Sinn Féin a route to directions over the role, and contrasts it with a weaker Ulster Scots commissioner, which he says the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish Language Commissioner application process opening announcement Original release: DUP delivering on yet another Republican demand (opens in a new tab)
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Dickson welcomes Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland appointment
Alliance spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA welcomes the Executive Office's appointment of Siobhan Casey as Older People Commissioner for Northern Ireland, starting 7 April, and says she has shown a commitment to championing older people's needs.
Disability and equality Issue: Older People Commissioner for Northern Ireland appointment of Siobhan Casey Original release: Dickson welcomes Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland appointment (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone welcomes overdue progress on Irish Language Commissioner
SDLP Irish Language Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA welcomes the start of recruitment for language commissioners but says the move is long overdue. He questions the timing of the announcement and says he has asked the First and deputy First Ministers for a timescale and budget.
Disability and equality Issue: Recruitment launch for language commissioners announced March 2025 Original release: McGlone welcomes overdue progress on Irish Language Commissioner (opens in a new tab)
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‘Fógra ar Choimisnéir Gaeilge céim eile chun cinn don chomhionannas’ – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes The Executive Office's announcement that applications for the Irish Language Commissioner role will open in the coming days, calling it another step forward for equality and for Gaeilgeoirí.
Disability and equality Issue: Irish Language Commissioner application process opening announcement Original release: ‘Fógra ar Choimisnéir Gaeilge céim eile chun cinn don chomhionannas’ – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Minister should bring forward an Anti-Poverty Strategy without delay – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges the Communities Minister to prioritise an Anti-Poverty Strategy after a High Court ruling found the Executive Committee breached its statutory duty to adopt one. He says campaigners should not have had to go to court.
Social security and welfare Issue: High Court ruling on Executive Anti-Poverty Strategy breach Original release: Minister should bring forward an Anti-Poverty Strategy without delay – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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‘I am committed to the struggle for equality for everyone’ – Finnegan makes inaugural Assembly speech
Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan says her first Assembly speech at the International Women’s Day debate reaffirms her commitment to gender equality for all and urges upgrading rural schools, including a new programme for St Patrick’s Primary in Crossmaglen.
Disability and equality Education Issue: International Women’s Day Assembly debate Original release: ‘I am committed to the struggle for equality for everyone’ – Finnegan makes inaugural Assembly speech (opens in a new tab)
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Spreagann Gildernew daoine chun páirt a ghlacadh in imeachtaí Sheachtain na Gaeilge
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew encourages people to take part in local Seachtain na Gaeilge events, which run until 17 March, and calls for fair funding to sustain the Irish language revival.
Disability and equality Education Original release: Spreagann Gildernew daoine chun páirt a ghlacadh in imeachtaí Sheachtain na Gaeilge (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: No place for racism
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP condemns the racist graffiti attack on a Roden Street property in south Belfast, calling the act disgraceful, stating there is no place for racism in the city and urging that the affected family be helped to find a new home.
Disability and equality Issue: Racist graffiti on south Belfast property Original release: Hanna: No place for racism (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw condemns racially motivated attack on home of mother and child in South Belfast
Alliance South Belfast MLA Paula Bradshaw condemns a racially motivated attack on a young mother and her child's home in the Roden Street area, saying it was meant to intimidate them. She calls on all parties to condemn such incidents and urges anyone with information to contact PSNI or…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Racially motivated attack on home in Roden Street, South Belfast Original release: Bradshaw condemns racially motivated attack on home of mother and child in South Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey slams racist graffiti
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey condemns racist graffiti sprayed on a property in south Belfast overnight, calls for those responsible to face justice and urges anyone with information to contact police.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Racist graffiti on south Belfast property Original release: Hargey slams racist graffiti (opens in a new tab)
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The Irish language is seen in every part of life and grows stronger each day – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly says the Irish language is growing stronger and urges people to attend Seachtain na Gaeilge events. She welcomes progress by The Executive Office on the Identity and Language Act, including preparations to establish an Office of Identity and Cultural Expression and…
Disability and equality Original release: The Irish language is seen in every part of life and grows stronger each day – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew presses Communities Minister on Irish Language Strategy
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says he pressed Communities Minister Gordon Lyons at a Communities Committee meeting for a timeline to publish an Irish Language Strategy, and calls for the minister to re-engage with Conradh na Gaeilge and the Irish language sector.
Disability and equality Issue: Communities Committee meeting on Irish Language Strategy timeline Original release: Gildernew presses Communities Minister on Irish Language Strategy (opens in a new tab)