Latest releases
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1,457 releases
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Trust must ensure women are kept updated during smear test review
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges the Southern Trust to keep women informed about delays in the cervical smear test review, noting over 16,000 are still awaiting results. She calls women's health services unfit for purpose and demands a restored Executive and health minister to deliver a women's…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Southern Trust cervical smear test review delays and notification backlog Original release: Trust must ensure women are kept updated during smear test review (opens in a new tab)
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Muir sponsors exhibition to mark Holocaust Memorial Day
Alliance Chief Whip Andrew Muir MLA says the Holocaust should warn against allowing antisemitism and prejudice to go unchecked, speaking after an exhibition he sponsored at the Assembly to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. He warns that refugees are increasingly met with hostility and pledges Alliance…
Disability and equality International affairs Issue: Holocaust Memorial Day exhibition at the Assembly sponsored by Andrew Muir Original release: Muir sponsors exhibition to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (opens in a new tab)
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EA must act to mitigate against disruption for SEN pupils as strikes hit
Alliance Education Spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA calls on the Education Authority to engage urgently with Unite and agree a special derogation so Special Schools keep services running during eight days of planned industrial action by EA staff. He also says the DUP's collapse of the Executive is…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Unite eight days of industrial action at Education Authority Original release: EA must act to mitigate against disruption for SEN pupils as strikes hit (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Áine Groogan will attempt to overturn SF & DUP carve-up
Green Party Councillor Áine Groogan criticises Sinn Féin and DUP for seeking to overturn a £800,000 Neighbourhood Regeneration Funding award to Sólás, a South Belfast charity for children with special needs. She says she will propose rejecting the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee's…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Sólás funding cut at south Belfast area working group Original release: Cllr Áine Groogan will attempt to overturn SF & DUP carve-up (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons: Sólás funding cut must be reversed
SDLP councillor Dónal Lyons calls for a reversal of a 97% funding cut, over £750,000, to Sólás, a south Belfast group supporting children and young people with disabilities, after DUP and Sinn Féin councillors backed it.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Sólás funding cut at south Belfast area working group Original release: Lyons: Sólás funding cut must be reversed (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Lauren Kendall welcomes launch of Night Safe Charter
Green Party councillor Lauren Kendall welcomes the launch of a night safety charter for venues, backed by Hospitality Ulster and White Ribbon NI, calling it a step toward protecting women and girls. She calls for a working government to fund the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Hospitality Ulster and White Ribbon NI Night Safe Charter launch Original release: Cllr Lauren Kendall welcomes launch of Night Safe Charter (opens in a new tab)
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TUV blasts proposed Provo payday for terrorist relatives
TUV leader Jim Allister condemns a proposal by the Victims' Commissioner for £10,000 bereavement payments to relatives of those killed while carrying out attacks, arguing it has no justification. He says the payments should be rejected by the government and that pension delays for innocent victims…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Victims' Commissioner proposal for bereavement payments to relatives of perpetrators Original release: TUV blasts proposed Provo payday for terrorist relatives (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong sends congratulations to James Martin
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong congratulates actor James Martin on his MBE in the New Year's Honours List, on behalf of the All Party Group on Learning Disability, which she chairs. She highlights his Oscar-winning film An Irish Goodbye and his work with Mencap.
Disability and equality Issue: New Year Honours list 2023 Northern Ireland recipients Original release: Armstrong sends congratulations to James Martin (opens in a new tab)
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£200m Stormont fraud and error
TUV MLA Jim Allister says almost £200m was lost to fraud and error across Stormont departments over a 12-month period, including £174m in benefit fraud, citing the Audit Office report on departmental expenditure. He also claims £43m of PPE inventory went unused due to mishandled orders.
Public finance and taxation Social security and welfare Issue: Audit Office report on Stormont departmental fraud and error Original release: £200m Stormont fraud and error (opens in a new tab)
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Increasing ‘safe access zones’ boundaries will serve little purpose – Brolly
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly says expanding the safe access zone around Causeway Hospital by 250 metres, which the Northern Trust is considering, will have no effect and further erodes the right to protest. She also criticises abortion providers promoting their work on social media.
Disability and equality Issue: Northern Trust considering extending Causeway Hospital safe access zone by 250 metres Original release: Increasing ‘safe access zones’ boundaries will serve little purpose – Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong welcomes promotion for access to health care costs
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA welcomes a Department for Communities awareness campaign helping Universal Credit claimants learn how to get help with health costs. She says a form-based system is not perfect but gives access to dental and sight test support, and argues a…
Social security and welfare Health Issue: Department for Communities health costs awareness campaign for Universal Credit claimants Original release: Armstrong welcomes promotion for access to health care costs (opens in a new tab)
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Allen Congratulates Wheelchair Users on Awards
UUP Communities spokesperson Andy Allen MBE MLA, a wheelchair user, congratulates this year's recipients of the fifth annual Jackie Magee memorial awards in Belfast. He praises the Northern Ireland Regional Wheelchair Service and says peer support and co-design are vital for inclusive services.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Jacqueline Magee Memorial Awards 2023 for wheelchair service recipients Original release: Allen Congratulates Wheelchair Users on Awards (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison welcomes education report but says change only possible if Minister in post
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA welcomes the independent review of education and its emphasis on investment, integrated schooling, SEN support and transfer reform, but says change needs an Education Minister in post and blames the DUP for the delay.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Independent Review of Education report launch Original release: Mathison welcomes education report but says change only possible if Minister in post (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins expresses concern at adults with learning disabilities being overcharged in Trust
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins says it is deeply concerning that Southern Health and Social Care Trust overcharged adults with learning disabilities for their utility bills and will write to the Department of Health to investigate and ensure reimbursements are promptly made.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Kimmins expresses concern at adults with learning disabilities being overcharged in Trust (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to deliver for all communities – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly calls for full implementation of Acht Gaeilge, including appointment of a commissioner, marking one year since it became law. She says an Executive must be restored immediately to deal with a growing backlog of issues.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Acht Gaeilge one-year anniversary and call for commissioner appointment Original release: Executive needed to deliver for all communities – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to improve women’s healthcare – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls for the Executive to be restored without delay so a Women's Health Strategy can be delivered. She says there are no specialist services for endometriosis in the North, with women diagnosed late and not receiving proper treatment.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Executive needed to improve women’s healthcare – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Victims payments scheme must be victim focused – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart calls for the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme to be administered with victims as the priority, citing delays of up to 26 months. She asks the NI Affairs Committee to press the Secretary of State over backdating ending in August 2024 and over ineligibility for…
Community relations and legacy Social security and welfare Issue: Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme evidence to NI Affairs Committee Original release: Victims payments scheme must be victim focused – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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No place for racism or discrimination in our society – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey calls on the PSNI to step up efforts against racist and hate attacks in Belfast, including those targeting the Belfast Multi Cultural Association. She urges referral of alleged recordings of community leaders at the charity to the Police Ombudsman, and says Sinn Féin…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: BBC documentary revelations on racist attacks and PSNI recordings in Belfast Original release: No place for racism or discrimination in our society – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Allen welcomes help with health cost notification but presses for further action
UUP MLA Andy Allen welcomes the notification to Universal Credit claimants about completing an HC1 form for help with dental and optical costs, but urges the Department of Health to develop a more seamless, longer-term solution.
Social security and welfare Health Issue: Universal Credit HC1 form notification for Help with Health Costs Original release: Allen welcomes help with health cost notification but presses for further action (opens in a new tab)
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PSNI actions with charity ‘disappointing’ says McAllister
Alliance's Policing Spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls the PSNI's reported advice to a racially attacked charity to clarify its work to loyalist leaders deeply concerning. She says she will raise it at the Policing Board and that Kate Nicholl MLA will table it at the APG on Ethnic Minority…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: BBC documentary revelations on racist attacks and PSNI recordings in Belfast Original release: PSNI actions with charity ‘disappointing’ says McAllister (opens in a new tab)