Latest releases
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2,482 releases
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"We do not need another review, we need healthcare" - Ash Jones
Green Party representative Ash Jones calls the Health Minister's decision to commission Hilary Cass to review local Gender Identity Services a betrayal of trans patients. Jones says the review is unnecessary given recent local reviews, criticises the Cass Review's use for puberty blocker…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Baroness Cass review of Northern Ireland gender identity services Original release: "We do not need another review, we need healthcare" - Ash Jones (opens in a new tab)
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McKay condemns ‘abhorrent’ racist graffiti directed at council employee
Sinn Féin councillor Conor McKay condemns racist graffiti in Donegall Pass, south Belfast, directed at a Belfast City Council employee. He calls for a full criminal investigation by the PSNI and has requested an urgent meeting with the council's Chief Executive to support the worker.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Racist graffiti targeting Belfast City Council employee in Donegall Pass Original release: McKay condemns ‘abhorrent’ racist graffiti directed at council employee (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister marks start of construction at new Crawfordsburn…
Education Minister Paul Givan marks the start of construction on a £7.3 million Department of Education project to build a new school on the existing Crawfordsburn Primary School site, with completion due in March 2027.
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Crawfordsburn Primary School new build construction start Original release: Education Minister marks start of construction at new Crawfordsburn… (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan slams those responsible for racists attacks in Ballymena
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan condemns racist attacks in Ballymena after six vehicles were burned outside a property on Lisnevenagh Road. He calls for unity and strong leadership and urges anyone with information to contact the police.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Ballymena Lisnevenagh Road racist attack vehicles burned Original release: McGuigan slams those responsible for racists attacks in Ballymena (opens in a new tab)
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Questions around DUP opposition to Civil Service participation in Belfast Pride raised by Freedom of Information disclosures
TUV Equality Spokeswoman Ann McClure says FOI responses show a contradictory picture on DUP opposition to Civil Service participation in Belfast Pride, noting the Executive Office holds a record of a deputy First Minister comment that the Department of Finance does not. She questions whether the…
Disability and equality Issue: FOI disclosures on DUP opposition to Civil Service Belfast Pride participation Original release: Questions around DUP opposition to Civil Service participation in Belfast Pride raised by Freedom of Information disclosures (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey condemns racist attack as ‘disgraceful and disgusting’
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey condemns an attack on a home in Donegall Avenue, south Belfast, in which residents were injured, calling it unacceptable and urging anyone with information to contact the PSNI.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Donegall Avenue home attack in south Belfast Original release: Hargey condemns racist attack as ‘disgraceful and disgusting’ (opens in a new tab)
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Translink Free Ride for Pride, High Price for the Twelfth
TUV Equality Spokeswoman Ann McClure accuses Translink of overcharging bands and Loyal Orders for Twelfth buses while providing a dedicated Pride bus for Belfast Pride, and says its £20,000 Pride-linked spending should go to services instead.
Community relations and legacy Infrastructure and transport Original release: Translink Free Ride for Pride, High Price for the Twelfth (opens in a new tab)
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SEN children unable to start full-time education in September unacceptable, says Guy
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA says many SEN children with school placements cannot start full-time education in September, citing an FOI response showing 48 children across 14 schools unable to start and around 100 more across 23 schools possibly not attending full-time.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority FOI response on SEN places crisis for September 2025 Original release: SEN children unable to start full-time education in September unacceptable, says Guy (opens in a new tab)
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Executive Office must take urgent action to address rising hate crimes in NI, says Dickson
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA calls on the First and deputy First Ministers to take urgent action on race hate crime after PSNI figures showed 1,329 race-motivated crimes in the year to June, the highest since 2004. He also calls for an update to the Race Relations…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: PSNI race hate crime figures for year to June 2025 Original release: Executive Office must take urgent action to address rising hate crimes in NI, says Dickson (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister asleep at the wheel during latest SEN placement crisis, says Mathison
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says the Education Minister is asleep at the wheel after an FOI response from the Education Authority showed the Minister was told in March about the emerging crisis in special educational needs (SEN) places for September 2025.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority FOI response on SEN places crisis for September 2025 Original release: Education Minister asleep at the wheel during latest SEN placement crisis, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Police must robustly investigate criminal damage to dual language signs – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on police to robustly investigate recent damage to bilingual road signs in Dungannon and Cookstown, which officers are treating as sectarian hate crimes.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Dungannon and Cookstown bilingual sign damage investigation Original release: Police must robustly investigate criminal damage to dual language signs – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Why are NIHE staff being paid to attend Londonderry Pride?
TUV leader Jim Allister MP writes to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive questioning why staff can claim flexi credit or TOIL for attending the Londonderry Pride parade. He calls it a misuse of public money and asks at what level the policy was approved.
Public finance and taxation Disability and equality Issue: NIHE staff flexi credit for Londonderry Pride attendance Original release: Why are NIHE staff being paid to attend Londonderry Pride? (opens in a new tab)
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Beidh ceapachán Choimisinéara Teanga ina chloch mhíle stairiúil eile – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín welcomes reports that Northern Ireland's first Irish Language Commissioner is about to be appointed, saying the post will be another historic step in building a rights-based society.
Disability and equality Issue: Appointment of Northern Ireland's first Irish Language Commissioner Original release: Beidh ceapachán Choimisinéara Teanga ina chloch mhíle stairiúil eile – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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TUV warns again of the powers of Irish Language Commissioner
TUV leader Jim Allister warns that the Irish Language Commissioner, reportedly due to be confirmed within weeks, will have statutory powers to set standards for every public authority and that DUP ministers cannot block them. He contrasts these with the weaker Ulster Scots and Ulster British…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Appointment of Northern Ireland's first Irish Language Commissioner Original release: TUV warns again of the powers of Irish Language Commissioner (opens in a new tab)
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New road scheme a boost for south Armagh – Finnegan
Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan welcomes a £680,000 road improvement scheme on Culloville Road in Crossmaglen, announced by Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, with works starting 27 August and completion due by 31 October.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Culloville Road Crossmaglen road improvement scheme announcement Original release: New road scheme a boost for south Armagh – Finnegan (opens in a new tab)
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Mallaghan welcomes Mid Ulster wastewater investment
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan welcomes a £3.6 million upgrade to Bellaghy's wastewater system, announced alongside Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, and says it will open up new connections. He blames years of underinvestment on British government cuts and says he will keep working with the…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Bellaghy wastewater system £3.6 million investment announcement Original release: Mallaghan welcomes Mid Ulster wastewater investment (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister failing people on Universal Credit, says Armstrong
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA says the Health Minister has not yet amended the 'Help with Health and Travel Costs' legislation so Universal Credit claimants receive automatic entitlement, as already applies elsewhere in the UK. She urges the Minister to make the change.
Health Social security and welfare Issue: Help with Health and Travel Costs Universal Credit automatic entitlement legislation Original release: Health Minister failing people on Universal Credit, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Burning of 5G masts must stop – Beattie
Sinn Féin councillor Ciaran Beattie condemns the latest arson attack on a 5G mast, which was set alight on Friday evening in west Belfast. He says the masts keep homes and services connected, calls for the campaign against them to end, and urges anyone with information to contact police.
Infrastructure and transport Justice and policing Issue: Arson attack on 5G mast in west Belfast Original release: Burning of 5G masts must stop – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Stormont botches new £7.5m link road in Ballymena
TUV MP Jim Allister says the £7.5m St Patrick's Link Road in Ballymena cannot take buses, as Translink was not consulted, and asks the Departments of Communities and Infrastructure what they will do to fix it before the new college campus opens. TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says he will demand answers…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: St Patrick's Link Road Ballymena bus access shortfall Original release: Stormont botches new £7.5m link road in Ballymena (opens in a new tab)
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Attacks on 5G masts threatening lives in our communities – McLaughlin
Sinn Féin councillor Ronan McLaughlin warns that repeated attacks on 5G masts, including one on the Glen Road, could cost lives by weakening phone signal in west Belfast. He calls for those responsible to face justice and be taken off the streets.
Infrastructure and transport Justice and policing Issue: Attack on 5G mast on the Glen Road, Belfast Original release: Attacks on 5G masts threatening lives in our communities – McLaughlin (opens in a new tab)