Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
2,554 releases
-
Gildernew welcomes Health Minister’s commitment to visit Dungannon respite facility
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Health Minister's commitment to visit Woodlawn House in Dungannon after an Assembly debate he tabled on respite care. He says families have reported planned respite cancelled at short notice and calls for timely, well-planned services.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Woodlawn House Dungannon respite facility Assembly debate Original release: Gildernew welcomes Health Minister’s commitment to visit Dungannon respite facility (opens in a new tab)
-
Job of Assembly to grasp opportunities to improve people’s lives – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the Executive's 2025–26 Legislation Programme, backing the Racial Equality Bill and the 'Good Jobs' Employment Rights Bill, which he says will protect vulnerable workers and be introduced by Minister Caoimhe Archibald next year.
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Executive 2025–26 Legislation Programme and 'Good Jobs' Employment Rights Bill Original release: Job of Assembly to grasp opportunities to improve people’s lives – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
-
McGlone: DUP motion on Irish Language signage "deeply cynical and divisive"
SDLP Irish Language Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA says the DUP’s motion to scrap Belfast City Council’s bilingual street‑sign policy is a deeply cynical, divisive attempt to use the Irish language as a political football and stir up community tensions.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: McGlone: DUP motion on Irish Language signage "deeply cynical and divisive" (opens in a new tab)
-
Hanna: Legacy legislation must serve victims and the future
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes progress in today's legacy legislation, citing safeguards on "sensitive" labelling, a statutory conflict of interest policy and a starting framework for the Legacy Commission. She says significant challenges remain, notably the Secretary of State's National…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Legacy legislation progress and remaining concerns over National Security veto Original release: Hanna: Legacy legislation must serve victims and the future (opens in a new tab)
-
UK Gov must take ownership over delivering legacy bill based on truth & justice, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood urges the UK Government to engage fully with the Executive on the legacy bill's effect on devolved areas and to fund the future legacy system properly, rather than relying on the Block Grant.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: UK Government latest plans for Troubles legacy bill Original release: UK Gov must take ownership over delivering legacy bill based on truth & justice, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
-
‘We must continue working to deliver on the rights of Gaeilgeoirí’ – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says Belfast City Council's dual-language street sign policy protects minority languages and follows international best practice, after a DUP Assembly motion seeking its replacement was defeated. He cites new Conradh na Gaeilge figures showing broad public support.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: ‘We must continue working to deliver on the rights of Gaeilgeoirí’ – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
-
New figures prove Belfast’s bilingual signage policy enjoys widespread support – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes Conradh na Gaeilge survey data finding that only 2.9% of residents on 536 approved streets opposed bilingual signage in Belfast. He points to the DUP's Assembly motion seeking to condemn the policy.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: New figures prove Belfast’s bilingual signage policy enjoys widespread support – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
-
Alliance calls on DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approach to Irish language
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister questions why the DUP brought a Belfast City Council Irish language signage motion to the Assembly, which Alliance opposed. She says Stormont should focus on health and education, and calls on the DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approaches.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: Alliance calls on DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approach to Irish language (opens in a new tab)
-
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP Speech SDLP Conference 2025
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says the party is launching a new phase to recruit members and candidates, pledges to champion fairness, anti‑sectarianism and a New Ireland, and criticises the Executive for failing on housing, services and environmental issues.
Constitutional affairs Community relations and legacy Original release: SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP Speech SDLP Conference 2025 (opens in a new tab)
-
Health Minister leaving parents in limbo following withdrawal of nursing support for special educational needs children, says Mathison
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says the Health Minister has left parents and special school staff in limbo after a review into nursing provision in special schools gave no clarity. He urges urgent answers and calls for full nursing provision to be reinstated.
Health Education Issue: Health Minister's review on nursing provision in special schools Original release: Health Minister leaving parents in limbo following withdrawal of nursing support for special educational needs children, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
-
Tennyson criticises Gildernew comments on Troubles murders
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson criticises former Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew's remarks on the BBC podcast 'Borderland', in which she said there was justification for Troubles-era murders. He says the comments deny victims' experiences and links them to Jamie Bryson's comments on the same…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Gildernew comments on Troubles murders on BBC Borderland podcast Original release: Tennyson criticises Gildernew comments on Troubles murders (opens in a new tab)
-
DUP marks anniversary of October 7 attacks in Londonderry
DUP representatives Gregory Campbell MP and Deputy Mayor Niree McMorris laid a wreath at the War Memorial in Londonderry marking the second anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel. They say all victims should be remembered and criticise singling out suffering in Gaza.
International affairs Community relations and legacy Original release: DUP marks anniversary of October 7 attacks in Londonderry (opens in a new tab)
-
‘Communities Minister must do more to support families forced from their homes’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to step up support for families driven from their homes in north Belfast by intimidation, after a BBC Spotlight report found them in unsuitable temporary housing. A Sinn Féin Urgent Oral Question is being tabled in the Assembly.
Housing Community relations and legacy Issue: North Belfast intimidation families in unsuitable temporary accommodation BBC Spotlight Original release: ‘Communities Minister must do more to support families forced from their homes’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
-
Justice System Failing Victims of Violence Against Women says Beattie
UUP Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA says non-fatal strangulation cases are handled inadequately, citing 2023-24 figures showing 329 of 344 prosecutions heard in the Magistrates' Court and only 28 prison sentences, and calls for sentences that deter.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Non-fatal strangulation prosecutions and sentencing figures 2023-2024 Original release: Justice System Failing Victims of Violence Against Women says Beattie (opens in a new tab)
-
Bradshaw demands clarity on Language Commissioner appointments
Alliance Executive Office Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw, also South Belfast MLA, demands urgent clarity from the First and deputy First Minister on Identity and Language Commissioner appointments, as publicised appointees have not received confirmation after resigning from their current jobs.
Disability and equality Issue: Identity and Language Act Commissioner appointments delay Original release: Bradshaw demands clarity on Language Commissioner appointments (opens in a new tab)
-
Consultation on Disability and Work strategy launched by Minister…
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons outlines a Disability and Work Strategy aiming to bring 50,000 more people into the workforce over ten years, launching a 12-week public consultation running to 12 January 2026. The strategy proposes a Disability and Work Council and four themes including…
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: Disability and Work Strategy public consultation launch Original release: Consultation on Disability and Work strategy launched by Minister… (opens in a new tab)
-
Durkan calls for joined-up approach between Ministers on Disability and Work Strategy
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA welcomes the draft Disability and Work Strategy but says it will only succeed with concrete commitments on community rehabilitation access. He calls for the Department of Health to publish its Community Rehabilitation Framework alongside the strategy…
Disability and equality Health Issue: Disability and Work Strategy public consultation launch Original release: Durkan calls for joined-up approach between Ministers on Disability and Work Strategy (opens in a new tab)
-
De Faoite condemns threats to council vehicles
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Councillor Séamas de Faoite condemns reported loyalist paramilitary plans to attack council vehicles bearing Irish language signage, saying paramilitaries should not exist. He defends the council's Irish language policy and pledges SDLP cooperation with…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Loyalist paramilitary threats to Belfast City Council facilities Original release: De Faoite condemns threats to council vehicles (opens in a new tab)
-
Long condemns threats of paramilitary violence following BCC vote
Alliance Belfast City Council Group Leader Michael Long condemns reported threats by loyalist paramilitary representatives to carry out arson attacks on council property after a recent council vote on an Irish language policy. He says the threats are an attempt at coercive control and criticises…
Justice and policing Local government Issue: Belfast City Council unified Irish language policy approval Original release: Long condemns threats of paramilitary violence following BCC vote (opens in a new tab)
-
Brett condemns Glengormley War Memorial attack
DUP North Belfast MLA Phillip Brett condemns an attack on the Glengormley War Memorial, which he blames on Republicans, and says he will seek urgent police action to identify and hold those responsible to account.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Glengormley War Memorial attack Original release: Brett condemns Glengormley War Memorial attack (opens in a new tab)