Latest releases
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1,575 releases
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No Pride in Betrayal
Green Party NI says the Stormont Executive parties have failed LGBTQ+ people, citing no promised strategy since 2007, no equality ministerial funding since 2005, and an unfinished 2020 hate crime review. It urges Pride not to give them an unearned pass.
Disability and equality Original release: No Pride in Betrayal (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister must bring forward LGBTQI+ Strategy, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong calls on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to deliver an LGBTQI+ strategy without delay, noting it was first promised over a decade ago. She also criticises the minister for not yet meeting LGBTQI+ sector representatives, ahead of a motion in the Assembly on Monday.
Disability and equality Issue: Communities Minister LGBTQI+ strategy delay and Assembly motion Original release: Communities Minister must bring forward LGBTQI+ Strategy, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Government must now act on commitments to extend presidential voting rights to citizens in the North – Pearse Doherty TD
Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty TD urges the government to set a timeline and date for a referendum on giving Irish citizens in the North a vote in presidential elections, following a Stormont vote and the Tánaiste's supportive response.
Constitutional affairs Disability and equality Issue: Stormont vote on presidential voting rights for Northern citizens Original release: Government must now act on commitments to extend presidential voting rights to citizens in the North – Pearse Doherty TD (opens in a new tab)
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Erskine praises response to Clogher Valley fire
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine thanks emergency services on the third day of battling wildfires in the Clogher Valley, describing the scale of the damage as massive and upsetting. She urges the public to avoid lighting fires during the dry spell and to stay clear of the blaze.
Environment and climate Issue: Clogher gorse fire, County Tyrone Original release: Erskine praises response to Clogher Valley fire (opens in a new tab)
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Free Speech and Scrutiny Vindicated: Gaston Welcomes Standards Commissioner Ruling
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston welcomes the Assembly Commissioner for Standards' decision to dismiss a complaint against him over questions he asked in an October committee session. He argues the ruling protects MLAs' scrutiny role and criticises committee chair Paula Bradshaw's interview remarks.
Disability and equality Issue: Standards Commissioner ruling on Timothy Gaston committee questioning complaint Original release: Free Speech and Scrutiny Vindicated: Gaston Welcomes Standards Commissioner Ruling (opens in a new tab)
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McDaid offers support to Camogie players amid skorts row
SDLP Ballyarnett councillor Catherine McDaid says women should be free to wear what they are comfortable in, backing Kilkenny and Dublin camogie players forced into skorts at a Leinster semi-final and urging GAA members to abolish the rule at the Special Congress.
Disability and equality Issue: Camogie skorts rule row at Leinster Championship semi-final Original release: McDaid offers support to Camogie players amid skorts row (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew expresses concern over Clogher gorse fire
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew expresses concern about a significant gorse fire near Clogher, County Tyrone, saying fire appliances are at the scene. He relays fire service advice for nearby residents to keep windows and doors shut because of smoke, and urges the community to avoid the area.
Environment and climate Issue: Clogher gorse fire, County Tyrone Original release: Gildernew expresses concern over Clogher gorse fire (opens in a new tab)
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No place for racism or homophobia in our society – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey condemns alleged racist and homophobic abuse directed at bus passengers, calling the behaviour repulsive and reprehensible. She extends solidarity to those targeted and backs police appeals for information about the incident on 4 May.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Alleged racist and homophobic abuse on bus, police appeal for information Original release: No place for racism or homophobia in our society – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Expansion of official bathing waters welcome news, says Alliance representatives
Alliance MLAs Connie Egan and Andrew McMurray welcome the designation of seven new bathing waters in Northern Ireland, including Brompton Bay, Donaghadee and Warrenpoint. Egan urges NI Water to progress wastewater treatment upgrades and calls on the Infrastructure Minister to act.
Environment and climate Issue: Seven new bathing waters designated in Northern Ireland Original release: Expansion of official bathing waters welcome news, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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TUV expose Stormont’s extreme trans policy on female only spaces, names and pronouns
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the Assembly's Transgender Policy lets biological males use female facilities and allows visitor records to reflect self-declared names and gender, and calls for answers on who approved it and for the guidance to be withdrawn.
Disability and equality Issue: Stormont Assembly Transgender Policy on facilities and visitor records Original release: TUV expose Stormont’s extreme trans policy on female only spaces, names and pronouns (opens in a new tab)
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Serious questions arise from planned Stormont event
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the Rainbow Project's planned 12 May event at Stormont, which imposes an Events Code of Conduct on pronouns and toilet access, raises serious issues and has tabled questions to the Assembly Commission.
Disability and equality Issue: Rainbow Project Stormont event code of conduct on 12 May Original release: Serious questions arise from planned Stormont event (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart welcomes protection of women’s sport by FA rules
DUP MP Carla Lockhart welcomes the Football Association's new eligibility criteria for women's football in England and urges the same protection for women in Northern Ireland without delay. She says the Supreme Court ruling should guide other bodies across the UK, and that she and a fellow DUP MLA…
Disability and equality Issue: FA eligibility criteria for women's football in England Original release: Lockhart welcomes protection of women’s sport by FA rules (opens in a new tab)
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Troubles pension scheme must reach further afield - Beattie
UUP Justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA says the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme has been poorly publicised in Great Britain, citing 178 applications from England, Scotland and Wales against 3,934 from Northern Ireland. He calls on the Executive Office to step up outreach before…
Community relations and legacy Social security and welfare Issue: Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme applications low in Great Britain Original release: Troubles pension scheme must reach further afield - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance representatives welcome reconsideration of Gondola project
Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray and Mournes Councillor Jill Truesdale welcome the National Trust's decision not to consider a bid for land at Thomas's Quarry for the Mournes Gondola project, citing environmental damage from recent fires and economic viability concerns.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: National Trust halts Newry, Mourne and Down Council Gondola talks over Thomas's Quarry Original release: Alliance representatives welcome reconsideration of Gondola project (opens in a new tab)
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Removal of nursing provision in special schools simply unacceptable, says Mathison
Alliance education spokesperson and Education Committee chair Nick Mathison MLA says the absence of nurses in some special schools is unacceptable, and calls for nursing to be reinstated in every special school that needs it, as soon as possible.
Education Health Issue: Nursing provision removal from special schools review Original release: Removal of nursing provision in special schools simply unacceptable, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Nutrients Action Programme an essential opportunity to address crisis in waterways, says Blair
Alliance's agriculture and environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes DAERA's launch of a consultation on reviewing the 2019 Nutrients Action Programme and the proposed programme covering 2026 to 2029.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Nutrients Action Programme an essential opportunity to address crisis in waterways, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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New approach to SEN school placements needed – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says many children with special educational needs risk having no place in September and urges a different method for allocating school places that is suitable, reduces family stress and provides early support. He welcomes the Education Authority’s remarks to the Education C
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority remarks on SEN placement approach Original release: New approach to SEN school placements needed – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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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)