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3,065 releases
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O’Toole: Speaker’s rebuke underlines importance of constructive Opposition
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA endorses the Speaker's rebuke of MLAs over the standard of Assembly debate, accusing Executive parties of treating the Chamber as an inconvenience. He points to Sinn Féin and other parties failing to vote or attend at an Opposition Day.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Speaker Edwin Poots rebuke to MLAs over Assembly debate standards Original release: O’Toole: Speaker’s rebuke underlines importance of constructive Opposition (opens in a new tab)
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Guy calls for additional support for school children impacted by racial violence
Alliance education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA calls on the Department of Education to allocate extra resources to the Education Authority and schools to support children affected by recent racial violence across Northern Ireland. She says newcomer children have been absent from school and asks…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Racial violence impact on school children and newcomer absences Original release: Guy calls for additional support for school children impacted by racial violence (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive failing young people with SEN
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says the Executive is letting down young people with special educational needs, arguing the Economy Minister's new post-school support proposals fall well short and calling for joined-up, fully resourced help.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Economy Minister's post-school proposals for pupils with additional needs Original release: Durkan: Executive failing young people with SEN (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew challenges Communities Minister over ‘irresponsible’ social media post
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew questioned Communities Minister Gordon Lyons on actions to secure safe housing for families driven from their Ballymena homes by racist thugs and condemned the minister’s recent Larne Leisure Centre social media post as irresponsible.
Housing Disability and equality Issue: Gordon Lyons social media post on Larne community centre housing Original release: Gildernew challenges Communities Minister over ‘irresponsible’ social media post (opens in a new tab)
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Minister’s statement on SEN protections must be backed up with action…
DUP MLA Phillip Brett, Chair of Stormont's Economy Committee, welcomes the Economy Minister's statement on special educational needs protections as a step forward, but calls for decisive action and legislative safeguards for young people moving into further education, skills and training.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Economy Minister's statement on SEN transition protections Original release: Minister’s statement on SEN protections must be backed up with action… (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin committed to improving support for children with special educational needs – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker welcomes Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald's Assembly proposals to expand post-school options, strengthen further education transitions through new legislation, and fund college accessibility upgrades. He urges Health and Education ministers to commit to the changes.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Economy Minister's post-school proposals for pupils with additional needs Original release: Sinn Féin committed to improving support for children with special educational needs – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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South Belfast racist graffiti ‘deplorable’ – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey condemns racist graffiti sprayed on a home in Chadwick Street, south Belfast, calling the behaviour hateful and urging anyone with information to contact the PSNI so those responsible can face justice.
Disability and equality Issue: Racist graffiti on a home in Chadwick Street, south Belfast Original release: South Belfast racist graffiti ‘deplorable’ – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Allister calls on Government to tighten border controls
TUV leader and North Antrim MP Jim Allister calls on the UK Government to address unfettered access to Northern Ireland via the Republic of Ireland, claiming freedom of movement has effectively continued and that border controls are not being exercised. He says the Protocol could worsen this.
Immigration International affairs Original release: Allister calls on Government to tighten border controls (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP opposition to demand action and accountability after race riots
SDLP Opposition Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA demands a coordinated Executive response to the recent riots, including more PSNI resources, updated hate crime laws and timelines for refugee integration and racial equality strategies. The party also calls for clarity on any loyalist paramilitary…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Ballymena and Larne race riots and Executive response Original release: SDLP opposition to demand action and accountability after race riots (opens in a new tab)
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Violence in Portadown deplorable and unacceptable, says Tennyson
Alliance Upper Bann MLA Eóin Tennyson condemns overnight violence in Portadown, in which police were attacked and 22 officers injured, calling it deplorable and unacceptable. He says those responsible do not speak for the town's majority and expresses solidarity with migrant and ethnic minority…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Portadown overnight violence against police and migrant communities Original release: Violence in Portadown deplorable and unacceptable, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Boyle condemns suspected arson attack in Coleraine
Alliance councillor Yvonne Boyle, an Alderman, condemns an overnight arson attack on a Coleraine home that police are treating as racially motivated, and urges anyone with information to contact the PSNI or Crimestoppers.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Coleraine house arson attack treated as racially motivated Original release: Boyle condemns suspected arson attack in Coleraine (opens in a new tab)
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Egan and Muir condemn racist graffiti in Bangor
Alliance North Down MLAs Connie Egan and Andrew Muir condemn racist graffiti in Bangor, including on a residential property, and say they have asked the PSNI and NI Housing Executive to remove and investigate it urgently. They urge anyone with information to contact police or Crimestoppers.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Racist graffiti in Bangor condemned by Alliance MLAs Original release: Egan and Muir condemn racist graffiti in Bangor (opens in a new tab)
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‘No child should be priced out of a school because of the cost of a uniform’ – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says the School Uniforms Bill offers a chance to modernise uniform policy, and calls for proposals covering affordability, accessibility for children with special educational needs, and allowing girls to wear trousers.
Education Disability and equality Issue: School Uniforms Bill Education Committee sitting Original release: ‘No child should be priced out of a school because of the cost of a uniform’ – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney appeals for community calm in Antrim Town and support for local police
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, appeals for calm in Antrim Town after speaking with senior PSNI management about a racist protest near the Holiday Inn Hotel. He asks for assurances that resources are sufficient and calls for united leadership against racism and neo-Nazi paramilitarism.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Racist protest near Holiday Inn Hotel in Antrim Town Original release: Kearney appeals for community calm in Antrim Town and support for local police (opens in a new tab)
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O’Dowd calls for political leadership amid reports of racist protest in Portadown
Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd urges politicians, especially those with influence in greater Portadown, to distance themselves from a reported racist protest planned for Thursday evening and publicly back a boycott. He cites a flyer suggesting homes and a hostel could be targeted.
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Issue: Reported racist protest planned for Portadown on Thursday evening Original release: O’Dowd calls for political leadership amid reports of racist protest in Portadown (opens in a new tab)
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Finucane condemns attacks on homes in north Belfast
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane condemns suspected racist attacks on homes near the Ballysillan area of north Belfast, says the families affected will be contacted for support, and urges anyone with information to contact the PSNI.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Suspected racist attacks on homes near Ballysillan, north Belfast Original release: Finucane condemns attacks on homes in north Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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UK Government continuing to balance books on backs of the most vulnerable, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood says the UK Labour Government's first Spending Review confirms a failed austerity model, criticising cuts to disability support, the retention of the two child limit and the refusal to introduce a wealth tax, while welcoming NHS and Casement Park funding.
Public finance and taxation Social security and welfare Issue: UK Government first Spending Review 2025 Original release: UK Government continuing to balance books on backs of the most vulnerable, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Buchanan urges groups to apply for Ulster-Scots Music & Dance funding
Mid Ulster DUP MLA Keith Buchanan welcomes the Ulster-Scots Agency's new music and dance tuition funding scheme and urges eligible groups to apply, saying it will help pass these traditions on to younger generations.
Disability and equality Issue: Ulster-Scots Agency music and dance tuition funding programme launch Original release: Buchanan urges groups to apply for Ulster-Scots Music & Dance funding (opens in a new tab)
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Government must act now to better protect women and girls - Frew
DUP MLA for North Antrim Paul Frew calls on the Government to act urgently to protect women and girls, citing two recent serious sexual assaults on teenage girls in Ballymena. He urges the PSNI and statutory agencies to address challenges in Houses of Multiple Occupation and illegal immigration.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Ballymena sexual assaults on teenage girls Original release: Government must act now to better protect women and girls - Frew (opens in a new tab)
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TUV question if Stonewall played a role in NICS attendance at Belfast Pride
TUV Equality Spokeswoman Ann McClure questions whether fear of falling in Stonewall's equality index influenced the Northern Ireland Civil Service's participation in Belfast Pride, and says TUV will table an Assembly question and submit a Freedom of Information request on the decision.
Disability and equality Issue: NICS participation in Belfast Pride 2025 and Stonewall links Original release: TUV question if Stonewall played a role in NICS attendance at Belfast Pride (opens in a new tab)