Latest releases
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1,378 releases
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McCrossan questions delay to Troubles pension payments
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says Assembly answers show slow progress on the Troubles victims' disability payment scheme, with under a quarter of applications decided. He calls on the Executive to work with the Payment Board to conclude the process quickly.
Community relations and legacy Social security and welfare Issue: Troubles Permanent Disability Payment scheme progress figures Assembly answer Original release: McCrossan questions delay to Troubles pension payments (opens in a new tab)
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Actions, not words, required after racial equality review, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw calls on the First and deputy First Minister to urgently set out actions to address deficiencies in the outgoing Racial Equality Strategy, after a review found no clear action plan or budget and no response from them.
Disability and equality Issue: Racial Equality Strategy review findings Original release: Actions, not words, required after racial equality review, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Mid Ulster council needs to wise up when it comes to signage
TUV spokesman Glenn Moore calls for urgent reform of Mid Ulster Council's policy of erecting Irish-language signs after a single resident's request, arguing there is little demand and significant opposition, and urging the council to spend ratepayers' money on local priorities instead.
Disability and equality Local government Original release: Mid Ulster council needs to wise up when it comes to signage (opens in a new tab)
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Ending violence against women and girls must be a top priority for the Government across the UK, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood urges the Westminster Government to tackle violence against women and girls UK-wide ahead of a Commons debate, citing online abuse, radicalisation and grooming, and noting social media regulation is reserved to Westminster.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: House of Commons debate on violence against women and girls Original release: Ending violence against women and girls must be a top priority for the Government across the UK, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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2025: A year to advance the Republican vision for Ireland’s future – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD says the party will push for a united Ireland in 2025, calling on the incoming government to publish a green paper on Irish Unity, appoint a Minister for Reunification and set up a Citizens' Assembly on Unity.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: 2025: A year to advance the Republican vision for Ireland’s future – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Concerns about policy on transgender prisons raised in September – but ignored
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the Department of Justice has conceded a legal challenge by a transgender prisoner to be held in Hydebank Wood, which he claims shows the Executive lacks a policy on housing such prisoners. He argues the situation threatens female safety and questions the purpose of a…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Department of Justice concession on Hydebank Wood transfer challenge Original release: Concerns about policy on transgender prisons raised in September – but ignored (opens in a new tab)
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‘Funding for NI Rural Women’s Network must be restored’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew has asked to meet the Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to urge the immediate restoration of funding for the NI Rural Women’s Network, whose grant was suspended over a small HMRC matter, stressing the need to protect rural women’s services.
Disability and equality Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Funding suspension for NI Rural Women’s Network Original release: ‘Funding for NI Rural Women’s Network must be restored’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed to tackle violence against women and girls -…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says she met Home Office Minister Jess Phillips to urge a comprehensive UK-wide strategy on violence against women and girls, citing the murders of Natalie McNally and Karen Cummings and calling for tougher sentencing and better victim support.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Urgent action needed to tackle violence against women and girls -… (opens in a new tab)
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Labour should deliver justice for WASPI women – DUP
DUP MPs Sammy Wilson and Jim Shannon call on the Labour Government to deliver redress for WASPI women after it announced it would not pay compensation, saying Labour campaigned for redress while in opposition.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: UK Government rejects PHSO compensation remedy for WASPI women Original release: Labour should deliver justice for WASPI women – DUP (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: UK Government has failed Waspi women
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says the UK Government has let down Waspi women by refusing compensation over poor communication of state pension age changes. She says the decision ignores maladministration findings and will push campaigners back to court.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: UK Government rejects PHSO compensation remedy for WASPI women Original release: Hanna: UK Government has failed Waspi women (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin calls for urgent action following report on Violence Against Women and Girls
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin urges the Executive to act decisively after a Executive Office report found high rates of sexual, psychological and online abuse among adults and concerning attitudes towards harassment. She calls for faster delivery and proper funding of the Ending Violence…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Executive Office research on attitudes to gender-based violence and VAWG Original release: McLaughlin calls for urgent action following report on Violence Against Women and Girls (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood condemns Government decision to deny WASPI women compensation
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood condemns the UK Government's refusal to pay compensation to WASPI women after the Ombudsman recommended it, calling the decision a cruel betrayal and a blatant disregard for justice.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: UK Government rejects PHSO compensation remedy for WASPI women Original release: Eastwood condemns Government decision to deny WASPI women compensation (opens in a new tab)
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Latest murder highlights need for co-ordinated strategy
DUP representatives Carla Lockhart MP and Diane Dodds say the murder of Karen Cummings in Banbridge shows the need for a co-ordinated strategy on violence against women and girls. They call for a joined-up UK-wide approach, note Northern Ireland's seventh female murder this year, and urge action…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Murder inquiry into Karen Cummings's death in Banbridge Original release: Latest murder highlights need for co-ordinated strategy (opens in a new tab)
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‘Together we must unite and end violence against women and girls’ – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon expresses condolences to the family of Karen Cummings after police opened a murder investigation into her death. She says it is the seventh woman killed in the North in 2024 and urges anyone with information to contact the PSNI.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Murder inquiry into Karen Cummings's death in Banbridge Original release: ‘Together we must unite and end violence against women and girls’ – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Murder of Banbridge woman a devastating and tragic loss, says Alliance representatives.
Alliance's Upper Bann MLA Eóin Tennyson and Banbridge councillor Joy Ferguson express condolences over the death of Karen Cummings, found dead in a Banbridge property, and urge anyone with information to contact police or Crimestoppers. Tennyson links it to the seventh woman killed in Northern…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Murder inquiry into Karen Cummings's death in Banbridge Original release: Murder of Banbridge woman a devastating and tragic loss, says Alliance representatives. (opens in a new tab)
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Hope and change: Left republican cooperation is the way forward – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA writes in An Phoblacht that the 2024 Irish general election has realigned Dáil politics, ending the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael duopoly, and argues left republican and progressive parties should cooperate as an opposition.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: 2024 Irish general election result and realignment of Dáil politics Original release: Hope and change: Left republican cooperation is the way forward – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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‘Welcome news that 2300 new properties can be connected to wastewater infrastructure’ – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson welcomes news that NI Water will have capacity to connect 2,300 new properties to wastewater infrastructure, following Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd’s £19.5 million allocation, and says Sinn Féin will press the British government for fairer funding.
Infrastructure and transport Housing Issue: NI Water capacity for 2,300 new property connections Original release: ‘Welcome news that 2300 new properties can be connected to wastewater infrastructure’ – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)
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Additional funding for NI Water won't address housing and environment issues, warns McMurray
Alliance Infrastructure Spokesperson Andy McMurray MLA says a further £19.5m for NI Water from the October Monitoring round falls well short of its £266m capital shortfall. He calls for the Minister to explore alternative funding models, including mutualisation.
Infrastructure and transport Housing Issue: NI Water capacity for 2,300 new property connections Original release: Additional funding for NI Water won't address housing and environment issues, warns McMurray (opens in a new tab)
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‘Positive news’ that new social homes to be built in west Belfast – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes Belfast City Council Planning Committee approval of a 62-unit social housing development on the Whiterock Road in west Belfast. She says it will house people on the waiting list and includes parking, greenery, a children's centre and open space.
Housing Local government Issue: Whiterock Road social housing development approved by Belfast City Council Original release: ‘Positive news’ that new social homes to be built in west Belfast – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Rising levels of child homelessness ‘deeply concerning’ – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson says rising child homelessness is deeply concerning after new figures showed over 5,300 children in temporary accommodation. She welcomes the new housing supply strategy and says she will bring legislation to curb unfair letting agent fees for private renters.
Housing Issue: New NI child homelessness figures showing over 5,300 children in temporary accommodation Original release: Rising levels of child homelessness ‘deeply concerning’ – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)