Latest releases
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2,851 releases
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Gannon challenges Executive parties over SWAH
SDLP Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Group Leader Adam Gannon challenges Executive parties to press for restoring emergency general surgery at the South West Acute Hospital, saying none has yet acted on it. He says the SDLP will keep raising the unfairness of long emergency journeys for rural…
Health Issue: Removal of emergency general surgery from South West Acute Hospital Original release: Gannon challenges Executive parties over SWAH (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart welcomes protection of women’s sport by FA rules
DUP MP Carla Lockhart welcomes the Football Association's new eligibility criteria for women's football in England and urges the same protection for women in Northern Ireland without delay. She says the Supreme Court ruling should guide other bodies across the UK, and that she and a fellow DUP MLA…
Disability and equality Issue: FA eligibility criteria for women's football in England Original release: Lockhart welcomes protection of women’s sport by FA rules (opens in a new tab)
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Troubles pension scheme must reach further afield - Beattie
UUP Justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA says the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme has been poorly publicised in Great Britain, citing 178 applications from England, Scotland and Wales against 3,934 from Northern Ireland. He calls on the Executive Office to step up outreach before…
Community relations and legacy Social security and welfare Issue: Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme applications low in Great Britain Original release: Troubles pension scheme must reach further afield - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Removal of nursing provision in special schools simply unacceptable, says Mathison
Alliance education spokesperson and Education Committee chair Nick Mathison MLA says the absence of nurses in some special schools is unacceptable, and calls for nursing to be reinstated in every special school that needs it, as soon as possible.
Education Health Issue: Nursing provision removal from special schools review Original release: Removal of nursing provision in special schools simply unacceptable, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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New approach to SEN school placements needed – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says many children with special educational needs risk having no place in September and urges a different method for allocating school places that is suitable, reduces family stress and provides early support. He welcomes the Education Authority’s remarks to the Education C
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority remarks on SEN placement approach Original release: New approach to SEN school placements needed – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Departments must work together to support children with SEN – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges the Education and Health departments to coordinate more closely on support for children with special educational needs, citing rising identification and a shortage of allied health professionals. He says neither the Education Department nor the Education Authority…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Departments must work together to support children with SEN – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein department cites lack of support for petition in aid of their case to impose Irish signage on Grand Central
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the Department for Infrastructure cited the lack of signatures on his petition against dual-language signage at Grand Central as justification for claiming the decision was not controversial. He calls on every Unionist MLA to explain why they did not support the…
Disability and equality Infrastructure and transport Issue: Grand Central Irish signage court hearing and petition signatures Original release: Sinn Fein department cites lack of support for petition in aid of their case to impose Irish signage on Grand Central (opens in a new tab)
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Statement from Councillor Debbie Coyle
Sinn Féin councillor Debbie Coyle says statements issued by Fermanagh and Omagh council officials on the UK Supreme Court ruling were not authorised by elected councillors. She says the party will raise it at the next council meeting and urges public bodies to await Equality and Human Rights…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Fermanagh and Omagh council officials' comments on UK Supreme Court ruling Original release: Statement from Councillor Debbie Coyle (opens in a new tab)
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EU Law Blocks UK Tobacco Ban
DUP Peer Lord Dodds warns that the proposed generational smoking ban cannot apply in Northern Ireland because the EU Tobacco Products Directive still governs it under the Windsor Framework. He calls on the Government to clarify whether it will override the Directive.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Generational smoking ban and EU Tobacco Products Directive in Northern Ireland Original release: EU Law Blocks UK Tobacco Ban (opens in a new tab)
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People Before Profit support the Counter Demo
People Before Profit says it will join UNITED AGAINST RACISM's counter-demonstrations against far-right groups marching on Remigration in Dublin, Belfast and Derry this weekend, arguing that housing and public service failures are a government problem, not a migration one.
Disability and equality Housing Issue: United Against Racism counter-demonstrations against far-right Remigration march Original release: People Before Profit support the Counter Demo (opens in a new tab)
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Young condemns racist attack in Newry
Alliance Councillor Helena Young condemns a racist attack in Newry on international doctors and their families at a park on 12 April, saying those responsible should be ashamed and the abuse must stop immediately.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Racist attack on international doctors in Newry park Original release: Young condemns racist attack in Newry (opens in a new tab)
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Deeply concerning so many SEN children remain without a school place ahead of new academic year, says Guy
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA says it is deeply concerning that around 400 children with SEN statements still lack a school place before September, citing Education Minister Paul Givan's confirmation. She calls for delivery of the SEN reform plan's high-level actions and…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Around 400 SEN pupils without school places ahead of September Original release: Deeply concerning so many SEN children remain without a school place ahead of new academic year, says Guy (opens in a new tab)
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DUP - “A victory for commonsense and biological reality”
DUP MP Carla Lockhart welcomes the UK Supreme Court judgment, brought by For Women Scotland, holding that legal womanhood rests on biological sex. She says it restores clarity in law and criticises the Alliance Party for avoiding the question.
Disability and equality Issue: UK Supreme Court ruling on biological sex definition in law Original release: DUP - “A victory for commonsense and biological reality” (opens in a new tab)
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TUV welcome victory for women in Supreme Court judgement
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston welcomes the UK Supreme Court ruling on the meaning of sex in equality law, and calls on Stormont to withdraw the Finance Department's Inclusive Language Guide, end Stonewall funding and revisit prison housing policy for men.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: UK Supreme Court ruling on biological sex definition in law Original release: TUV welcome victory for women in Supreme Court judgement (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland cannot be the outlier in Equality Legislation – Beattie
UUP Justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA says the Supreme Court ruling on biological sex has major implications for Northern Ireland equality law. He asks the Justice Minister whether women prisoners could sue over transgender prisoner placements, and calls on the Equality Commission to advise…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: UK Supreme Court ruling on biological sex definition in law Original release: Northern Ireland cannot be the outlier in Equality Legislation – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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ESRI research highlights importance of all-island public health system – Rose Conway-Walsh TD
Sinn Féin's Rose Conway-Walsh TD welcomes an ESRI economic overview of Ireland and Northern Ireland, saying it shows an all-island approach to public health would improve care, and calls on the Irish government to resource Irish unity planning and establish a citizens' assembly.
Health Constitutional affairs Issue: ESRI 'Economic Overview of Ireland and Northern Ireland' report launch Original release: ESRI research highlights importance of all-island public health system – Rose Conway-Walsh TD (opens in a new tab)
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More support needed for jurors after trials – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey calls for more support for jurors after trials, following a BBC interview in which a former juror described developing PTSD after a traumatic case. She urges the Justice and Health Ministers to work together on continuous support and asks the Justice Minister to review…
Justice and policing Health Issue: Juror PTSD claims after traumatic court case BBC interview Original release: More support needed for jurors after trials – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Need for intense and ongoing scrutiny of DUP ministers – Gildernew
Colm Gildernew MLA, Sinn Féin’s communities spokesperson, says DUP ministers must be subject to intense, ongoing scrutiny and urged to prioritise equality, inclusion and respect over personal projects. Sinn Féin will examine public‑fund allocations and robustly challenge any breaches.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Original release: Need for intense and ongoing scrutiny of DUP ministers – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney welcomes additional funding for Foras na Gaeilge
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the Irish Government’s €630,000 allocation to Foras na Gaeilge, saying it eases pressure and will boost language promotion, and urges a fair, sustainable funding model while condemning the DUP’s blockage of further Irish‑government support.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: €630,000 funding for Foras na Gaeilge Original release: Kearney welcomes additional funding for Foras na Gaeilge (opens in a new tab)
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Fáilte roimh an maoiniú do pinsin, ach cur chuige nua ag teastáil don Fhoras – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD
Sinn Féin's Gaeilge, Gaeltachta and Ealaíon spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD welcomes the Dublin government's decision to cover Bord na Gaeilge's historic pension costs, which lets Foras na Gaeilge avoid threatened cuts, but calls for a new funding approach.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Foras na Gaeilge pension costs funding decision and threatened cuts Original release: Fáilte roimh an maoiniú do pinsin, ach cur chuige nua ag teastáil don Fhoras – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD (opens in a new tab)