Latest releases
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1,457 releases
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Doherty: New Executive must prioritise fuel poverty strategy
SDLP West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty calls on any restored Executive to fund a new fuel poverty strategy, noting the existing one has not been revised since 2011 and that families have been left exposed to rising energy costs.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Original release: Doherty: New Executive must prioritise fuel poverty strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Addressing Fuel Poverty in Northern Ireland: Short, Medium, and Long-Term Strategies
UUP MLA Andy Allen MBE sets out short, medium and long-term options to tackle fuel poverty, including targeted bill support, scaling up NISEP, a sector-expert taskforce, community energy buying and retrofitting. He says these should be a top agenda item for the next Executive and blames the…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Original release: Addressing Fuel Poverty in Northern Ireland: Short, Medium, and Long-Term Strategies (opens in a new tab)
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Reilly welcomes upskirting and cyber-flashing laws coming into effect
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes the commencement of new northern laws criminalising upskirting and cyber-flashing, and says enhanced offences on online child impersonation and sharing intimate images without consent will also take effect.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Upskirting and cyber-flashing laws come into effect in Northern Ireland Original release: Reilly welcomes upskirting and cyber-flashing laws coming into effect (opens in a new tab)
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Victims of sexual offences let down by blockade of Stormont – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly says victims of sexual offences are being failed by the DUP's boycott of the Assembly, which is blocking outstanding Gillen Review recommendations and delaying the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls and Domestic and Sexual Abuse strategies. She calls for a…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Victims of sexual offences let down by blockade of Stormont – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Wilson – “missed opportunity to show work pays”
DUP Treasury spokesman Sammy Wilson MP says the Autumn Statement missed chances to show work pays, citing unchanged income thresholds, a childcare bill for police, nurses and teachers, and Northern Ireland's Barnett consequential being used to cover overspending.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: British government Autumn Statement 2023 public sector funding cuts Original release: Wilson – “missed opportunity to show work pays” (opens in a new tab)
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DUP will build on proud record for older people
DUP MP Sammy Wilson says the party will keep prioritising issues affecting older people, citing its role in securing the Triple Lock pension upgrade, free public transport for over-60s, the Commissioner for Older People and the silver surfers digital initiative.
Social security and welfare Original release: DUP will build on proud record for older people (opens in a new tab)
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ADHD services require commissioning and budget to progress, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw warns Trusts lack the budget and political direction to commission ADHD diagnosis and support services, calling for a health minister, Health Committee and Assembly budget to be in place.
Health Disability and equality Original release: ADHD services require commissioning and budget to progress, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Autumn Statement does little for Northern Ireland, says Farry
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MP says the Chancellor's Autumn Statement offers little for Northern Ireland, citing the lack of an Executive, no new help for vulnerable households, and too little on housing and climate change.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: British government Autumn Statement 2023 public sector funding cuts Original release: Autumn Statement does little for Northern Ireland, says Farry (opens in a new tab)
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Bryson scheme highlights need for workers and families to be supported through cost of living crisis – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly says demand for Bryson's energy payment scheme shows the pressure on workers and families, and calls for the Executive to be restored now. She says her offices have hundreds of unprocessed cases because Bryson limited daily referrals, and that the firm has raised this…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Bryson energy payment scheme referral limits and demand Original release: Bryson scheme highlights need for workers and families to be supported through cost of living crisis – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Campbell celebrates Ulster Scots Language Week in Parliament
The DUP's East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell marks Ulster Scots Language Week with a Commons motion, saying the language is widespread across Northern Ireland and border counties and that the week should be inclusive and not politicised.
Disability and equality Original release: Campbell celebrates Ulster Scots Language Week in Parliament (opens in a new tab)
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Transgender Day of Remembrance an important day of reflection, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw marks Transgender Day of Remembrance, reflecting on people lost to violence or suicide and pledging to end discrimination and targeted violence against trans and gender-diverse people, while calling for action after attending a Belfast City Hall event.
Disability and equality Original release: Transgender Day of Remembrance an important day of reflection, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Childcare must be a priority in Autumn Statement
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe calls on the UK Government to substantially raise the Tax-Free Childcare contribution above its current 20% ahead of the Autumn Statement, after meeting Department for Education officials about pressures in Northern Ireland's childcare sector.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Original release: Childcare must be a priority in Autumn Statement (opens in a new tab)
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£27million paid to date through Victims Pension Scheme: Pengelly
DUP MLA Emma Little Pengelly welcomes the release of £27million to victims and survivors so far through the Victims Pension Scheme and urges all eligible people to apply. She says about 300 applications lack a psychological injury, pointing to lasting mental health burdens from the Troubles.
Community relations and legacy Social security and welfare Original release: £27million paid to date through Victims Pension Scheme: Pengelly (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey condemns attack on women in Belfast City Centre
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey condemns a recent assault on two women in central Belfast and wishes both victims a swift recovery. She calls for a collective effort to end violence against women and girls and urges anyone with information to contact police.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Belfast City Centre assault on two women Original release: Hargey condemns attack on women in Belfast City Centre (opens in a new tab)
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More support must be provided to relieve the burden on unpaid carers, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA urges greater support for unpaid carers after a Carers NI report found 48% of those surveyed had experienced depression symptoms and 79% often felt lonely. She points to disrupted respite since the pandemic and a shortage of social and community care…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Carers NI report on unpaid carers' wellbeing Original release: More support must be provided to relieve the burden on unpaid carers, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Lack of Assembly impacting SEN provision, says Mathison
Alliance education spokesperson Nick Mathison says the lack of a functioning Assembly is hurting children with special educational needs, as sector witnesses appeared before a Westminster committee. He calls for urgent prioritisation and an action plan from the Department's SEN review and urges…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee hearing on special educational needs provision Original release: Lack of Assembly impacting SEN provision, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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UK Government has failed to protect the LGBTQ+ community, says Muir
Alliance MLA Andrew Muir says he will bring a Private Member's Bill banning so-called conversion practices if Executive legislation is not forthcoming, after the King's Speech omitted the measure. He and MP Stephen Farry criticise the UK Government over the omission.
Disability and equality Issue: King's Speech omission of conversion practices ban Original release: UK Government has failed to protect the LGBTQ+ community, says Muir (opens in a new tab)
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Department for Infrastructure must ensure inconsiderate pavement parking options are ready to be taken forward by a Minister - Allen
UUP Communities spokesperson Andy Allen MBE MLA welcomes new parking restrictions taking effect that ban stopping on pavements at several named locations. He urges the Department for Infrastructure to finish preparing options on inconsiderate pavement parking so a new Minister can act quickly, and…
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: New pavement parking restrictions taking effect at specified locations Original release: Department for Infrastructure must ensure inconsiderate pavement parking options are ready to be taken forward by a Minister - Allen (opens in a new tab)
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All parties must take a clear stand on antisemitism: Buckley
DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley says all Northern Ireland parties must clearly oppose antisemitism after meeting the UK's antisemitism adviser, Lord Mann. He also asks Sinn Féin to explain why none of its members met him and when it was first told of the visit.
Disability and equality Issue: DUP delegation meeting with Lord Mann on antisemitism Original release: All parties must take a clear stand on antisemitism: Buckley (opens in a new tab)
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Posters erected in Belvoir do not represent the people of South Belfast, say Nicholl and Bradshaw
Alliance MLAs Kate Nicholl and Paula Bradshaw condemn signs in the Belvoir estate telling certain people they are no longer welcome, which have been reported to the PSNI, Department for Communities and Housing Executive for removal. They call for a functioning Executive to accelerate housing…
Community relations and legacy Immigration Issue: Signs in Belvoir estate telling certain people they are unwelcome Original release: Posters erected in Belvoir do not represent the people of South Belfast, say Nicholl and Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)