Latest releases
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1,457 releases
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No girl should have to ask permission to wear trousers to school – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says the School Uniforms Bill’s latest Assembly stage provides an opportunity to guarantee every pupil the automatic right to wear trousers, urging school uniform policy to be brought into the 21st century.
Education Disability and equality Issue: School Uniforms Bill passes Assembly stage Original release: No girl should have to ask permission to wear trousers to school – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance introduces essential legislation to end cruel so-called conversion practices
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA introduces the Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill to the Assembly, seeking to ban conversion therapy and coercive conversion behaviour in Northern Ireland with penalties of fines or up to two years in custody.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill introduced to Assembly Original release: Alliance introduces essential legislation to end cruel so-called conversion practices (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin calls on Finance Minister to reverse Civil Service withdrawal from Belfast Pride
SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin urges the Finance Minister to overturn the Civil Service's decision to pull out of this year's Belfast Pride, arguing the legal basis cited, an English High Court judgment, does not apply in Northern Ireland.
Disability and equality Issue: Civil Service withdrawal from Pride march Original release: McLaughlin calls on Finance Minister to reverse Civil Service withdrawal from Belfast Pride (opens in a new tab)
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Transparency needed from DUP on further Donaldson allegations, says Long, calling for fully independent investigation
Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA calls for a fully independent, external review into what DUP leadership knew about alleged victims of Jeffrey Donaldson, after BBC Spotlight revelations, and urges Edwin Poots to give a full account of his knowledge.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: BBC Spotlight programme on Jeffrey Donaldson allegations Original release: Transparency needed from DUP on further Donaldson allegations, says Long, calling for fully independent investigation (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston Slams Growing Gender Identity Service as Officials Confirm Funding Will Increase
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston criticises the funding for the lifespan gender identity service after Department of Health officials told the health committee the initial £806,000 is recurrent and will increase. He expresses concern for vulnerable young people and calls the spending astonishing given…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Department of Health lifespan gender identity service funding briefing to health committee Original release: Gaston Slams Growing Gender Identity Service as Officials Confirm Funding Will Increase (opens in a new tab)
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Givan voices disappointment over delay to SEN Regulations
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan expresses serious concern that the Special Educational Needs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 have been delayed from September 2026 to September 2027 after extended Education Committee scrutiny. He says the delay postpones reduced assessment timescales…
Education Disability and equality Issue: SEN Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 implementation delay to September 2027 Original release: Givan voices disappointment over delay to SEN Regulations (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison hits back at Minister’s statement on SEN Regulations
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison, chair of the Education Committee, rejects the Education Minister's criticism of the committee's handling of SEN regulations, saying the rules need proper examination and accusing the DUP of responsibility for the special educational needs system and placement shortages.
Education Disability and equality Issue: SEN Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 implementation delay to September 2027 Original release: Mathison hits back at Minister’s statement on SEN Regulations (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: Civil Service Pride Withdrawal 'Regressive and Reckless'
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll condemns the head of the Civil Service's decision to withdraw staff from the Pride march, calling it regressive and reckless. He accuses political figures of stoking transphobia for gain and urges civil servants who wish to march to do so.
Disability and equality Issue: Civil Service withdrawal from Pride march Original release: Carroll: Civil Service Pride Withdrawal 'Regressive and Reckless' (opens in a new tab)
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Ensuring greater access to IVF is about fairness and equality – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn welcomes an Assembly motion on IVF equality, calling for access to fertility treatment to be based on need rather than ability to pay and describing IVF as essential healthcare.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on IVF equality and access to fertility treatment Original release: Ensuring greater access to IVF is about fairness and equality – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston Amendment Backed by Fresh Court Ruling on Prison Accommodation
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston welcomes a Scottish Court of Session judgment ruling that prison accommodation must be segregated by biological sex, and says it should prompt reflection in Northern Ireland. He points to Rule 90 of the 1995 Prison Rules and says his Amendment 97 to the Justice Bill will be…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Court of Session ruling on prison accommodation by biological sex Original release: Gaston Amendment Backed by Fresh Court Ruling on Prison Accommodation (opens in a new tab)
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Muckamore inquiry details serious failings in health and social care system – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan says the Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry report must be a turning point, calling for its recommendations to be implemented in full and for failings in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and the Department of Health to be acknowledged and addressed.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Publication of Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry report Original release: Muckamore inquiry details serious failings in health and social care system – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: First Ministers' response to racist riots woefully inadequate
SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole says the First Ministers' response to last week's racist disorder is woefully inadequate, criticising the lack of an Executive Office policy and practical support for affected migrant communities and displaced families.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Belfast racist pogroms and attacks on homes, June 2026 Original release: O’Toole: First Ministers' response to racist riots woefully inadequate (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath challenges Minister on health workers' security
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says he pressed Health Minister Mike Nesbitt in an urgent Assembly question after racist disorder targeted health workers, and calls for protective measures, support for affected staff and assurances for migrant staff.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Belfast disorder after Monday knife attack Original release: McGrath challenges Minister on health workers' security (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister condemns racially-motivated arson attack on a car in Rathcoole
Alliance North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister condemns the arson attack on a car belonging to a Nigerian man in Rathcoole, a man she says has been targeted three times in five months. She urges anyone with information to contact the PSNI.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Rathcoole car arson attack on Nigerian man Original release: McAllister condemns racially-motivated arson attack on a car in Rathcoole (opens in a new tab)
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Finucane condemns suspected racially motivated arson attack
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane condemns a suspected racially motivated arson attack on a North Belfast house, offers solidarity to those affected and urges anyone with information to contact police.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: North Belfast house arson attack treated as racially motivated hate crime Original release: Finucane condemns suspected racially motivated arson attack (opens in a new tab)
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Stand Against Racism at Together Against Hate March Starting at 2pm at GPO
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy urges people to join the Together Against Hate march starting at 2pm Sunday at the GPO on O'Connell Street, responding to racist violence in Belfast. He blames wealthy elites and figures such as Musk, Trump and Farage for stoking division, and calls on the left…
Disability and equality Immigration Issue: Together Against Hate march in Dublin following racist violence in Belfast Original release: Stand Against Racism at Together Against Hate March Starting at 2pm at GPO (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: "This Is the Real Belfast" at City's Biggest Ever Anti-Racist Rally
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll hails the United Against Racism rally at City Hall as Belfast's biggest anti-racist demonstration, condemning recent racist violence and urging solidarity with migrant workers against far-right and loyalist agitators.
Disability and equality Immigration Issue: United Against Racism rally at City Hall, Belfast Original release: Carroll: "This Is the Real Belfast" at City's Biggest Ever Anti-Racist Rally (opens in a new tab)
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We must unite against racist thuggery and intimidation – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney condemns street violence, attacks on police and racist disorder against migrant households in South Antrim and elsewhere, calling for unity against intimidation after a North Belfast stabbing that he describes as barbaric.
Justice and policing Immigration Issue: Belfast disorder after Monday knife attack Original release: We must unite against racist thuggery and intimidation – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood offers support following disorder
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood says he visited Derry's migrant community, including the North West Migrants Forum, to offer support after disorder across the North, which he attributes to racism and hatred. He says migrants belong in Derry and that the city will not tolerate racism.
Community relations and legacy Immigration Issue: Disorder across the North against migrant communities, June 2026 Original release: Eastwood offers support following disorder (opens in a new tab)
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Whyte condemns further North Belfast disorder
SDLP North Belfast Councillor Carl Whyte condemns further disorder at Sandyknowes, Glengormley and other areas on Wednesday evening, saying masked figures attacked police, destroyed property and terrorised communities. He calls the violence racism and urges protection for migrant communities.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Belfast disorder after Monday knife attack Original release: Whyte condemns further North Belfast disorder (opens in a new tab)