Latest releases
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11,733 releases
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Devastating that additional funding for disadvantaged pupils has been cut, says Egan
Alliance Education spokesperson Connie Egan MLA says it is devastating that funding for disadvantaged pupils has been cut, after the Department of Education told schools the counselling and homework club support for 500 schools is ending due to savings. She blames the lack of a restored Executive…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Education ending disadvantaged schools funding scheme Original release: Devastating that additional funding for disadvantaged pupils has been cut, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP: Everyone has a part to play in fighting climate emergency
SDLP climate spokesperson Gary McKeown says everyone, from governments and large firms to households, must share responsibility ahead of Earth Day 2023, urging councils to use recycling, pollution controls and planning for biodiversity. SDLP active travel spokesperson Simon Lee calls for…
Environment and climate Local government Original release: SDLP: Everyone has a part to play in fighting climate emergency (opens in a new tab)
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People Before Profit Standing In North’s Local Elections
People Before Profit says it will stand candidates in the May 18th Northern Ireland local elections in Belfast, Derry, Strabane and Coleraine. It urges workers on picket lines to back the party, criticises the DUP and mainstream parties over rates rises, and calls for wealthier residents to pay…
Economy and employment Local government Original release: People Before Profit Standing In North’s Local Elections (opens in a new tab)
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Extended Schools decision underscores need to prioritise education…
DUP Education Spokesperson Diane Dodds, the Upper Bann MLA, calls for a fundamental overhaul of how education is financed after warning that the Extended Schools programme is likely to be one of several casualties of a shortfall in the education budget. She urges education to be placed alongside…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Extended Schools Programme funding cut and June closure Original release: Extended Schools decision underscores need to prioritise education… (opens in a new tab)
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Attacks in Israel place fresh focus on SF foreign policy stance:…
DUP MP Jim Shannon says recent Middle East events have refocused attention on Sinn Féin's foreign policy, accusing the party of backing Hamas, promoting a boycott of Israeli goods and siding with dictators, and calls for greater scrutiny of its stance.
International affairs Issue: Attacks in Israel and Commons statement by Foreign Office Minister Andrew Mitchell Original release: Attacks in Israel place fresh focus on SF foreign policy stance:… (opens in a new tab)
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‘Savage cuts to Extended Schools deeply unacceptable’ – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says cuts of 75% to the Extended Schools Programme, which is to end in June, are deeply unacceptable and calls for an Executive to be formed now to protect public services.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Extended Schools Programme funding cut and June closure Original release: ‘Savage cuts to Extended Schools deeply unacceptable’ – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Home Office causing crisis within our fishing industry – Lockhart
DUP EFRA Spokesperson Carla Lockhart urges the Home Secretary to reverse the Home Office's refusal of a time‑limited concession that would let overseas crew enter the UK fishing industry via the Skilled Visa route, saying the decision threatens crew supply, seafood output and industry welfare.
Immigration Economy and employment Issue: Home Office refusal of fishing crew Skilled Visa concession Original release: Home Office causing crisis within our fishing industry – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong calls for free dental treatment and sight tests for UC claimants
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong calls on the Health and Communities departments to legislate so Universal Credit claimants in Northern Ireland get free dental treatment and sight tests automatically, as in the rest of the UK. She says current HC1 form applications create unnecessary red tape ahead…
Social security and welfare Health Original release: Armstrong calls for free dental treatment and sight tests for UC claimants (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Loss of funding for disadvantaged schools shameful
SDLP Education Spokesperson and West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan calls the loss of funding for around 500 disadvantaged schools shameful, after the Department of Education cited budgetary pressures, and urges MLAs and Ministers back at Stormont.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Education ending disadvantaged schools funding scheme Original release: McCrossan: Loss of funding for disadvantaged schools shameful (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey - "We must get the foundations right"
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP responds to the Prime Minister's comments, saying devolution must rest on support from both unionists and nationalists and that the DUP stands ready to work with the Government to restore the Assembly. He rejects reform that excludes unionists.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Prime Minister's comments on devolution and institutional reform, April 2023 Original release: Sir Jeffrey - "We must get the foundations right" (opens in a new tab)
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Implementing the partition of the U.K. and putting Sinn Fein in charge of government won’t save the Union Prime Minister
TUV leader Jim Allister criticises the Prime Minister's Belfast Agreement anniversary event at Hillsbrough Castle, arguing that installing Sinn Fein in government and a Stormont bound by the Protocol will not strengthen the Union. He publishes his letter declining the invitation, saying the…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Prime Minister's Belfast Agreement 25th anniversary gala dinner at Hillsbrough Castle Original release: Implementing the partition of the U.K. and putting Sinn Fein in charge of government won’t save the Union Prime Minister (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to tackle chronic autism diagnosis waiting lists – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says an Executive is needed urgently to tackle chronic waiting lists for autism diagnosis and to implement the autism strategy, which she says is being held up without a functioning Executive.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Executive needed to tackle chronic autism diagnosis waiting lists – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly reform cannot be a cloak for unionist exclusion
DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart accuses the Alliance Party of seeking to exclude unionism under the guise of Assembly reform because it disagrees with unionist views. She says institutional change must come through cross-community consensus and that unionists will not be bullied or excluded.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Assembly reform cannot be a cloak for unionist exclusion (opens in a new tab)
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BBC decision to cut NW200 coverage
TUV's Jim Allister says the BBC's decision to cut North West 200 coverage shows bias, claiming it is expanding GAA output while scaling back a sporting event that draws large crowds from all backgrounds. TUV Causeway council candidate Allister Kyle calls the cut outrageous, saying it will…
Community relations and legacy Issue: BBC decision to cut North West 200 coverage Original release: BBC decision to cut NW200 coverage (opens in a new tab)
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Governments Celebrating a Good Friday Agreement That No Longer has a Pulse. – Tóibín
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD says the British and Irish governments are marking the Good Friday Agreement while its institutions sit idle, blaming the DUP for holding Stormont hostage and calling the governments' celebrations hollow.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Good Friday Agreement anniversary celebrations amid Stormont collapse Original release: Governments Celebrating a Good Friday Agreement That No Longer has a Pulse. – Tóibín (opens in a new tab)
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Successful pre-loved toy scheme shows politics done properly
Green Party Councillor Aine Groogan says a Belfast pre-loved toy scheme that reached 2,000 children last Christmas shows politics can make a difference. She calls for the toy collection to become an annual event across the city, citing a report that diverted around 7.5 tonnes of items from landfill.
Local government Issue: Belfast pre-loved toy scheme report on Christmas 2022 donations Original release: Successful pre-loved toy scheme shows politics done properly (opens in a new tab)
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Windsor tightens the Protocol knot
TUV leader Jim Allister, speaking in Ballyhalbert in support of Ards Peninsula candidate Tom Thompson, says the Windsor Framework tightens rather than loosens the Protocol, leaving EU law and the ECJ in control of GB-NI internal trade, including the green lanes.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Windsor Framework green lanes arrangement for GB-NI trade Original release: Windsor tightens the Protocol knot (opens in a new tab)
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Maskey welcomes council approval for new housing development in West Belfast
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey welcomes Belfast City Council's approval of a planning bid for social homes on Blackstaff Way in west Belfast. He says it will help ease housing stress, which he puts at over 8,000 people, and criticises parties that opposed the scheme.
Housing Local government Issue: Blackstaff Way social housing scheme approved by Belfast City Council Original release: Maskey welcomes council approval for new housing development in West Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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We need stable government not endless political drift – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald, marking 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement, calls for all political leaders to share power and restore a functioning government, urging the DUP to make a decision as Stormont remains stalled.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement Original release: We need stable government not endless political drift – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson - "NIO’s approach has been patronising towards unionist…
DUP East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson cautions the Northern Ireland Secretary of State that the Belfast and successor Agreements rest on cross-community support, calling the NIO's approach patronising towards unionist concerns. He says Stormont will not be restored without arrangements restoring…
Constitutional affairs Original release: Robinson - "NIO’s approach has been patronising towards unionist… (opens in a new tab)