Latest releases
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1,457 releases
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Sadness & anger as another woman loses her life: Rachel Woods
Green Party NI Cllr Rachel Woods expresses sadness at the murder of Alesia Nazarova, noting she is thought to be the 17th woman killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. She calls for a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, blaming the DUP's Assembly boycott for delay.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Murder of Alesia Nazarova in Northern Ireland Original release: Sadness & anger as another woman loses her life: Rachel Woods (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong calls on Prime Minister and Taoiseach to create an emergency fund to save 1700 jobs in the Community Sector
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong, Chair of the All Party Group on Learning Disability, calls on the UK and Irish governments to fund a £40million rescue package to replace expiring European Social Fund money. She says it would keep 1700 community sector jobs and support 17000 people with disabilities…
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: End of European Social Fund money affecting community sector jobs Original release: Armstrong calls on Prime Minister and Taoiseach to create an emergency fund to save 1700 jobs in the Community Sector (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: New research confirms academic selection not delivering for all young people
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says new Stranmillis College research shows academic selection is not working for young people, arguing that scrapping the transfer test alone would not fix problems and calling for a wider cultural change and investment in education reform.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Stranmillis College research on transfer test cancellation and grammar school intake Original release: McCrossan: New research confirms academic selection not delivering for all young people (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds stresses need for proper Education funding
DUP Education spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says the Independent Review of Education panel was told Education budgets are underfunded, citing real-terms cuts of around £150 million and calling for Education to be treated as 'mission critical'. She also highlights rising Special Educational Needs…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Independent Review of Education panel meeting on school funding Original release: Dodds stresses need for proper Education funding (opens in a new tab)
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School Holiday Food Grant Must Be Extended - Cllr Doyle
Aontú Cllr Emmet Doyle calls on the Department of Education to confirm funding beyond March for the school holiday food grant, which pays £27 a fortnight to families of children receiving free school meals. He says a Council motion will seek that assurance.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Uncertainty over Easter school holiday hunger payments Original release: School Holiday Food Grant Must Be Extended - Cllr Doyle (opens in a new tab)
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Butler warns cuts to key transport service will disproportionately impact people with disabilities
UUP MLA Robbie Butler warns that budget uncertainty at Stormont risks ending the Department for Infrastructure's Disability Action Transport Scheme and Shopmobility, which have no funding guarantee beyond next month. He blames the lack of an Executive and multi-year budgets.
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: Department for Infrastructure disability transport schemes funding at risk Original release: Butler warns cuts to key transport service will disproportionately impact people with disabilities (opens in a new tab)
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Extension of Veterans Mobility Fund welcome - Allen
East Belfast UUP MLA Andy Allen MBE welcomes the Government's decision to extend the Veterans Mobility Fund, crediting Veterans Affairs Minister Johnny Mercer MP after repeated representations. He also welcomes a £20 million Veterans Capital Housing Fund and says he has sought a meeting on support…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Veterans Mobility Fund extension announcement Original release: Extension of Veterans Mobility Fund welcome - Allen (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Launch of crucial Autism Strategy in jeopardy
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan says vital autism legislation and the Autism Strategy may be delayed without an agreed budget, citing Health Permanent Secretary Peter May's warning about financial uncertainty and the unfilled Independent Autism Reviewer post. He calls for the strategy to proceed without…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Health Permanent Secretary warning on Autism Strategy delivery without budget Original release: Durkan: Launch of crucial Autism Strategy in jeopardy (opens in a new tab)
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Aontú Deputy Leader Welcomes Seachtain na Gaeilge
Aontú deputy leader Gemma Brolly celebrates Seachtain na Gaeilge, urging that the Irish language be accessible to all year round and calling for greater support in schools and councils, especially where it is currently limited.
Disability and equality Issue: Seachtain na Gaeilge 2023 Original release: Aontú Deputy Leader Welcomes Seachtain na Gaeilge (opens in a new tab)
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Vital holiday hunger payments must continue – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan calls on the Department of Education to guarantee holiday hunger payments for families over the Easter school holidays, warning that uncertainty over funding is deeply concerning. He calls for an Executive to be formed now to tackle holiday hunger.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Uncertainty over Easter school holiday hunger payments Original release: Vital holiday hunger payments must continue – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Shameful children face paying the price for political failure – Butler
UUP education spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA says children and struggling families are suffering as Stormont's political deadlock delays confirmation of school holiday hunger payments for the Easter break. He calls on the Department of Education to extend the £27-a-fortnight food grant during the…
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Uncertainty over Easter school holiday hunger payments Original release: Shameful children face paying the price for political failure – Butler (opens in a new tab)
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School Holiday Food Grant Scheme must be extended to prevent holiday hunger, says Egan
Alliance MLA Connie Egan calls on the Education Department to fund the school holiday food grant, which replaces free school meals for over 100,000 families during holidays, for at least the next financial year. She says it is being considered due to budget pressures and urges a long-term fix once…
Education Social security and welfare Issue: Education Department considering funding of holiday food grant scheme Original release: School Holiday Food Grant Scheme must be extended to prevent holiday hunger, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister calls for extension to energy support voucher scheme deadline
Alliance North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister calls on the UK Government to extend the 31 March deadline for redeeming £600 energy support vouchers, citing delays and wrong-address or wrong-name vouchers in households. Alliance North Down MP Stephen Farry says he has raised the matter with the UK…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Energy support voucher scheme redemption deadline extension Original release: McAllister calls for extension to energy support voucher scheme deadline (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: SEN children must get support they need
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says children with special educational needs must get the support they need, after parents described their struggle to secure help. He cites reports that the Education Authority has conceded most SEN appeals and calls for a complete overhaul of the assessment…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Reports of Education Authority conceding most SEN appeals Original release: McCrossan: SEN children must get support they need (opens in a new tab)
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International Women’s Day
People Before Profit marks International Women's Day by arguing that housing, cost of living and health service pressures disproportionately affect women, and that women still earn 14% less than men on average. It calls for a broader fight for women's rights, including full bodily autonomy North…
Disability and equality Economy and employment Original release: International Women’s Day (opens in a new tab)
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We deserve every seat we have at every table, says McAllister, marking International Women’s Day 2023
Alliance North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister marks International Women's Day 2023 by paying tribute to female party colleagues, citing legislation under Naomi Long as Justice Minister and Michelle Kelly's Belfast City Council changes. She calls for continued work on equity, including accessible and…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Original release: We deserve every seat we have at every table, says McAllister, marking International Women’s Day 2023 (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Loss of community transport will leave vulnerable isolated
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter warns that uncertainty over Department for Infrastructure funding for the dial-a-lift community transport service could leave elderly and disabled people isolated. She says she has raised concerns with the department's Permanent Secretary and urges Stormont…
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: DfI one-month community transport funding extension Original release: Hunter: Loss of community transport will leave vulnerable isolated (opens in a new tab)
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A restored Assembly must deliver for women – Sheerin
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin tells a Glasgow event marking March 8th that a restored Assembly and Executive must act to advance equality and deliver better for women, including those from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBT+ women and women with disabilities.
Disability and equality Original release: A restored Assembly must deliver for women – Sheerin (opens in a new tab)
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Muir welcomes park home energy support
Alliance North Down MLA Andrew Muir welcomes the extension of the £600 energy support payment to over 28,000 households not initially eligible, including Seahaven park home residents in Groomsport. He says they were left waiting too long and urges them to apply via the online form or helpline.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Extension of £600 energy support payment to park home residents Original release: Muir welcomes park home energy support (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone highlights issue for farmers receiving £600 energy support payment
SDLP Rural Communities Spokesperson Patsy McGlone says farmers who only have business bank accounts are unable to claim the £600 energy support payment, and has called on the British government's BEIS to urgently change the scheme so they can receive it.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: Farmers unable to claim £600 energy support payment without personal bank account Original release: McGlone highlights issue for farmers receiving £600 energy support payment (opens in a new tab)