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2,506 releases
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Delargy welcomes ‘transformative’ Teaching and Student Centre project at Magee
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes Ulster University's search for a contractor to build a Teaching and Student Centre at its Magee Campus in Derry, funded by £29m from the Shared Island Fund. He says it will expand north west higher education and strengthen links with Atlantic Technical…
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Ulster University Magee Teaching and Student Centre contractor tender Original release: Delargy welcomes ‘transformative’ Teaching and Student Centre project at Magee (opens in a new tab)
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Givan welcomes start of phone-free school pilot
Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes the start of a phone-free pilot in nine schools, involving over 8,000 pupils until March 2026, with pouches sealed during the school day and an external evaluation by King's College London.
Education Issue: Phone-free school pilot launch in nine Northern Ireland schools Original release: Givan welcomes start of phone-free school pilot (opens in a new tab)
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‘Moratorium on new mineral licenses pending the completion of assessments welcome’ – McAleer
Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer welcomes Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald's decision to halt new mineral licensing while environmental and habitats assessments are carried out, after awarding that assessment work to Tetra Tech RPS.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Moratorium on new mineral licences pending environmental assessments Original release: ‘Moratorium on new mineral licenses pending the completion of assessments welcome’ – McAleer (opens in a new tab)
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Amendments to School Uniform Bill would benefit families and young people – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan has re-submitted amendments to the School Uniforms Bill to reduce family costs, proposing limits on branded items, generic alternatives, girls' right to wear trousers, support for children with additional needs, and uniform banks and swap schemes.
Education Disability and equality Issue: School Uniforms Bill amendments re-submitted in the Assembly Original release: Amendments to School Uniform Bill would benefit families and young people – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: SDLP calls backed by report on childcare workforce and sufficiency duty
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin welcomes the Department for the Economy’s new business support service for childcare providers, saying it reflects the SDLP’s long‑standing call for tailored aid, but urges immediate rollout of a workforce strategy, a sufficiency duty and the full Early Learning and
Education Economy and employment Issue: Department for Economy launches childcare business support service Original release: McLaughlin: SDLP calls backed by report on childcare workforce and sufficiency duty (opens in a new tab)
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Givan announces bursaries to tackle teacher shortages at post-primary
DUP Education Minister Paul Givan announces a pilot Initial Teacher Education bursary scheme from September 2026 to tackle post-primary teacher shortages in Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Computing, Technology and Design and Irish-Medium Education. PGCE students would receive £17,000 a year and…
Education Issue: Initial Teacher Education bursary scheme for post-primary shortage subjects Original release: Givan announces bursaries to tackle teacher shortages at post-primary (opens in a new tab)
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‘Student bursaries welcome, but proper Irish Medium workforce plan needed’ – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes announced bursaries and grants to attract Irish Medium school teachers, but says a long-term workforce plan for the sector is still required. He says the party is bringing forward legislation to require the Department of Education to deliver one.
Education Issue: Initial Teacher Education bursary scheme for post-primary shortage subjects Original release: ‘Student bursaries welcome, but proper Irish Medium workforce plan needed’ – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Seán Crowe TD appeals for all-island co-operation on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe calls for an all-island healthcare model so children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy can access treatment available in the north but not the south. He raised the issue at an Oireachtas committee with Shared Island Initiative officials and urges faster progress on the drug…
Health Disability and equality Original release: Seán Crowe TD appeals for all-island co-operation on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (opens in a new tab)
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Mallaghan calls on Irish government to support efforts to restore Lough Neagh
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan urges Dublin to back Stormont's efforts against recurring blue-green algae in Lough Neagh, raised at a Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement meeting. He asks whether Shared Island Unit funds could go towards the Executive's Lough Neagh Action…
Environment and climate Issue: Lough Neagh blue-green algae recurrence Original release: Mallaghan calls on Irish government to support efforts to restore Lough Neagh (opens in a new tab)
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Finucane welcomes arrival of Gaza students
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane welcomes the arrival of three students evacuated from Gaza who will study at a local higher education institution, confirmed by Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald. He says his office worked for months with the British government and authorities to secure their safe…
Education International affairs Issue: Arrival of three evacuated Gaza students at local university Original release: Finucane welcomes arrival of Gaza students (opens in a new tab)
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Leader's Speech - Conference 2025
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson, speaking at the 2025 Annual Conference, says the Irish Sea border and Protocol are unacceptable, calls for their removal and for EU law to be ended, pledges to keep unionism strong and to challenge the government’s broken pledges.
Constitutional affairs Immigration Original release: Leader's Speech - Conference 2025 (opens in a new tab)
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Mason presses for improved support for children impacted by Emotional Based School Non-Attendance
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says she met parents of children affected by Emotional Based School Non-Attendance alongside Department of Education and Education Authority representatives. She welcomes a commitment to consult families directly and calls for earlier intervention, better EOTAS provision…
Education Issue: Emotional Based School Non-Attendance parents meeting with Department of Education Original release: Mason presses for improved support for children impacted by Emotional Based School Non-Attendance (opens in a new tab)
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Finnegan welcomes launch of Peatlands Strategy
Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan welcomes the DAERA launch of its Peatlands Strategy as a step towards protecting and restoring bogs. She calls for a just transition, full engagement of communities including turbary rights holders, and Minister Muir to work with his southern counterpart on…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DAERA Peatlands Strategy launch Original release: Finnegan welcomes launch of Peatlands Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Oireachtas Committee backs Sinn Féin proposal to end geo-blocking of 6 County audiences – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD & Joanna Byrne TD
Sinn Féin TD Joanna Byrne welcomes an Oireachtas committee recommendation to recognise audiences in the North as under-served and to incorporate Sinn Féin's All Ireland Service Bill provisions on RTÉ geo-blocking. She urges Minister Patrick O'Donovan to implement them in the final Bill.
Disability and equality Issue: Oireachtas Committee pre-legislative scrutiny report on Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill Original release: Oireachtas Committee backs Sinn Féin proposal to end geo-blocking of 6 County audiences – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD & Joanna Byrne TD (opens in a new tab)
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Blair welcomes Northern Ireland's first Peatland strategy, published by Minister Muir
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes the publication of Northern Ireland's first Peatland Strategy by DAERA Minister Andrew Muir, saying it sets five objectives and 26 actions to tackle pressures on peatlands and enable restoration.
Environment and climate Issue: DAERA Peatlands Strategy launch Original release: Blair welcomes Northern Ireland's first Peatland strategy, published by Minister Muir (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister preventing development of Irish language – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says the Communities Minister is preventing and thwarting the development of the Irish language, citing his failure to publish an Irish Language Strategy and his removal of trilingual logos from departmental letterheads.
Disability and equality Issue: Communities Department trilingual logo removal under new ministerial guidelines Original release: Communities Minister preventing development of Irish language – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty: Minister’s School Uniforms Bill will fail families
SDLP councillor Paul Doherty, Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, says the Education Minister's school uniforms legislation, which passed Assembly consideration stage, is a fudge that will do little for families. He says amendments to strengthen it were rejected and calls for real change.
Education Local government Issue: School Uniforms Bill amendments omitted Original release: Doherty: Minister’s School Uniforms Bill will fail families (opens in a new tab)
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‘DUP has squandered the opportunity to cut uniform costs’ – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says the DUP has missed an opportunity to cut school uniform costs after key amendments to the School Uniforms Bill were not accepted. He says the proposals included limiting branded items, allowing generic alternatives, and supporting uniform banks.
Education Disability and equality Issue: School Uniforms Bill amendments omitted Original release: ‘DUP has squandered the opportunity to cut uniform costs’ – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Ennis welcomes removal of RDF from Warrenpoint
Sinn Féin MLA Sinéad Ennis welcomes the removal of Refuse Derived Fuel from Warrenpoint Port, crediting sustained local and party pressure, including Sinn Féin's July resignation from the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority board. She says only odourless Solid Recovered Fuel will now be stored there.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Refuse Derived Fuel removal from Warrenpoint Port Original release: Ennis welcomes removal of RDF from Warrenpoint (opens in a new tab)
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Honeyford calls for Manufacturing Strategy and Action Plan
Alliance Economy Spokesperson David Honeyford MLA calls for a Manufacturing Strategy backed by an Action Plan after attending a manufacturing and supply chain conference. He also calls for a northern version of SkillNet Ireland to link business with colleges and build talent.
Economy and employment Education Issue: Manufacturing and Supply Chain conference at the Eikon Centre Original release: Honeyford calls for Manufacturing Strategy and Action Plan (opens in a new tab)