Latest releases
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1,881 releases
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Ferguson welcomes 674 new homes for Derry
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson welcomes planning approval from Derry City and Strabane Council for 674 homes in the Waterside, a development she says is worth over £100 million. She also urges London to provide fairer funding to the Executive so more social and affordable housing can be built.
Housing Local government Issue: Derry City and Strabane Council approval of 674 Waterside homes Original release: Ferguson welcomes 674 new homes for Derry (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong welcomes increased health support for people in receipt of Universal Credit.
Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong welcomes plans to extend free sight tests, dental treatment and hospital travel help to Universal Credit claimants in Northern Ireland, saying realignment with the UK should happen within six months, followed by a six-week consultation.
Health Social security and welfare Issue: Universal Credit eyecare and health cost entitlement realignment with UK Original release: Armstrong welcomes increased health support for people in receipt of Universal Credit. (opens in a new tab)
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Other parties' decision to protect polluters shameful, says Blair, following AERA Committee vote.
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair calls the AERA Committee's rejection of tougher penalties for repeat waterway polluters "shameful", blaming Sinn Féin, DUP, UUP and SDLP for blocking the restrictions and demanding they account for their reversal on environmental protection.
Environment and climate Issue: AERA Committee vote on tougher waterway pollution penalties Original release: Other parties' decision to protect polluters shameful, says Blair, following AERA Committee vote. (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin urges Executive to do more to support women and girls
SDLP Opposition MLA Sinéad McLaughlin says the Executive must do more to support frontline services, after Women's Aid's annual report showed almost 11,000 referrals in 2023/24, up 600 on the previous year. She calls for greater investment across all departments.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Women's Aid annual report 2023/24 referrals increase Original release: McLaughlin urges Executive to do more to support women and girls (opens in a new tab)
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‘No Dignity in Lying’: Carla Lockhart
DUP MLA Carla Lockhart argues that the 'dignity' language used by assisted suicide campaigners, such as Dignity in Dying, is a misleading framing. She says legalising assisted suicide would lower the perceived worth of disabled, poor and homeless people, citing a Canadian poll on MAID eligibility.
Disability and equality Health Original release: ‘No Dignity in Lying’: Carla Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Disappointment at lack of details on SEN End to End Review, says Alliance representatives
Education Disability and equality Original release: Disappointment at lack of details on SEN End to End Review, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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‘Anyone contaminating waterways must face full extent of the law’ – Kearney
SDLP... no. Sinn Féin South Antrim MLA Declan Kearney says he is deeply concerned that no one will be prosecuted over the 2023 Crumlin River pollution that killed fish, and calls for anyone polluting waterways to face the law fully, plus legislative change and stronger enforcement, urging DAERA to…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Crumlin River pollution incident 2023 no prosecutions Original release: ‘Anyone contaminating waterways must face full extent of the law’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure Minister burying his head in the sand over NI Water funding, says McMurray.
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andy McMurray says the Infrastructure Minister is ignoring the crisis in NI Water’s funding, dismisses the minister’s claim the model works and urges adoption of Alliance’s mutualised funding blueprint to sustain water and wastewater investment.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: John O'Dowd comments on NI Water funding model Original release: Infrastructure Minister burying his head in the sand over NI Water funding, says McMurray. (opens in a new tab)
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Our parks must be accessible and inclusive for all, says Ashe, welcoming agreement on communication board motion.
Alliance Comber Councillor Rachel Ashe welcomes Ards and North Down Borough Council's agreement to install communication boards in Tier 1 play parks, after the feasibility report on her motion was approved. Ashe says the boards will help children with speech, language or autism-related…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Ards and North Down communication boards in Tier 1 play parks Original release: Our parks must be accessible and inclusive for all, says Ashe, welcoming agreement on communication board motion. (opens in a new tab)
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Environmental governance review is encouraging news for Lough Neagh, says Blair
Alliance environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes the DAERA Minister's launch of an independent panel to review environmental governance, praising its Lough Neagh focus and backing a possible Independent Environmental Protection Agency. He expects the panel's report next summer.
Environment and climate Issue: Minister Andrew Muir review of environmental governance announcement Original release: Environmental governance review is encouraging news for Lough Neagh, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Children and young people with special educational needs in Irish medium schools must be supported – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason urges the Department of Education to improve special educational needs support in Irish medium schools, saying they need access to educational psychologists who work in Irish and other health professionals. She welcomes the department's acknowledgement of the issues.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Children and young people with special educational needs in Irish medium schools must be supported – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Special educational needs action plan must be published urgently – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker urges the Department of Education to publish its transformation plan for special educational needs services, noting over 200 recommendations from reports so far without a delivery plan. He calls on the Education Minister to release the SEN Reform Agenda and its delivery…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Special educational needs action plan must be published urgently – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Antisemitic graffiti remains on hospital wall for 6 months
DUP leader Gavin Robinson says antisemitic graffiti has remained on a Royal Victoria Hospital wall in west Belfast for months after a complaint to the Belfast Trust, and calls on the Trust to explain why it has not been removed.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Antisemitic graffiti at Royal Victoria Hospital wall remains unremoved Original release: Antisemitic graffiti remains on hospital wall for 6 months (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance representatives visit tidal research programme in Strangford
Alliance MLAs Kellie Armstrong, Nick Mathison and Danny Donnelly visited a Queen's University tidal test site in Strangford, where CASE-funded research into blade fatigue life of crossflow turbines is under way. Armstrong says the data supports tidal energy and Mathison calls for renewables across…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Original release: Alliance representatives visit tidal research programme in Strangford (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: Action, not more reviews needed to protect environment
SDLP AERA spokesperson and Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone says the Environment Minister Andrew Muir should deliver action, not another review of environmental governance, and prioritise an Independent Environmental Protection Agency. He cites Lough Neagh and Mobuoy as evidence.
Environment and climate Issue: Minister Andrew Muir review of environmental governance announcement Original release: McGlone: Action, not more reviews needed to protect environment (opens in a new tab)
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Tackling violence against women requires joined-up approach - Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart welcomes a Government commitment to work with devolved institutions, including the Assembly, on tackling violence against women and girls. She cites 22,403 recorded offences in Northern Ireland and says the Minister has spoken to the PSNI Chief Constable and intends to visit…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Government commitment on violence against women and girls in Commons questions Original release: Tackling violence against women requires joined-up approach - Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Ferguson welcomes £64m funding to expand wastewater infrastructure and build more homes
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson welcomes a £64 million allocation from Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald for wastewater infrastructure and housing, saying it could deliver up to 1,400 social homes this year. She urges Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to release a refreshed housing supply strategy…
Housing Infrastructure and transport Issue: £64m Executive funding for wastewater infrastructure and housing Original release: Ferguson welcomes £64m funding to expand wastewater infrastructure and build more homes (opens in a new tab)
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Just Transition Commission consultation launch is a vital step forward, says Blair.
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes the launch of a consultation on establishing a Just Transition Commission for Northern Ireland, which he says is a step forward on climate change. He urges the public to take part and says the agriculture sector needs a fair transition.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Just Transition Commission consultation launch by DAERA Original release: Just Transition Commission consultation launch is a vital step forward, says Blair. (opens in a new tab)
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Muir launches the first Northern Ireland Food Strategy Framework.
Alliance DAERA Minister Andrew Muir launches Northern Ireland's first Food Strategy Framework, aiming to make the region a world leader in sustainable, healthy food. He says an action plan will follow in early 2025 setting out how government will begin transforming the food system.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Northern Ireland Food Strategy Framework launch Original release: Muir launches the first Northern Ireland Food Strategy Framework. (opens in a new tab)
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Post Office branch closures will hit most vulnerable hardest, Alliance representatives have warned.
Alliance MLAs Sian Mulholland and Kellie Armstrong warn that closing local Crown Post Office branches will hit the most vulnerable hardest, after a list of branches at risk of closure or restructuring included Antrim, Belfast, Derry~Londonderry and Newtownards. Armstrong urges the Post Office to…
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: Crown Post Office branches at risk of closure or restructuring list Original release: Post Office branch closures will hit most vulnerable hardest, Alliance representatives have warned. (opens in a new tab)