Latest releases
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1,377 releases
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Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan reaffirms his commitment to transform the Special Educational Needs system in Northern Ireland, following a visit to Fleming Fulton School. He says children with SEN do not always achieve the same outcomes as peers and will press Executive colleagues for…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan (opens in a new tab)
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More help needed to support carers – Dillon
SF MLA Linda Dillon says more help is needed for carers, especially women forced to cut hours or leave jobs, reacting to a Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report. She calls for investment in social care, stronger workers' rights and better childcare, and welcomes the Economy Minister's…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report on female carers Original release: More help needed to support carers – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Career or Care report lays bare the failure to support our unpaid carers, says Eastwood
Alliance's Sorcha Eastwood MLA says carers need far more support, citing a Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report finding nearly 60% of unpaid carers are women. She backs its recommendations, including paid carer's leave, and says she has asked the Economy Minister to include it in a…
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report on female carers Original release: Career or Care report lays bare the failure to support our unpaid carers, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister needs to prioritise and invest in special educational needs and disabilities, says Mathison, ahead of Assembly debate
Alliance's Nick Mathison MLA, Chair of the Assembly's Education Committee, urges the Education Minister to direct any extra SEND funding to pupils and the workforce ahead of a Monday Assembly debate. He says the current support system has failed pupils, parents and schools and warns against a…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Assembly debate on special educational needs and disabilities provision Original release: Education Minister needs to prioritise and invest in special educational needs and disabilities, says Mathison, ahead of Assembly debate (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance calls for gender pay gap reporting in Belfast City Council
Alliance councillors, through South Belfast Councillor Tara Brooks, call for Belfast City Council to lead by adopting transparent methods for recording and reporting the gender pay gap, noting Northern Ireland has no legal obligation to do so.
Disability and equality Local government Original release: Alliance calls for gender pay gap reporting in Belfast City Council (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance MLAs welcome commitment to sign language legislation
Alliance MLAs Paula Bradshaw and Kellie Armstrong welcome the Communities Minister's pledge to bring forward sign language legislation as a priority, with Bradshaw criticising the 21-year wait for it.
Disability and equality Issue: Communities Minister commitment on sign language legislation at Assembly Question Time Original release: Alliance MLAs welcome commitment to sign language legislation (opens in a new tab)
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Public purse losing out whilst hedge funds benefit from student…
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe says the public purse is losing out while hedge funds benefit from exemptions on rates for privately built student accommodation in Belfast. She reports the Finance Minister indicated over £2million a year in exempt rates and calls for action to stop costs passing to students.
Public finance and taxation Housing Original release: Public purse losing out whilst hedge funds benefit from student… (opens in a new tab)
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Get Organised Against Racism – Stand Together
People Before Profit says racism and fascist violence are rising in Ireland and calls for them to be stopped. It accuses groups including the National Party and Irish Freedom Party of redirecting anger over housing and living costs onto migrants and other minorities, and urges students to stand…
Disability and equality Immigration Original release: Get Organised Against Racism – Stand Together (opens in a new tab)
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QUB must challenge antisemitism: Brett
North Belfast DUP MLA Phillip Brett condemns the projection of an antisemitic slogan onto Queen's University's Lanyon Building and calls for a full investigation into the incident, including whether staff were involved. He also calls for a clear condemnation statement from the University and for…
Disability and equality International affairs Issue: Antisemitic projection onto Queen's University Lanyon Building Original release: QUB must challenge antisemitism: Brett (opens in a new tab)
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It is crucial work resumes on women's health strategy if we are to tackle health inequalities, says McAllister, ahead of Assembly motion
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister calls for work on a women's health strategy to resume as soon as possible, ahead of an Assembly motion urging the Health Minister to bring forward a fully-budgeted strategy covering women's health across all life stages.
Health Disability and equality Original release: It is crucial work resumes on women's health strategy if we are to tackle health inequalities, says McAllister, ahead of Assembly motion (opens in a new tab)
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“Teacher Shortage Crisis a direct result of Government Housing Failures” – Chris MacManus MEP
Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus says teacher shortages are linked to the housing crisis and calls on the Irish Government to acknowledge this and act quickly, citing a survey finding over 800 vacant teaching posts and Special Education Teachers redeployed to mainstream classes.
Education Housing Issue: INTO, IPPN and CSMA teacher vacancy survey findings Original release: “Teacher Shortage Crisis a direct result of Government Housing Failures” – Chris MacManus MEP (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood concerned for how continuing cost of living crisis is impacting young people
Alliance's economy spokesperson, Lagan Valley MLA Sorcha Eastwood, voices serious concern that rising costs may push more young people out of higher and further education, citing an NUS-USI survey finding that a quarter of students couldn't pay rent or bills. She calls for a review of student…
Education Economy and employment Issue: NUS-USI Cost of Living Survey on student finances Original release: Eastwood concerned for how continuing cost of living crisis is impacting young people (opens in a new tab)
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New Executive must prioritise women’s health – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says waiting times for NHS gynaecological treatment are unacceptable, with some women forced into avoidable surgery, and calls on a new Health Minister to deliver a women's health strategy as a priority.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Gynaecology waiting times review Original release: New Executive must prioritise women’s health – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Bangor West Councillor welcomes announcement that the Promote Learning Disability Service has been saved from closure
Green Party Bangor West councillor Cllr McKee welcomes the signing of a contract for charity Orchardville to take over the Promote Day Opportunities Service in Bangor, saving it from closure. She criticises the South Eastern Trust's handling and calls for a return of the Stormont Executive to…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Promote Day Opportunities Service in Bangor saved from closure Original release: Bangor West Councillor welcomes announcement that the Promote Learning Disability Service has been saved from closure (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure investment reduction could jeopardise housing supply targets, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong raises concern that a reduced NI Water budget from the Department for Infrastructure could stop new builds connecting, threatening social housing supply. She urges the Civil Service head to require departments to publish impact reports on cross-departmental effects of…
Housing Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department for Infrastructure NI Water budget reduction and housing connections Original release: Infrastructure investment reduction could jeopardise housing supply targets, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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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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Fire safety measures in high rise buildings will not be delivered without a minister, says Armstrong
Alliance spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA says new Department for Communities safety plans for high rise buildings cannot be delivered without a minister in post. She calls for buy-back or financial support options for flat owners needing costly fire safety adaptations, noting related legislation…
Housing Issue: Department for Communities high rise building safety plans following Grenfell-linked report Original release: Fire safety measures in high rise buildings will not be delivered without a minister, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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No Assembly, no help for tenants suffering from mould, says Armstrong
Alliance Housing Spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA says Northern Ireland tenants are at a disadvantage over mould cases, as UK consultation on time limits for landlords does not apply without an Assembly. She calls for Awaab's Law to be introduced locally and blames DUP delays.
Housing Issue: UK Government consultation on mould time limits for landlords Original release: No Assembly, no help for tenants suffering from mould, says Armstrong (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)