Latest releases
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3,335 releases
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Green Party Leader cautiously welcomes Equality Commission way forward following Supreme Court judgment
Green Party Leader Mal O'Hara welcomes the Equality Commission's announcement on its proposed pathway after the Supreme Court judgment, calling it a constructive step giving legal clarity. He says the Supreme Court failed to resolve Northern Ireland's distinct legal position and that the Green…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Equality Commission response to Supreme Court sex-based protections judgment Original release: Green Party Leader cautiously welcomes Equality Commission way forward following Supreme Court judgment (opens in a new tab)
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Lack of synchronisation threatens the future of people with disabilities, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong calls for a joint meeting of the Departments for Communities and the Economy to improve disability employment rates, citing a 38.7% disability employment rate against 54.4% in the UK. She highlights Supported Employment from the Mind the Gap report and warns that…
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: Mind the Gap Summit disability employment and Supported Employment report Original release: Lack of synchronisation threatens the future of people with disabilities, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Crisis at EA cannot continue
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA says the Education Authority's crisis cannot continue after it revealed around 164 pupils with special educational needs lack a school place for next year. She opposes instructing mainstream schools to take them, arguing some need dedicated…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority reports 160+ SEN children awaiting school places Original release: Hunter: Crisis at EA cannot continue (opens in a new tab)
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David Cullinane TD appointed Rapporteur on Adult Safeguarding
Sinn Féin spokesperson David Cullinane TD says he has been appointed rapporteur for the Oireachtas Health Committee on adult safeguarding, and will report back with recommendations for a legislative framework. He urges the government to bring forward an Adult Safeguarding Act, citing the RTÉ…
Health Issue: Oireachtas Health Committee adult safeguarding rapporteur appointment Original release: David Cullinane TD appointed Rapporteur on Adult Safeguarding (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin all-island health proposals – David Cullinane TD
Health Constitutional affairs Original release: Sinn Féin all-island health proposals – David Cullinane TD (opens in a new tab)
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A World-class Health and Care Service for a New Ireland – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD launches a discussion document calling for an all-island Irish National Health and Care Service, proposing a single hospital waiting list, joint digital health records, all-island workforce planning and a rural health commission.
Health Issue: Sinn Féin discussion document on an Irish National Health and Care Service Original release: A World-class Health and Care Service for a New Ireland – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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‘Education Minister must appear before Assembly to explain handling of SEN placements’ – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker seeks an Urgent Oral Question so the Education Minister must answer in the Assembly on the handling of school placements for children with special educational needs. He says up to 160 such children still lack a confirmed place for the 2025/26 year.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special educational needs school placement shortfall for 2025/26 academic year Original release: ‘Education Minister must appear before Assembly to explain handling of SEN placements’ – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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British government must reverse proposed welfare cuts – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges the UK government to halt its planned welfare cuts, following a joint letter from the Communities Committees in the North, Wales and Scotland raising concerns about the measures. He argues money for military spending should instead fund employment support and…
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Proposed UK welfare cuts for sick and disabled people Original release: British government must reverse proposed welfare cuts – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin health proposals are positive contribution – McGuigan
Health Constitutional affairs Original release: Sinn Féin health proposals are positive contribution – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Women are being failed - data on sex is not being collected making ending violence against women and girls nothing more than a slogan – Beattie
UUP justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA says the failure to collect data on biological sex undermines efforts to end violence against women and girls. He says the PSNI and other departments are not recording victims' or perpetrators' sex for sexual offences, and calls for correct collection…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Independent Review of Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender Original release: Women are being failed - data on sex is not being collected making ending violence against women and girls nothing more than a slogan – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister should ensure all schools play their part in providing SEN placements – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to ensure all schools, including grammar schools, provide special educational needs placements. He says non-selective schools have carried most of the load and calls for a new approach, and has called for a committee inquiry into the issue.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Education Minister should ensure all schools play their part in providing SEN placements – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Brolly: Less time on social media videos and more on legislation could have saved A5
Aontú Deputy Leader Mrs Brolly says a court ruling halting the A5 on Climate Change Act grounds is a devastating result for families bereaved on the road. She blames SDLP, Sinn Féin, PBP and Alliance for backing the Act, claims they were warned of its impact, and calls for the Executive to get…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: A5 road scheme judicial review ruling Original release: Brolly: Less time on social media videos and more on legislation could have saved A5 (opens in a new tab)
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More regulation of AirBnBs and second homes essential, says McCully, after passing of Alliance motion
Alliance Causeway Councillor Peter McCully welcomes Causeway Coast and Glens Council's unanimous passing of Alliance's motion calling on the NI Executive to tackle housing shortages linked to AirBnBs and second homes. He says the balance is off and urges urgent action.
Housing Local government Issue: Causeway Coast and Glens Council motion on AirBnBs and second homes Original release: More regulation of AirBnBs and second homes essential, says McCully, after passing of Alliance motion (opens in a new tab)
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Crisis response from the Education Minister needed on SEN school placements, say Guy and Mathison
Alliance MLAs Michelle Guy and Nick Mathison say the Education Minister must explore all options to resolve the special educational needs placement crisis, after the Education Authority reported over 160 children still lack confirmed school places for next year.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority reports 160+ SEN children awaiting school places Original release: Crisis response from the Education Minister needed on SEN school placements, say Guy and Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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‘Urgent, universal collective action’ needed to end Israeli impunity in Gaza – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for "urgent, universal collective action" to end Israeli impunity in Gaza after the Assembly backed a motion condemning it, citing deaths, child malnutrition and destroyed health and water systems.
International affairs Health Issue: Assembly motion condemning Israeli impunity in Gaza Original release: ‘Urgent, universal collective action’ needed to end Israeli impunity in Gaza – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin introduce bill to end RTÉ’s second-class treatment of audiences in north – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes welcomes a new Sinn Féin bill, introduced by TDs Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Joanna Byrne, to end RTÉ geo-blocking and the exclusion of northern audiences from its competitions. He says the bill would require broadcasters to make reasonable efforts and would ask Coimisiún na…
Disability and equality Issue: Broadcasting (All Ireland Service) Bill first-stage Dáil introduction Original release: Sinn Féin introduce bill to end RTÉ’s second-class treatment of audiences in north – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin to introduce bill to end second-class treatment of audiences in North by RTÉ – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD & Joanna Byrne TD
Sinn Féin TDs Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Joanna Byrne say they have been given leave to introduce a first-stage Dáil bill requiring RTÉ to end the exclusion of Six County audiences from its services, including geo-blocking and audience competitions.
Disability and equality Issue: Broadcasting (All Ireland Service) Bill first-stage Dáil introduction Original release: Sinn Féin to introduce bill to end second-class treatment of audiences in North by RTÉ – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD & Joanna Byrne TD (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party leader warns against SDLP populism to unpick the Climate Act
Green Party leader Mal O'Hara accuses the SDLP of populism over its call to unpick the Climate Act 2022 to fund a road project. He says the SDLP voted to split climate targets and backed Going for Growth, and calls for the money to fund A5 road safety and a Portadown to Derry rail line instead.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: SDLP call to unpick the Climate Act for A5 road Original release: Green Party leader warns against SDLP populism to unpick the Climate Act (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Minister ignoring consequences of NI Water underfunding
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says the Infrastructure Minister is ignoring the scale of the crisis at NI Water, claiming current funding cannot fix ageing wastewater infrastructure and calling for the Minister to deliver the required money.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: NI Water unauthorised overspend investigation report Original release: Durkan: Minister ignoring consequences of NI Water underfunding (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP stands against Welfare Bill
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP backs two reasoned amendments, signed with Colum Eastwood, to block the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill at its Commons Second Reading. She warns the welfare reforms will push hundreds of thousands into poverty, hitting Northern Ireland hardest…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill Commons Second Reading Original release: SDLP stands against Welfare Bill (opens in a new tab)