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4,032 releases
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Lack of equality legislation for 20 years a shocking dereliction of duty, says Bradshaw
Alliance's Paula Bradshaw, Executive Office spokesperson, says the First and deputy First Minister's failure to bring forward equality legislation in 20 years is a dereliction of duty, citing an Assembly answer from the joint FMdFM office. She calls for institutional reform so that outdated…
Disability and equality Issue: Assembly answer on absence of equality legislation from Executive Office Original release: Lack of equality legislation for 20 years a shocking dereliction of duty, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister should confirm children will not lose classroom assistants – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan calls on the Education Authority and the Education Minister to confirm that no child currently receiving a classroom assistant will lose that support under new EA proposals. He says the policy could reduce or remove one-to-one help for some children and that his party…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority classroom assistant support policy proposals Original release: Education Minister should confirm children will not lose classroom assistants – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Deis ag Ard Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge díriú ar Éire nua a thógáil – Kearney | Conradh na Gaeilge Ard Fheis an opportunity to focus on building a new Ireland – Kearney
Sinn Féin's National Chairperson Declan Kearney, speaking ahead of Conradh na Gaeilge's Ard Fheis, calls Belfast's selection as host city significant and says its theme on the Irish language in a united Ireland is timely. He adds that he will join a panel discussion at the event.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Original release: Deis ag Ard Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge díriú ar Éire nua a thógáil – Kearney | Conradh na Gaeilge Ard Fheis an opportunity to focus on building a new Ireland – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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New framework welcome but statutory duty of candour needed to ensure openness and transparency, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA welcomes the new Being Open Framework for Health and Social Care, due to start on 1 April, but says only a statutory duty of candour will guarantee the openness and transparency the service needs.
Health Issue: Being Open Framework for Health and Social Care publication Original release: New framework welcome but statutory duty of candour needed to ensure openness and transparency, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Political institutions must be inclusive and representative of persons with disabilities, says Armstrong
Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong says political institutions should reflect and include people with disabilities. She made the remarks after being selected by the Assembly to attend a Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities regional forum in Edinburgh on 20-21 February 2026.
Disability and equality Original release: Political institutions must be inclusive and representative of persons with disabilities, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Puberty blockers trial never justified and should be permanently…
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds says Health Minister's position on the puberty blocker trial defies logic, accusing the Ulster Unionist Party of reversing its support within 24 hours. She calls for the trial to be permanently ended, not just paused.
Health Issue: Northern Ireland withdrawal from puberty blocker trial Original release: Puberty blockers trial never justified and should be permanently… (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds Challenges First Minister Over Veterans Support
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says the First Minister's reply to her Question Time question on veterans was dismissive and offensive. She calls for devolved services such as housing, health and employment support to better recognise the barriers veterans and their families face from repeated deployments and…
Health Issue: First Minister's Question Time reply on veterans support Original release: Dodds Challenges First Minister Over Veterans Support (opens in a new tab)
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Consistent mental health data needed to support those struggling – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn says the lack of accurate, consistent mental‑health data in the north hampers service planning and delivery, and calls for a single, standardised data system to help health trusts better plan and support those in need.
Health Issue: Sinn Féin motion for single mental health data system Original release: Consistent mental health data needed to support those struggling – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna condemns racist graffiti
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP condemns racist graffiti on the Bass Buildings in Alfred Street, Belfast, which a Belfast Asian Women's Academy representative said contained a death threat. She says racism and hate are on the rise and calls for a society-wide response.
Disability and equality Issue: Racist graffiti found at Belfast city centre residential building Original release: Hanna condemns racist graffiti (opens in a new tab)
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Sexual crimes during the Troubles must be addressed in the Legacy Bill
UUP Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA says he will table a motion on 17 February urging the Government to add sexual crimes as a specific criterion in the Legacy Commission Bill’s Troubles investigation, and calls on the First and Deputy First Minister to back it.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Legacy Commission Bill – inclusion of sexual crimes Original release: Sexual crimes during the Troubles must be addressed in the Legacy Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Racist graffiti in Bass Buildings reinforces cost of inaction on tackling racism, says Bradshaw
Alliance's Paula Bradshaw MLA says racist graffiti found in a Belfast city centre residential building shows the cost of inaction on racism, blaming the First and deputy First Minister for failing to act. She calls for an update to the Race Relations Order and a Racial Equality Strategy.
Disability and equality Issue: Racist graffiti found at Belfast city centre residential building Original release: Racist graffiti in Bass Buildings reinforces cost of inaction on tackling racism, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Welcome Nesbitt u-turn but major questions remain on his approach to puberty blockers
TUV equality spokeswoman Ann McClure welcomes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's reversal on Northern Ireland's role in the puberty blocker trial but says he must explain how the decision was made and reversed. Party colleague Timothy Gaston is seeking an urgent Assembly answer from the Minister, and…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Northern Ireland withdrawal from puberty blocker trial Original release: Welcome Nesbitt u-turn but major questions remain on his approach to puberty blockers (opens in a new tab)
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PEACEPLUS funding from Brussels must be safeguarded – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes urges the EU to keep PEACEPLUS funding in place beyond 2027, after a Joint Committee briefing revealed no guaranteed Brussels allocation despite the programme continuing.
Community relations and legacy International affairs Issue: Peace Plus funding beyond current programme period after EU extension proposal Original release: PEACEPLUS funding from Brussels must be safeguarded – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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British government delay to Pat Finucane Inquiry ‘inexcusable’ – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey calls on the British government to publish the final Terms of Reference for the Pat Finucane Inquiry so it can begin, after Geraldine Finucane appealed for publication. Hargey accuses London of stalling and delaying on truth and justice for the family.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Pat Finucane Inquiry Terms of Reference publication delay Original release: British government delay to Pat Finucane Inquiry ‘inexcusable’ – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Gannon: Unacceptable to face up to 90 minute journeys in health emergency
SDLP Fermanagh and Omagh councillor Adam Gannon says it is unacceptable that Fermanagh patients face up to 90-minute emergency journeys to Altnagelvin, citing an Assembly answer from Health Minister Mike Nesbitt showing a 2025 average of 1 hour 26 minutes. He calls for immediate local provision…
Health Issue: South West Acute Hospital emergency general surgery removal patient journey times Original release: Gannon: Unacceptable to face up to 90 minute journeys in health emergency (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: FM and DFM cannot override wishes of victims
SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin says the First Minister and deputy First Minister were wrong to seek changes to wording on a memorial plaque for historical and institutional abuse victims. She calls for them to clarify who drove the proposal to remove references to "the state".
Community relations and legacy Issue: Memorial plaque wording change for historical institutional abuse victims Original release: McLaughlin: FM and DFM cannot override wishes of victims (opens in a new tab)
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Commissioning of ADHD services vital, says McReynolds, following publication of ADHD Needs Assessment Report
Alliance East Belfast MLA Peter McReynolds welcomes the ADHD Needs Assessment Report and its proposals for a commissioned ADHD service across Northern Ireland. He calls on the Minister to act on the recommendations and deliver the support people with the condition need.
Health Disability and equality Issue: ADHD Needs Assessment Report publication and commissioned service proposals Original release: Commissioning of ADHD services vital, says McReynolds, following publication of ADHD Needs Assessment Report (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart: Cancer Delays Demand Action, Not Assurances
DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart calls for urgent delivery on cancer services after the Secretary of State's response in the Commons, citing about 30 per cent of patients treated within expected timeframes. She demands ring-fenced Barnett consequentials for cancer diagnostics, radiotherapy and…
Health Issue: Northern Ireland cancer waiting times and outcomes in the Commons Original release: Lockhart: Cancer Delays Demand Action, Not Assurances (opens in a new tab)
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Kenova Report confirms collusion was British state policy – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald, speaking in Dáil statements on Operation Kenova, says the findings show collusion was a deliberate British state policy, not an aberration, and that MI5 obstructed the investigation.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Operation Kenova report findings on collusion Original release: Kenova Report confirms collusion was British state policy – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers welcomes latest example of Northern Ireland health service innovation
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes confirmation that the Royal Victoria Hospital is the first in the UK to trial the Volt Pulsed Field Ablation system for atrial fibrillation. He credits Belfast clinical teams and says the approach allows up to three patients per day and frees…
Health Issue: Royal Victoria Hospital Volt Pulsed Field Ablation UK-first trial Original release: Chambers welcomes latest example of Northern Ireland health service innovation (opens in a new tab)