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3,450 releases
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Comprehensive Spending Review sees increased funds for NI but significant pressures remain - Aiken
UUP Finance Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken says the Comprehensive Spending Review appears to recognise Northern Ireland's underfunding, with DEL rising by about £1.5bn, but warns of pressures including a £600M health shortfall and £250M for policing. He calls on the Executive to prioritise and asks…
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: UK Government first Spending Review 2025 Original release: Comprehensive Spending Review sees increased funds for NI but significant pressures remain - Aiken (opens in a new tab)
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UK Government continuing to balance books on backs of the most vulnerable, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood says the UK Labour Government's first Spending Review confirms a failed austerity model, criticising cuts to disability support, the retention of the two child limit and the refusal to introduce a wealth tax, while welcoming NHS and Casement Park funding.
Public finance and taxation Social security and welfare Issue: UK Government first Spending Review 2025 Original release: UK Government continuing to balance books on backs of the most vulnerable, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Buchanan urges groups to apply for Ulster-Scots Music & Dance funding
Mid Ulster DUP MLA Keith Buchanan welcomes the Ulster-Scots Agency's new music and dance tuition funding scheme and urges eligible groups to apply, saying it will help pass these traditions on to younger generations.
Disability and equality Issue: Ulster-Scots Agency music and dance tuition funding programme launch Original release: Buchanan urges groups to apply for Ulster-Scots Music & Dance funding (opens in a new tab)
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Report shows children and young people still facing 'widespread' sectarian bullying, says Guy
Alliance Education Spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA says new Anti-Bullying Alliance and Stranmillis University research shows sectarian bullying remains widespread among children and young people. She calls for the Executive to adopt a broader cross-community approach, including school-community…
Education Community relations and legacy Issue: Anti-Bullying Alliance and Stranmillis sectarian bullying research Original release: Report shows children and young people still facing 'widespread' sectarian bullying, says Guy (opens in a new tab)
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Government must act now to better protect women and girls - Frew
DUP MLA for North Antrim Paul Frew calls on the Government to act urgently to protect women and girls, citing two recent serious sexual assaults on teenage girls in Ballymena. He urges the PSNI and statutory agencies to address challenges in Houses of Multiple Occupation and illegal immigration.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Ballymena sexual assaults on teenage girls Original release: Government must act now to better protect women and girls - Frew (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance express serious concerns that Givan's Uniform Bill won't deliver for families
Alliance education spokespeople say the School Uniform Bill may fail families, citing unpublished Department guidance on branded items and affordability and officials' absence from committee. They call on the Education Minister to clarify branded PE kits, branded item limits and mandated equality…
Education Issue: School Uniform Bill committee stage and missing departmental guidance Original release: Alliance express serious concerns that Givan's Uniform Bill won't deliver for families (opens in a new tab)
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Conference on Health and Care in a New Ireland
Sinn Féin held a conference on Health and Care in a New Ireland, where speakers highlighted gaps in mental health, disability and elderly services, long diagnostic waits and underfunded counselling. Delegates voted to support a Citizens Assembly on Health and called for all‑island, free‑at‑point‑of‑
Health Issue: Health and Care in a New Ireland conference Original release: Conference on Health and Care in a New Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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TUV question if Stonewall played a role in NICS attendance at Belfast Pride
TUV Equality Spokeswoman Ann McClure questions whether fear of falling in Stonewall's equality index influenced the Northern Ireland Civil Service's participation in Belfast Pride, and says TUV will table an Assembly question and submit a Freedom of Information request on the decision.
Disability and equality Issue: NICS participation in Belfast Pride 2025 and Stonewall links Original release: TUV question if Stonewall played a role in NICS attendance at Belfast Pride (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey welcomes move by Queen’s University to cut ties with Israel
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey welcomes Queen's University Belfast's decision to end all financial and academic links with Israel. She calls for sustained boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel and urges international leaders to halt what she describes as Israel's campaign in Gaza.
International affairs Education Issue: Queen's University Belfast cuts financial and academic ties with Israel Original release: Hargey welcomes move by Queen’s University to cut ties with Israel (opens in a new tab)
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Amanda Grehan officially installed as first female Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council
Alliance Alderman Amanda Grehan has been installed as Lisburn and Castlereagh's inaugural woman mayor, pledging inclusive leadership and naming Action Cancer as her mayoral charity, with an inclusivity-for-disabilities theme for her year.
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Amanda Grehan installed as Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Original release: Amanda Grehan officially installed as first female Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (opens in a new tab)
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Patient safety has to be at forefront of measures taken in Belfast Trust – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA and Health Committee chair Philip McGuigan says patient safety and staff support must come first in the Health Department's response to Belfast Trust Cardiac Services. He welcomes the Health Minister's Departmental Accountability Team and Level 5 accountability for the Trust, and…
Health Issue: Ministerial Statement on cardiac surgery at Belfast Trust Original release: Patient safety has to be at forefront of measures taken in Belfast Trust – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Buchanan questions PSNI on impact of Supreme Court Ruling on gender
DUP Mid Ulster MLA Keith Buchanan says the PSNI must urgently review its policies and practices, including strip searching and stop and search, following the Supreme Court ruling on sex-based protections. He says it should not wait for Equality Commission advice before acting.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Supreme Court ruling on gender and PSNI policy implications Original release: Buchanan questions PSNI on impact of Supreme Court Ruling on gender (opens in a new tab)
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Intervention into Belfast Trust must be radical and comprehensive:…
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds welcomes the Health Minister's response on cardiac surgery at the Belfast Trust but says it came too late and calls for intervention that is radical and comprehensive. She links the issues to Trust management costs of £63 million and asks what cardiac surgeon…
Health Issue: Ministerial Statement on cardiac surgery at Belfast Trust Original release: Intervention into Belfast Trust must be radical and comprehensive:… (opens in a new tab)
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The Ulster Unionist Party welcomes action on Belfast Health Trust - Chambers
UUP Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes the Health Minister's decision to raise the performance accountability process for the Belfast Trust to level five and to form an intervention team with senior leadership experts. He also commends Mike Nesbitt for his recent interventions on…
Health Issue: Ministerial Statement on cardiac surgery at Belfast Trust Original release: The Ulster Unionist Party welcomes action on Belfast Health Trust - Chambers (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance Belfast City Councillors propose free leisure activity for residents
Alliance Belfast City Councillors Hedley Abernethy and Micky Murray propose one free leisure activity for Belfast residents at council leisure facilities, aiming to encourage physical activity. The proposal was put to the People and Communities Committee in May 2025 and is part of Alliance's 100…
Local government Health Original release: Alliance Belfast City Councillors propose free leisure activity for residents (opens in a new tab)
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DoH must take more active role in maintaining accountability across Trusts, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls for clarity on the Department of Health's role in the Belfast Trust's accountability process, now raised to Level 5, after bullying allegations in cardiac surgery. She asks the Health Minister to answer MLAs' questions in the Assembly.
Health Issue: Ministerial Statement on cardiac surgery at Belfast Trust Original release: DoH must take more active role in maintaining accountability across Trusts, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Catney welcomes approval for Frederick Douglass commemoration
SDLP Lisburn North councillor Pat Catney welcomes council backing for a commemoration to abolitionist Frederick Douglass, including a £25,000 stained-glass memorial window at Lisburn First Presbyterian Church. The window would also honour two other abolitionists who spoke locally in the mid-1800s…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Lisburn council approval of Frederick Douglass commemoration window Original release: Catney welcomes approval for Frederick Douglass commemoration (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Bullying endemic within our health service
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says bullying is endemic across the North's health service, after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announced special measures for the Belfast Trust over Royal Victoria Hospital Cardiac Unit reports. He calls for the Minister to address wider…
Health Issue: Ministerial Statement on cardiac surgery at Belfast Trust Original release: McGrath: Bullying endemic within our health service (opens in a new tab)
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Finn proposes rainbow crossing to celebrate Newry’s LGBT+ community
SDLP Newry councillor Doire Finn calls on Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to add a rainbow crossing to planned repairs at the Sugar Island zebra crossing in Newry city centre, or consider another site, as a show of support for the local LGBT+ community.
Disability and equality Local government Original release: Finn proposes rainbow crossing to celebrate Newry’s LGBT+ community (opens in a new tab)
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Givan welcomes independent review of Northern Ireland Curriculum
Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes the findings of an independent review of the Northern Ireland curriculum, saying it exposes weaknesses and recommends a new knowledge‑rich framework and the creation of a Curriculum Taskforce, to be chaired by Christine Counsell.
Education Issue: Publication of independent Northern Ireland curriculum review Original release: Givan welcomes independent review of Northern Ireland Curriculum (opens in a new tab)