Latest releases
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1,378 releases
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Alliance calls for recall of Assembly over racially-motivated violence
Alliance calls for the Assembly to be recalled after racially motivated criminal damage to Belfast business premises, submitting a recall petition and urging other parties to sign. Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA calls on the First and deputy First Minister to reverse cuts to good relations work…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Belfast racially motivated criminal damage to businesses, Assembly recall call Original release: Alliance calls for recall of Assembly over racially-motivated violence (opens in a new tab)
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Orchestrated and cynical racist attacks "deplorable" - Cllr Groogan
Green Party Councillor Áine Groogan for Botanic DEA condemns racist attacks and intimidation in South Belfast, calls for urgent practical support for those affected and a special council meeting for a cross-party response, and says political leaders, press and social media must be held to account.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Belfast disorder following weekend rallies, August 2024 Original release: Orchestrated and cynical racist attacks "deplorable" - Cllr Groogan (opens in a new tab)
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‘No place for racism, hatred, discrimination and intimidation’ – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey says she offered ongoing support and solidarity to representatives of Northern Ireland's ethnic minority community, pledging that all residents should feel welcome, safe and respected in society.
Disability and equality Original release: ‘No place for racism, hatred, discrimination and intimidation’ – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Funding must be prioritised for Belfast wide early years pilot programme – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker urges the Education Minister to engage with affected organisations and protect funding for the Belfast-wide early years pilot, which supports disadvantaged children with special educational needs, amid uncertainty over its continuation.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Belfast wide early years pilot programme funding uncertainty Original release: Funding must be prioritised for Belfast wide early years pilot programme – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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TUV speaks up for female sport
TUV Bannside councillor Anna Henry says a male boxer's win over a female opponent in the women's boxing at the Paris Olympics is destructive and dangerous for female sport. She claims the woke agenda has damaged the Games.
Disability and equality Issue: Paris Olympics women's boxing bout involving a male-born competitor Original release: TUV speaks up for female sport (opens in a new tab)
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Extension to victims pension scheme the right decision - Bunting
DUP MLA Joanne Bunting, chair of the Assembly's Justice Committee, welcomes the Government's decision to extend the application deadline for the Troubles Permanent Disability Payment Scheme to August 2026. She says slow administration has frustrated applicants and calls for continued support for…
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Issue: Troubles Permanent Disability Payment Scheme deadline extended to August 2026 Original release: Extension to victims pension scheme the right decision - Bunting (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance representatives welcome two-year extension of the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme
Alliance welcomes the UK Government's decision to extend the deadline for backdated applications to the Troubles disablement payment scheme until August 2026, and says the review report due later this month must now be considered.
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Issue: Troubles Permanent Disability Payment Scheme deadline extended to August 2026 Original release: Alliance representatives welcome two-year extension of the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty urges response to Belfast deaths
SDLP councillor Paul Doherty calls for a swift, multi-agency response after five deaths in Belfast, linked to homelessness, addiction and mental health, and urges the Executive to reverse budget cuts to homelessness groups. He says he is helping the Welcome Organisation find a new premises after…
Housing Health Issue: Belfast deaths linked to Welcome Organisation headquarters closure Original release: Doherty urges response to Belfast deaths (opens in a new tab)
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Hughes welcomes decision to allow northern citizens to enter All-Ireland Final competition
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes welcomes RTÉ's decision to let people from Northern Ireland enter its All-Ireland Final ticket competition after initially excluding them. He says the change is a step towards removing barriers for northern citizens using RTÉ's services.
Disability and equality Issue: RTÉ All-Ireland Final ticket competition open to northern citizens Original release: Hughes welcomes decision to allow northern citizens to enter All-Ireland Final competition (opens in a new tab)
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Time to Get Serious About Use of Public Money – Shannon
DUP MP for Strangford Jim Shannon urges the Chancellor to scrutinise how current public money is spent instead of raising taxes, citing a think tank figure of £557 million a year on equality, diversity and inclusion staff while the two-child benefit cap remains.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: Time to Get Serious About Use of Public Money – Shannon (opens in a new tab)
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Attacks against a homelessness support charity "despicable" - Ash Jones
Green Party West Belfast representative Ash Jones condemns recent attacks and intimidation targeting the Welcome Centre, a homelessness charity in the inner west of Belfast, calling them despicable.
Housing Issue: West Belfast Welcome Centre arson attack Original release: Attacks against a homelessness support charity "despicable" - Ash Jones (opens in a new tab)
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Hughes reacts to RTÉ news bulletin resumption for north
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes welcomes RTÉ's decision to reverse geo-blocking of its news bulletins for viewers in the north, but asks why northern viewers were blocked initially. He criticises continued blocking of Olympic coverage and says he will seek a meeting with the Media Minister and RTÉ…
Disability and equality Issue: RTÉ News geo-blocking of northern viewers Original release: Hughes reacts to RTÉ news bulletin resumption for north (opens in a new tab)
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Geo-Blocking RTÉ News is treating northern citizens with contempt – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes calls on RTÉ to immediately reverse its geo-blocking of RTÉ News for northern viewers, which he says treats citizens with contempt. He cites the Gaelic football final and Olympic coverage, and says he will write to the Media Minister and RTÉ's Director General.
Disability and equality Issue: RTÉ News geo-blocking of northern viewers Original release: Geo-Blocking RTÉ News is treating northern citizens with contempt – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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New Race Relations legislation must be much higher priority by First and deputy First Minister, says Bradshaw
Alliance Executive Office Spokesperson and South Belfast MLA Paula Bradshaw calls for the First and deputy First Minister to bring forward a new Race Relations Order much more urgently, after they indicated it could not come until 2026. She says racially motivated attacks are too common and urges…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Race Relations legislation timetable delay until 2026 Original release: New Race Relations legislation must be much higher priority by First and deputy First Minister, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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As Media & Tourism spokesperson, I will stand up for workers and quality services – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD
Dublin South Central TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh welcomes his new Sinn Féin portfolio covering tourism and media, and pledges to press for workers' rights, high-quality public services, and sustainable direct exchequer funding for RTÉ instead of the licence fee. He also calls for an all-Ireland approach…
Economy and employment Housing Issue: Aengus Ó Snodaigh appointed Sinn Féin tourism and media spokesperson Original release: As Media & Tourism spokesperson, I will stand up for workers and quality services – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD (opens in a new tab)
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The Minister for Communities must invest in homelessness prevention services, says Armstrong
Alliance Housing Spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to prioritise homelessness prevention investment, citing 47,312 households on social housing waiting lists, 29,394 of them with homelessness status, and warning of pressure on other services.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Social housing waiting lists reach 47,312 households Original release: The Minister for Communities must invest in homelessness prevention services, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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UK Government should ditch punitive Tory plans on Personal Independence Payments, says Mulholland
Alliance benefits spokesperson Sian Mulholland MLA calls on the new UK Government to drop the Conservative proposals to reform Personal Independence Payments, after the DWP consultation closed. She says the plans to tie eligibility to a medical diagnosis and replace monthly payments with vouchers…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: DWP consultation on Personal Independence Payments reform closes Original release: UK Government should ditch punitive Tory plans on Personal Independence Payments, says Mulholland (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Budget cut will worsen housing crisis
SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan warns that cuts to the Housing Executive budget will hit families across the North, after the Executive's body said funding gaps would limit new social housing to 400 homes this year against a 2,000 target. He calls for immediate action from the Executive and a properly…
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Housing Executive budget shortfall and reduced social house building targets Original release: McCrossan: Budget cut will worsen housing crisis (opens in a new tab)
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Kathleen Funchion MEP appointed to key European Parliament Committees
Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland South Kathleen Funchion says she will stand up for workers and families after being appointed to the Regional Development, Employment and FEMM (Women's Rights) committees. She pledges regionally balanced investment and collective bargaining rights.
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Kathleen Funchion MEP appointed to European Parliament committees Original release: Kathleen Funchion MEP appointed to key European Parliament Committees (opens in a new tab)
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Unacceptable 120 pupils with SEN have no confirmed place for new school year, says Nicholl
Alliance spokesperson Kate Nicholl MLA says it is unacceptable that 120 children with SEN statements lack a confirmed September school place, after an EA briefing could not guarantee placements. She calls on the Education Minister to prioritise SEN reform and investment.
Education Disability and equality Issue: EA briefing on unplaced SEN pupils for September 2024 Original release: Unacceptable 120 pupils with SEN have no confirmed place for new school year, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)