Latest releases
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1,463 releases
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Budget highlights need for reform and transformation again, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood says the October 2024 Budget highlights the need for political reform and public service transformation, citing unresolved long-term finances, unclear Shared Prosperity Fund funding and calls for a relative needs review and removal of the two-child benefit limit.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: UK Budget October 2024 impact on Northern Ireland Original release: Budget highlights need for reform and transformation again, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan calls for hardship payments as pensioners miss out on Winter Fuel support
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan calls for urgent clarity on a one-off hardship payment for pensioners losing Winter Fuel Allowance, after Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said his department is exploring options. He says the department has not updated him in seven weeks and has yet to assess the impact on…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Winter Fuel Payment cuts and proposed one-off hardship payment for pensioners Original release: Durkan calls for hardship payments as pensioners miss out on Winter Fuel support (opens in a new tab)
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‘There can be no tolerance for racism in our society’ – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey welcomes a Council of Europe ECRI report on racism in the North, saying racist bullying, harassment and attacks must be confronted and paramilitary involvement called out. She backs the report's call for mandatory education on decolonisation, black history and…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Council of Europe ECRI report on racism in Northern Ireland Original release: ‘There can be no tolerance for racism in our society’ – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds welcome investment in provision for children with disabilities
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds, the Upper Bann MLA, welcomes new investment in services for children with disabilities and says it is long overdue. She calls for the recommendations of Professor Ray Jones's report on children's social care to be taken forward.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Additional investment in services for children with disabilities Original release: Dodds welcome investment in provision for children with disabilities (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers welcomes Health Ministers’ commitment to additional support for children with Disabilities
UUP Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes the Health Minister's identification of up to £2m for this year, within up to £13m multi-year funding, to improve services for children with disabilities. He links it to the Spotlight documentary 'I am not okay' and praises the Minister's…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Additional investment in services for children with disabilities Original release: Chambers welcomes Health Ministers’ commitment to additional support for children with Disabilities (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister welcomes announcement from Health Minister outlining plans to improve services for children with disabilities, stating it shouldn’t have taken this long.
Alliance Health spokesperson and North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister welcomes the Health Minister's plan to invest in children's disability services, including more short breaks and community family and behavioural supports. She says the funding is long overdue and asks for clarity on multi-use…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Additional investment in services for children with disabilities Original release: McAllister welcomes announcement from Health Minister outlining plans to improve services for children with disabilities, stating it shouldn’t have taken this long. (opens in a new tab)
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Guy pays tribute to those campaigning for Harry’s Law.
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA pays tribute to Deirdre Shakespeare and campaigners after a Public Services Ombudsman report on restraint of her autistic, non-verbal son. She calls for statutory restraint guidance timelines, repeal of Article 4(1)(c) of the Education (NI) Order…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Public Services Ombudsman report on restraint of Harry Shakespeare Original release: Guy pays tribute to those campaigning for Harry’s Law. (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath welcomes funding to support respite for children with disabilities
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath welcomes £13m multi-year funding from Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to increase short break respite for children with disabilities. He says he will seek urgent clarity on the impact on other health services.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Additional investment in services for children with disabilities Original release: McGrath welcomes funding to support respite for children with disabilities (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna raises violence against women and girls in Commons
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP highlighted the surge in violence against women and girls during a Commons debate, citing a femicide rate twice that of Britain and urging immediate, cross‑government action, clear funding for the Executive strategy and societal behavioural change.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Violence against women and girls debate in Commons Original release: Hanna raises violence against women and girls in Commons (opens in a new tab)
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Campbell welcomes confirmation on Veterans Commissioner appointment
The DUP's Gregory Campbell welcomes written confirmation from Secretary of State Hilary Benn that a new Veterans Commissioner could be named by year-end, saying the post has been vacant for almost two months.
Social security and welfare Issue: Veterans Commissioner appointment timetable confirmed by Secretary of State Original release: Campbell welcomes confirmation on Veterans Commissioner appointment (opens in a new tab)
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Budget must reward hard work and endeavour – Robinson
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP says the party has sent the Treasury a letter setting out its asks ahead of the 30 October Budget, calling for fairness on NI public service funding, working family taxation and childcare, fuel duty, and farming inheritance tax relief.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: DUP letter to Treasury ahead of October 2024 Budget Original release: Budget must reward hard work and endeavour – Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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Those with broadest shoulders must bear most burden, says Eastwood, calling for tax on super-wealthy.
Alliance Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood urges Chancellor Rachel Reeves, in a cross‑party letter ahead of the Autumn Budget, to introduce a tax on extreme wealth and consider carbon taxes on fossil‑fuel firms to fund public services.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: UK Autumn Budget wealth tax proposal Original release: Those with broadest shoulders must bear most burden, says Eastwood, calling for tax on super-wealthy. (opens in a new tab)
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Vital that work starts now towards meaningful action, says Alliance Education representatives, following IRE report.
Alliance MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy welcome the Education Minister’s response to the Independent Review of Education but say essential recommendations lack ambition, urging immediate action on raising participation age, SEN, academic selection, integrated schooling and an Early Childhood
Education Disability and equality Issue: Independent Review of Education recommendations response Original release: Vital that work starts now towards meaningful action, says Alliance Education representatives, following IRE report. (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath welcomes recognition of need for increased respite provision
SDLP Health Spokesperson and South Down MLA Colin McGrath welcomes the Assembly's backing for more respite care for children and adults with complex needs and severe behavioural challenges. He says the SDLP amended a motion on adult provision to cover children, and he calls on the Health Minister…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on respite services for learning disability carers Original release: McGrath welcomes recognition of need for increased respite provision (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Minister of Health must rethink refusal of Women's Health Strategy
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin urges the Health Minister to rethink his decision not to develop a dedicated Women's Health Strategy, after he cited budget constraints in an Assembly answer. She calls the refusal a backwards step for women's health.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Health Minister decision not to develop Women's Health Strategy Original release: McLaughlin: Minister of Health must rethink refusal of Women's Health Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin motion supporting improved respite services passes in Assembly – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the Assembly's passage of a party motion urging the health minister to swiftly produce a plan to expand respite care for adults and children with learning disabilities and their carers.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on respite services for learning disability carers Original release: Sinn Féin motion supporting improved respite services passes in Assembly – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister welcomes Language Launchpad
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan announces the launch of Language Launchpad, a project funded under the £25m Early Learning and Childcare package to support speech, language and communication development in early years, running until March 2025.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Language Launchpad early years speech and language project launch Original release: Education Minister welcomes Language Launchpad (opens in a new tab)
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Ógra Aontú condemns recent Taliban human rights violation
Ógra Aontú condemns new Taliban "vice and virtue" laws requiring women to veil fully in public and banning women's voices outside the home. President John Bryan calls on the UN and EU to stop normalising relations with the Taliban and to hold it accountable.
Disability and equality International affairs Issue: Taliban vice and virtue laws restricting women's public voices and faces Original release: Ógra Aontú condemns recent Taliban human rights violation (opens in a new tab)
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Mulholland commends strength and resilience of rural women on International Day of Rural Women.
Alliance North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland urges wider recognition of the difficulties rural women encounter, pointing to job insecurity, limited childcare, and poor access to healthcare and transport in North Antrim, on International Day of Rural Women.
Disability and equality Economy and employment Original release: Mulholland commends strength and resilience of rural women on International Day of Rural Women. (opens in a new tab)
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Public health proposals not fit for purpose – Kimmins
Sinn Féin spokesperson for health Liz Kimmins says the Department of Health's public health consultation is not fit for purpose, citing the lack of Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessments. She says Sinn Féin does not back the Health Minister's approach to a new Public Health Bill.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Department of Health consultation on new Public Health Bill powers Original release: Public health proposals not fit for purpose – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)