Latest releases
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2,932 releases
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Mathison and Guy question Education Minister commitment to SEN provision following placement crisis
Alliance MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy question the Education Minister's commitment to special educational needs provision, saying he has not adequately responded to about 160 SEN children lacking school places for September. Guy calls on him to set out how every child will be placed and how…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special educational needs school placement shortfall for 2025/26 academic year Original release: Mathison and Guy question Education Minister commitment to SEN provision following placement crisis (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance welcomes extra cash to promote social and racial cohesion
Alliance welcomes the Executive Office's announcement of an extra £220,000 for urgent work on social and racial cohesion, with Paula Bradshaw MLA backing a clear stance against racist or xenophobic violence. Stewart Dickson MLA says more direct action on prevention is needed.
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Issue: Executive Office £220,000 funding for social and racial cohesion Original release: Alliance welcomes extra cash to promote social and racial cohesion (opens in a new tab)
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Dolan welcomes additional funding for departments
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan welcomes the Executive's £118 million allocation after the June monitoring round, citing £25 million each for health and education and £9 million for social and affordable homes. She also calls for an end to British government cuts.
Public finance and taxation Education Issue: Executive £118 million allocation following June monitoring round Original release: Dolan welcomes additional funding for departments (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister must explain decision to oppose Irish signage at Grand Central Station – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew has tabled an Urgent Oral Question to Communities Minister Gordon Lyons over his decision to join a legal challenge against Irish signage at Grand Central Station. Gildernew calls on the minister to explain his opposition to bilingual signs, given his responsibility…
Disability and equality Issue: Communities Minister legal challenge to Irish signage at Grand Central Station Original release: Communities Minister must explain decision to oppose Irish signage at Grand Central Station – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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DUP Communities Minister must listen to Anti-Poverty Strategy concerns – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges the Communities Minister to heed opposition to the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy, citing a letter from organisations and individuals sent to the Executive. He claims the strategy is weak and not fit for purpose, and asks the minister to engage with those groups.
Social security and welfare Issue: Draft Anti-Poverty Strategy opposition letter to the Executive Original release: DUP Communities Minister must listen to Anti-Poverty Strategy concerns – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong comments on the murder of Sarah Montgomery
UUP MLA Diana Armstrong expresses horror at the killing of Sarah Montgomery and says 27 women have been murdered in Northern Ireland since 2020. She urges the Executive to hold an emergency meeting on immediate protective steps, including tougher sentences and more PSNI resources.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Murder of Sarah Montgomery Original release: Armstrong comments on the murder of Sarah Montgomery (opens in a new tab)
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Labour must completely abandon benefit cuts, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood calls on the Labour Government to abandon its benefit cuts Bill entirely ahead of Tuesday's vote, arguing the cuts would disproportionately affect Northern Ireland, where over 11% of residents receive PIP.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Commons vote on Labour welfare cuts amendment Original release: Labour must completely abandon benefit cuts, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Spreading of slurry an attempt to intimidate Ballymena Pride – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan condemns the spreading of slurry in Ballymena, calling it a disgraceful hate‑crime intended to intimidate the town’s first pride parade, welcomes the arrest and pledges Sinn Féin’s continued support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Slurry spread ahead of Ballymena Pride parade Original release: Spreading of slurry an attempt to intimidate Ballymena Pride – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance slams those behind slurry spreading, night before first Ballymena Pride
North Antrim Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland condemns those who spread slurry on Ballymena streets the night before the town's first Pride parade. She says she has spoken to organisers and the PSNI, and urges anyone with information to contact police or Crimestoppers.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Slurry spread ahead of Ballymena Pride parade Original release: Alliance slams those behind slurry spreading, night before first Ballymena Pride (opens in a new tab)
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Compassion and legal clarity needed following Equality Commission’s paper on British Supreme Court judgment on gender – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says compassion and legal clarity are needed after the Equality Commission published a paper on the legal position in the north following the British Supreme Court judgment on gender. She says the Commission's plan to seek clarification from the Court is…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Equality Commission response to Supreme Court sex-based protections judgment Original release: Compassion and legal clarity needed following Equality Commission’s paper on British Supreme Court judgment on gender – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister's attacks on SEN pupils and education staff a new low - Gerry Carroll MLA
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll accuses the Education Minister and Education Authority of shifting blame for a shortage of SEN school places onto schools. He calls for them to listen to families and education unions and reverse their decision.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority reports 160+ SEN children awaiting school places Original release: Education Minister's attacks on SEN pupils and education staff a new low - Gerry Carroll MLA (opens in a new tab)
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British government should scrap ‘shameful’ welfare cuts – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges the British government to scrap its proposed welfare reforms, which he says would remove support disabled people need to enter or stay in work and could affect carers allowance. He made the call after the party submitted its consultation response.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: British government welfare reform consultation Sinn Féin response Original release: British government should scrap ‘shameful’ welfare cuts – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Supreme Court ruling must be implemented - Lockhart
DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart says she is deeply disappointed by the Equality Commission's response to the Supreme Court judgment on what counts as a woman, arguing it casts doubt on implementing the ruling. She calls on the Government to make clear that EU law does not bind the decision.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Equality Commission response to Supreme Court sex-based protections judgment Original release: Supreme Court ruling must be implemented - Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Windsor Framework Used to Force Radical Gender Policies on Northern Ireland
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has abandoned its impartial role by publishing guidance on sex and gender reassignment under Article 2 of the Windsor Framework. He calls for the UK government to challenge Article 2 and says the Protocol must go.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Equality Commission guidance on sex and gender reassignment under Windsor Framework Article 2 Original release: Windsor Framework Used to Force Radical Gender Policies on Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Leader cautiously welcomes Equality Commission way forward following Supreme Court judgment
Green Party Leader Mal O'Hara welcomes the Equality Commission's announcement on its proposed pathway after the Supreme Court judgment, calling it a constructive step giving legal clarity. He says the Supreme Court failed to resolve Northern Ireland's distinct legal position and that the Green…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Equality Commission response to Supreme Court sex-based protections judgment Original release: Green Party Leader cautiously welcomes Equality Commission way forward following Supreme Court judgment (opens in a new tab)
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Lack of synchronisation threatens the future of people with disabilities, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong calls for a joint meeting of the Departments for Communities and the Economy to improve disability employment rates, citing a 38.7% disability employment rate against 54.4% in the UK. She highlights Supported Employment from the Mind the Gap report and warns that…
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: Mind the Gap Summit disability employment and Supported Employment report Original release: Lack of synchronisation threatens the future of people with disabilities, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Crisis at EA cannot continue
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA says the Education Authority's crisis cannot continue after it revealed around 164 pupils with special educational needs lack a school place for next year. She opposes instructing mainstream schools to take them, arguing some need dedicated…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority reports 160+ SEN children awaiting school places Original release: Hunter: Crisis at EA cannot continue (opens in a new tab)
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David Cullinane TD appointed Rapporteur on Adult Safeguarding
Sinn Féin spokesperson David Cullinane TD says he has been appointed rapporteur for the Oireachtas Health Committee on adult safeguarding, and will report back with recommendations for a legislative framework. He urges the government to bring forward an Adult Safeguarding Act, citing the RTÉ…
Health Issue: Oireachtas Health Committee adult safeguarding rapporteur appointment Original release: David Cullinane TD appointed Rapporteur on Adult Safeguarding (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin all-island health proposals – David Cullinane TD
Health Constitutional affairs Original release: Sinn Féin all-island health proposals – David Cullinane TD (opens in a new tab)
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A World-class Health and Care Service for a New Ireland – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD launches a discussion document calling for an all-island Irish National Health and Care Service, proposing a single hospital waiting list, joint digital health records, all-island workforce planning and a rural health commission.
Health Issue: Sinn Féin discussion document on an Irish National Health and Care Service Original release: A World-class Health and Care Service for a New Ireland – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)