Latest releases
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4,460 releases
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Consultation on Disability and Work strategy launched by Minister…
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons outlines a Disability and Work Strategy aiming to bring 50,000 more people into the workforce over ten years, launching a 12-week public consultation running to 12 January 2026. The strategy proposes a Disability and Work Council and four themes including…
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: Disability and Work Strategy public consultation launch Original release: Consultation on Disability and Work strategy launched by Minister… (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan calls for joined-up approach between Ministers on Disability and Work Strategy
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA welcomes the draft Disability and Work Strategy but says it will only succeed with concrete commitments on community rehabilitation access. He calls for the Department of Health to publish its Community Rehabilitation Framework alongside the strategy…
Disability and equality Health Issue: Disability and Work Strategy public consultation launch Original release: Durkan calls for joined-up approach between Ministers on Disability and Work Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath accuses Health Minister of ‘dithering’ on nurse's pay
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA accuses the Health Minister of delaying a nurses' pay deal and says recent comments have added uncertainty as the RCN ballots members on industrial action. He calls on the Executive to act now and deliver a fair pay rise.
Health Economy and employment Issue: RCN ballot on nurses' pay strike action Original release: McGrath accuses Health Minister of ‘dithering’ on nurse's pay (opens in a new tab)
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Time to build mother and baby unit – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn is bringing a motion, to be debated Tuesday, urging the Health Minister to set up a dedicated ward with trained staff for mothers while a mother and baby unit is developed. It also asks the Minister to work with the Irish government so the unit serves mothers and…
Health Issue: Mother and baby unit motion on postpartum mental health support Original release: Time to build mother and baby unit – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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De Faoite condemns threats to council vehicles
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Councillor Séamas de Faoite condemns reported loyalist paramilitary plans to attack council vehicles bearing Irish language signage, saying paramilitaries should not exist. He defends the council's Irish language policy and pledges SDLP cooperation with…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Loyalist paramilitary threats to Belfast City Council facilities Original release: De Faoite condemns threats to council vehicles (opens in a new tab)
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Lynch condemns Lisburn racist graffiti
Sinn Féin councillor Declan Lynch condemns racist graffiti that has appeared in Lisburn North, saying hate has no place in the community. He praises Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council for removing it quickly and the PSNI for arresting an individual linked to the incidents.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Racist graffiti in Lisburn North and arrest Original release: Lynch condemns Lisburn racist graffiti (opens in a new tab)
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Aontú Pro-Life Conference: Building a Culture That Values Every Life
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly announces a pro-life conference in Newry's Canal Court Hotel and says Irish abortion policy has failed its promises. She calls for pain relief for unborn children in late-term terminations and care for babies born alive after procedures, and opposes assisted suicide.
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Nationalist and Republican Alliance Must Be Confronted at Every Turn After City Hall Vote
TUV leader Jim Allister condemns Belfast City Council's vote to impose Irish citywide, accusing Alliance of siding with Sinn Féin and of backing Gerry Kelly's amendment removing 'innocent' from a victims motion. He calls for unionists to unite against the Irish Language Commissioner appointment.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council unified Irish language policy approval Original release: Nationalist and Republican Alliance Must Be Confronted at Every Turn After City Hall Vote (opens in a new tab)
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Catney condemns racist graffiti in Lisburn
SDLP Lisburn North Councillor Pat Catney condemns racist graffiti targeting Muslim residents in the Chapel Hill area of Lisburn. He says he has contacted the PSNI and is working with council officials to have it removed.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Racist graffiti in Lisburn North and arrest Original release: Catney condemns racist graffiti in Lisburn (opens in a new tab)
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DUP MLA must apologise for using homophobic slur on national TV, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA urges Jonathan Buckley of the DUP to apologise after he allegedly used a homophobic slur during a BBC Question Time appearance. Tennyson also accuses DUP politicians of divisive rhetoric.
Disability and equality Issue: Jonathan Buckley homophobic slur on BBC Question Time Original release: DUP MLA must apologise for using homophobic slur on national TV, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Allister challenges Secretary of State on “misleading” Internal Market Guarantee
TUV MP for North Antrim Jim Allister KC writes to the Secretary of State, alleging that the UK Internal Market Scheme and its ‘Guarantee’ misrepresent goods movements as internal market trade when they still require EU customs and SPS paperwork, border checks and other burdens. He asks for truthful‑
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: UK Internal Market Guarantee green lane arrangements Original release: Allister challenges Secretary of State on “misleading” Internal Market Guarantee (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows slams prison officers' exposure to second-hand smoke
UUP MLA Jon Burrows says prison officers in Northern Ireland should not have to endure second-hand smoke at work and calls on the Department of Justice and Prison Service to act now. He notes Northern Ireland lacks a prison smoking ban that applies elsewhere in the UK and says urgent questions…
Justice and policing Health Original release: Burrows slams prison officers' exposure to second-hand smoke (opens in a new tab)
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Stall on plans for new Altnagelvin children's unit greatly disappointing, says Donnelly
Alliance health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says he is deeply dismayed that the planned new children's unit at Altnagelvin has been paused pending a Department of Health review of capital spending. He calls for the Health Minister to explain his priorities and says his party will write to the…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Altnagelvin Hospital children's unit plans paused pending capital spending review Original release: Stall on plans for new Altnagelvin children's unit greatly disappointing, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister condemns continuing failure to meet cancer waiting time targets
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA condemns continuing failures to meet cancer waiting time targets, citing quarterly figures for April to June 2025 showing fewer urgent GP-referred patients starting treatment within 62 days. She calls on the Health Minister to act.
Health Issue: Quarterly cancer waiting times statistics for April to June 2025 Original release: McAllister condemns continuing failure to meet cancer waiting time targets (opens in a new tab)
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Polasaí stairiúil Gaeilge aontaithe ag comhairleoirí Bhéal Feirste – Ó Néill
Sinn Féin councillor Tomás Ó Néill welcomes Belfast City Council's approval of a unified Irish language policy, including bilingual corporate branding and signage in council buildings, which he calls historic and aimed at strengthening Irish speakers' rights.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council unified Irish language policy approval Original release: Polasaí stairiúil Gaeilge aontaithe ag comhairleoirí Bhéal Feirste – Ó Néill (opens in a new tab)
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Oireachtas na Samhna chun imeacht Aontacht na hÉireann a óstáil i mBéal Feirste – Declan Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA announces a Commission for a United Ireland event at Oireachtas na Samhna in Belfast on 31 October, titled 'The Role of Gaels in Building a New Ireland', to be held entirely in Irish at the ICC.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Sinn Féin Commission on the Future of Ireland Oireachtas na Samhna event Original release: Oireachtas na Samhna chun imeacht Aontacht na hÉireann a óstáil i mBéal Feirste – Declan Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Oireachtas na Samhna to host Irish Unity event in Belfast – Declan Kearney
Sinn Féin National Party Chair Declan Kearney MLA announces a Commission on the Future of Ireland event at Oireachtas na Samhna in Belfast's ICC on 31 October, to be held entirely in Irish on the role of gaeilgeoirí in building a new Ireland. He says it is one of three Commission events in October…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Sinn Féin Commission on the Future of Ireland Oireachtas na Samhna event Original release: Oireachtas na Samhna to host Irish Unity event in Belfast – Declan Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes assessment appointments for boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Belfast Trust appointments for boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy to be assessed for Givinostat via an early access programme, and calls for families to be told urgently whether their child is eligible.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Belfast Trust Givinostat early access assessment appointments for DMD boys Original release: Dillon welcomes assessment appointments for boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin will stand against introduction of Digital ID Card in the north – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Senator Conor Murphy says the party will oppose the introduction of a mandatory British Government digital ID card in the north, accusing Secretary of State Hilary Benn of ignoring northern parties in consultations with the Irish government. Murphy says he has written to the Irish…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Labour plan to introduce digital ID cards Original release: Sinn Féin will stand against introduction of Digital ID Card in the north – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey praises emergency services following Holylands incident
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey praises emergency services for making safe an incident in the Damascus Street area of south Belfast, after four people and several police officers were taken to hospital following possible contact with a suspected noxious substance.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Damascus Street south Belfast suspected noxious substance incident Original release: Hargey praises emergency services following Holylands incident (opens in a new tab)