Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
1,463 releases
-
Conway-Walsh TD welcomes all party consensus on planning for Irish unity
Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh welcomes cross-party consensus on planning for Irish unity after a Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement report on finance and economics. She calls on government to begin planning now, including a Green Paper and consultation with all…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Joint Committee report on finance and economics of constitutional change Original release: Conway-Walsh TD welcomes all party consensus on planning for Irish unity (opens in a new tab)
-
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)
-
Robust police action needed to end racist and sectarian intimidation – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, calls for robust police operations and prosecutions to end racist and sectarian intimidation in Antrim Town, including targeting of ethnic minority families in Ballycraigy and flags placed across the town centre.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Racist and sectarian intimidation in Antrim Town Ballycraigy estate Original release: Robust police action needed to end racist and sectarian intimidation – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
-
“Children will go Hungry over Government Decision on Food Vouchers” – Brolly
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly says the government's decision not to fund summer school holiday food vouchers in Northern Ireland ignores the most vulnerable. She contrasts it with voucher schemes in England, Scotland and Wales, and calls on Westminster to enable better support.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Northern Ireland summer holiday food voucher funding decision Original release: “Children will go Hungry over Government Decision on Food Vouchers” – Brolly (opens in a new tab)
-
Sheerin welcomes publication of Sinn Féin Easy Read Manifesto
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin says the party has published an easy read version of its Westminster election manifesto, making it accessible to people with disabilities and learning difficulties. She says it was produced with disabled people.
Disability and equality Issue: Sinn Féin easy read Westminster election manifesto publication Original release: Sheerin welcomes publication of Sinn Féin Easy Read Manifesto (opens in a new tab)
-
TUV challenges Tesco on exclusion of Northern Ireland from Armed Forces Day offer
TUV candidate for Lagan Valley Lorna Smyth, an RAF veteran, writes to Tesco's Chief Executive urging it to reverse its decision to exclude Northern Ireland from its free breakfast offer for armed forces members on Armed Forces Day. She questions the decision and asks Tesco to revisit it.
Disability and equality Issue: Tesco Armed Forces Day free breakfast excludes Northern Ireland Original release: TUV challenges Tesco on exclusion of Northern Ireland from Armed Forces Day offer (opens in a new tab)
-
SEN school placements must be suitable and appropriate – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says many children with special educational needs still lack suitable school places for September and urges the Education Minister to adopt a ‘SEN first’ strategy that embeds SEN pupils in schools’ planned enrolments, giving families assurance and schools clarity.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Shortfall of SEN school places for September 2024 Original release: SEN school placements must be suitable and appropriate – Baker (opens in a new tab)
-
DUP will continue to deliver for working families – Girvan
South Antrim DUP candidate Paul Girvan says the party will keep focusing on delivery for working families, calling for higher Tax-Free Childcare support and reforms to Universal Credit and the High-Income Child Benefit charge. He cites the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme as already under…
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Original release: DUP will continue to deliver for working families – Girvan (opens in a new tab)
-
Our armed forces personnel will always be a priority – Buckley
DUP Lagan Valley candidate Jonathan Buckley pledges to press for better support for armed forces personnel, veterans and their families at Westminster, including expanding the Covenant Duty and ending War Pensions being counted as income for benefits.
Social security and welfare Original release: Our armed forces personnel will always be a priority – Buckley (opens in a new tab)
-
DUP Leader addresses Manifesto Launch
The DUP, launching its General Election manifesto in East Belfast, says it will press the next Government to ensure Northern Ireland funding cannot fall below assessed need, citing a £124 for every £100 spent in England benchmark. It also lists its record on energy support, sub-postmasters…
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Original release: DUP Leader addresses Manifesto Launch (opens in a new tab)
-
Ms Mulholland welcomes introduction of hybrid working for Council groups
Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland welcomes Assembly approval of remote meetings regulations for councils, saying they give councillors with disabilities, caring duties or rural constituencies more flexible participation. She voices concern that each council will set its own hybrid working rules, which…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Assembly approval of local government remote meetings regulations 2024 Original release: Ms Mulholland welcomes introduction of hybrid working for Council groups (opens in a new tab)
-
DUP will continue to champion case of WASPI women – Shannon
DUP Westminster candidate Jim Shannon says a DUP MPs team will keep campaigning for WASPI women seeking redress over state pension age changes, welcoming the Ombudsman's finding of maladministration by the DWP and urging the next government to deliver full compensation. He criticises Labour and…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman WASPI maladministration report Original release: DUP will continue to champion case of WASPI women – Shannon (opens in a new tab)
-
Executive Office must move much faster on race relations, says Bradshaw, marking Refugee Week.
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw, chair of the Stormont Executive Office Committee, calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to show greater urgency in developing and implementing a new Race Relations Strategy that includes refugee integration, marking Refugee Week.
Immigration International affairs Original release: Executive Office must move much faster on race relations, says Bradshaw, marking Refugee Week. (opens in a new tab)
-
Tory Child Support commitment rings hollow- Shannon
DUP candidate Jim Shannon says Conservative Child Benefit pledges made ahead of the 2024 election are too late, arguing previous calls to assess the benefit on household income were rejected. He urges greater Treasury investment in childcare and tax credit changes and says the next government must…
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Original release: Tory Child Support commitment rings hollow- Shannon (opens in a new tab)
-
Bradshaw calls for public's views on gaps in equality legislation
Alliance Executive Office Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA calls for public views via a survey for an Assembly Executive Office Committee inquiry comparing Northern Ireland's equality law with neighbouring jurisdictions, citing gaps after Brexit.
Disability and equality Issue: Assembly Executive Office Committee equality legislation inquiry survey Original release: Bradshaw calls for public's views on gaps in equality legislation (opens in a new tab)
-
Interim change to eligibility criteria for free school meals and…
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan announces an interim rise in the net earnings threshold for Universal Credit applicants to free school meals and uniform grants, from £14,000 to £15,000, for the 2024/25 academic year.
Education Social security and welfare Issue: Interim rise in free school meals and uniform grants earnings threshold Original release: Interim change to eligibility criteria for free school meals and… (opens in a new tab)
-
Kurtis Dickson installed as new Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council
Alliance Downshire East Councillor Kurtis Dickson was sworn in as Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, becoming the council’s youngest and first openly LGBTQIA+ mayor. He says he will boost youth involvement, promote mental‑well‑being and champion environmental issues.
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Kurtis Dickson installed as Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh Original release: Kurtis Dickson installed as new Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council (opens in a new tab)
-
‘It’s time to end holiday hunger’ – Baker bringing forward legislation to tackle holiday hunger
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker has submitted Assembly legislation to tackle holiday hunger, proposing a statutory requirement for the Education Department and Education Authority to pay parents in lieu of free school meals during school holidays. He says earlier payments were cut under Conservative…
Social security and welfare Education Original release: ‘It’s time to end holiday hunger’ – Baker bringing forward legislation to tackle holiday hunger (opens in a new tab)
-
DUP will continue to prioritise working families: Robinson
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson says the party will keep prioritising working families and childcare costs in the next Parliament, calling for the next UK Government to raise Tax-Free Childcare above 20%. The statement follows the announcement of a £25million early learning and childcare package by the…
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Original release: DUP will continue to prioritise working families: Robinson (opens in a new tab)
-
Lee-Surginor becomes Deputy Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, and first civic dignitary from a Chinese ethnic background
Alliance Councillor David Lee-Surginor says he is honoured to be installed as Deputy Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, and pledges to prioritise tourism, support flood-affected businesses and voluntary groups facing funding cuts, and promote equality.
Local government Disability and equality Issue: David Lee-Surginor installed as Deputy Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down Council Original release: Lee-Surginor becomes Deputy Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, and first civic dignitary from a Chinese ethnic background (opens in a new tab)