Latest releases
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1,464 releases
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Weir marks Holocaust Memorial Day
DUP Peer Lord Weir, speaking in the House of Lords on Holocaust Memorial Day, marks the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz-Birkenau's liberation and warns that genocide and antisemitism remain relevant today, including in Northern Ireland. He highlights Millisle's refuge and Millisle Primary's memorial…
Disability and equality International affairs Original release: Weir marks Holocaust Memorial Day (opens in a new tab)
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Foyle Pride highlight incompatibility of public bodies participating…
Foyle DUP MLA Gary Middleton says a Foyle Pride statement backs up the DUP's long-standing view that police, the BBC and other public bodies are incompatible with taking part in the Pride Parade, which he calls a protest. He also calls for health services to focus on helping young people harmed by…
Disability and equality Health Issue: Foyle Pride statement on public sector involvement in Pride Parade Original release: Foyle Pride highlight incompatibility of public bodies participating… (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition urges action on Universal Credit five-week wait and ties to illegal lending
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan warns that the five-week Universal Credit wait is pushing vulnerable people into debt and towards illegal lending. He calls for the Contingency Fund to be renamed, promoted and expanded, and criticises Minister Lyons over a lack of research and plans.
Social security and welfare Issue: Universal Credit five-week wait and illegal lending link Original release: SDLP Opposition urges action on Universal Credit five-week wait and ties to illegal lending (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter questions Minister’s top marks on Irish language
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA questions Education Minister Paul Givan's self-assessed 'A' grade on Irish language education, citing mobile classrooms, unimplemented 2008 review recommendations, Foras na Gaelige funding cuts and a lack of Irish language representation on a…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Minister Givan's Irish language education performance grade in Assembly Original release: Hunter questions Minister’s top marks on Irish language (opens in a new tab)
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‘There should be no further delays to Anti-Poverty Strategy publication’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew, Communities Committee chair, calls on the Communities Minister to bring forward the Anti-Poverty Strategy without further postponement, after the Anti-Poverty Strategy Group presented its priorities at Stormont.
Social security and welfare Issue: Anti-Poverty Strategy Group priorities launch at Stormont Original release: ‘There should be no further delays to Anti-Poverty Strategy publication’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Minister for Communities’ ‘zero-tolerance approach’ to benefit fraud
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons tells the Assembly he is taking a zero-tolerance approach to benefit fraud, announcing the return of naming those convicted and a Task and Finish Group to review departmental fraud interventions.
Social security and welfare Issue: Communities Minister Assembly statement on benefit fraud zero-tolerance approach Original release: Minister for Communities’ ‘zero-tolerance approach’ to benefit fraud (opens in a new tab)
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‘Racist graffiti is disgusting and deplorable’ – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey condemns racist graffiti that has appeared in west Belfast in recent days, calling it repugnant and urging that racism be opposed and challenged. He says the majority of local people reject such hatred and pledges continued support for diversity.
Disability and equality Issue: West Belfast racist graffiti condemnation Original release: ‘Racist graffiti is disgusting and deplorable’ – Maskey (opens in a new tab)
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Maoinigh Pobal na Gaeilge Anois!
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll calls on the Executive and the Irish Government to fill the funding gap facing Foras na Gaeilge after cuts of over €800,000, warning they will damage jobs and language projects. The release also criticises the DUP's stance on the language and questions Sinn…
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Foras na Gaeilge €800,000 budget cuts Original release: Maoinigh Pobal na Gaeilge Anois! (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister publishes SEN Reform Agenda and Delivery Plan
The DUP says Education Minister Paul Givan has published the SEN Reform Agenda and a five-year Delivery Plan, setting out short-term actions to rebuild trust with parents, build workforce capability, improve placements and support sustained funding.
Education Disability and equality Issue: SEN Reform Agenda and five-year Delivery Plan publication Original release: Education Minister publishes SEN Reform Agenda and Delivery Plan (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister Lyons reflects on year of real delivery
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons marks his first year in office, highlighting the Defective Premises Act, a Housing Supply Strategy targeting 100,000 homes, the Northern Ireland Football Fund and £17million for winter fuel support, and says delivery will continue.
Housing Social security and welfare Original release: Communities Minister Lyons reflects on year of real delivery (opens in a new tab)
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Fair funding for Foras na Gaeilge essential – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney says he is extremely concerned the DUP is delaying agreement on a new funding model that could increase financial backing for small Irish language groups, after Foras na Gaeilge announced savings forcing cuts to grassroots organisations. He urges the DUP to agree it…
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Foras na Gaeilge €800,000 budget cuts Original release: Fair funding for Foras na Gaeilge essential – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Brolly: Storm response must prioritise vulnerable
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly says storm contingency plans must be accelerated so vulnerable people on the critical care register, including those on home dialysis, get power and support without delay. She calls for investment in generators for health services and cross-border collaboration…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Storm aftermath response and critical care register support Original release: Brolly: Storm response must prioritise vulnerable (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty: Executive must deliver anti-poverty strategy
SDLP West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty says the Executive is failing people by not delivering an anti-poverty strategy, following a High Court case on the matter. He says the Executive is in breach of its legal duty and urges it to prioritise the strategy.
Social security and welfare Local government Issue: High Court case on the Executive's anti-poverty strategy Original release: Doherty: Executive must deliver anti-poverty strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes Executive commitment to combatting forced marriage.
Alliance TEO spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes the Finance Minister's assurance that Executive agreement has been secured to extend the forced marriage offence to arranging marriages of under-18s. She calls for the related legislation to be brought before the Assembly in coming months.
Disability and equality Issue: Finance Minister's assurance on forced marriage offence extension in Assembly Original release: Bradshaw welcomes Executive commitment to combatting forced marriage. (opens in a new tab)
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Cultural shift needed to end gender-based violence, says Egan, welcoming launch of Power to Change campaign.
Alliance Justice spokesperson Connie Egan MLA welcomes the PSNI, Department of Justice and Executive Office 'Power to Change' campaign, saying society must change its culture to end gender-based violence. She says men and boys have a crucial role in challenging harmful attitudes and intervening…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI 'Power to Change' gender-based violence campaign launch Original release: Cultural shift needed to end gender-based violence, says Egan, welcoming launch of Power to Change campaign. (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Disgraceful that winter fuel support won’t be paid until the end of March
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan criticises the delay in paying the £100 one-off winter fuel support to pensioner households who missed out on the Winter Fuel Payment, now not expected until late March. He says the Communities Minister's timeline contradicts earlier assurances and calls for long-term fuel…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Winter fuel payment delay for pensioner households missing out Original release: Durkan: Disgraceful that winter fuel support won’t be paid until the end of March (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister levels the playing field in housing allocation
DUP MLA Cheryl Brownlee welcomes the Communities Minister Gordon Lyons' decision to scrap intimidation points in the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's Housing Selection Scheme, arguing victims of domestic abuse have been unfairly scored lower.
Housing Disability and equality Issue: Removal of Housing Executive intimidation points Original release: Communities Minister levels the playing field in housing allocation (opens in a new tab)
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Removal of Housing Executive Intimidation Points will put lives at risk
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says the Communities Minister's decision to remove Housing Executive intimidation points will put lives at risk, arguing it leaves victims of threats and sectarian, racist or homophobic attacks without priority for permanent homes. He instead calls for…
Housing Disability and equality Issue: Removal of Housing Executive intimidation points Original release: Removal of Housing Executive Intimidation Points will put lives at risk (opens in a new tab)
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Classroom Assistants deserve proper recognition and support, says Alliance Education representatives.
Alliance MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy call on the Education Minister to set out a clear plan to support, develop and reward Classroom Assistants, following an Ulster University report into the workforce. They raise concerns about temporary recruitment and incomplete Access NI checks.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Ulster University report on Classroom Assistants in Northern Ireland Original release: Classroom Assistants deserve proper recognition and support, says Alliance Education representatives. (opens in a new tab)
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Never Again: Why We Remember The Holocaust
People Before Profit marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, warning that fascism grows from racism and antisemitism. It cites the AfD in Germany, Elon Musk's rally appearance and online conspiracy theories in Ireland, and urges socialists to oppose all racism, including…
Disability and equality International affairs Original release: Never Again: Why We Remember The Holocaust (opens in a new tab)